Al-A'raaf 7:36 · The Heights · Arabic, translation, recitation

Other English translations

Abdel Haleem (Oxford)+

"But those who reject Our revelations and arrogantly scorn them are the people of the Fire and there they will remain."

Pickthall (classic)+

"But they who deny Our revelations and scorn them - each are rightful owners of the Fire; they will abide therein."

Yusuf Ali (classic)+

"But those who reject Our signs and treat them with arrogance,- they are companions of the Fire, to dwell therein (for ever)."

Tafsīr · classical commentary

Ibn Kathir

Abridged English, public domain

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ

(And every Ummah has), meaning, each generation and nation,

أَجَلٌ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ

(its appointed term; when their term comes) which they were destined for,

لاَ يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلاَ يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ

(neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment)). Allah then warned the Children of Adam that He sent to them Messengers who conveyed to them His Ayat. Allah also conveyed good news, as well as warning,

فَمَنِ اتَّقَى وَأَصْلَحَ

(then whosoever has Taqwa and becomes righteous) by abandoning the prohibitions and performing acts of obedience,

فَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَوَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَايَـتِنَا وَاسْتَكْبَرُواْ عَنْهَآ

(on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve. But those who reject Our Ayat and treat them with arrogance,) meaning, their hearts denied the Ayat and they were too arrogant to abide by them,

أُولَـئِكَ أَصْحَـبُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـلِدُونَ

(they are the dwellers of the Fire, they will abide therein forever.) without end to their dwelling in it.

Tafsir Saʿdi

English translation, public domain

Выведя потомков Адама из Рая, Аллах отправил к ним посланников и ниспослал им Писания для того, чтобы подвергнуть их испытанию. Посланникам было велено читать людям Откровения и разъяснять им религиозные предписания. После упоминания об этом Аллах сообщил о превосходстве тех, кто ответил на призыв Божьих посланников, и убытке тех, кто отказался ответить на их призыв. Кто избегает многобожия, тяжких грехов и мелких прегрешений, а также остерегается всего, что запретил Аллах, кто душой и телом совершает праведные поступки, тот не будет опасаться зловещих событий, которых будут страшиться остальные люди, и не будет опечален тем, что он совершил в прошлом. Поистине, если человек защищен от страха и печали, то он обретает совершенное спокойствие, счастье и вечное преуспеяние. А грешники, которые надменно отрицают Божьи знамения, отказываются уверовать в них сердцем и повиноваться им телом, непременно окажутся мучениками Ада, в котором они останутся навечно. Они пренебрегли знамениями своего Господа и продолжали настойчиво отвергать их, и поэтому они будут преданы забвению и подвергнуты вечному наказанию.

Other English translations

Abdel Haleem (Oxford)+

"But those who reject Our revelations and arrogantly scorn them are the people of the Fire and there they will remain."

Pickthall (classic)+

"But they who deny Our revelations and scorn them - each are rightful owners of the Fire; they will abide therein."

Yusuf Ali (classic)+

"But those who reject Our signs and treat them with arrogance,- they are companions of the Fire, to dwell therein (for ever)."

Tafsīr · classical commentary

Ibn Kathir

Abridged English, public domain

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ

(And every Ummah has), meaning, each generation and nation,

أَجَلٌ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ

(its appointed term; when their term comes) which they were destined for,

لاَ يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلاَ يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ

فَمَنِ اتَّقَى وَأَصْلَحَ

(then whosoever has Taqwa and becomes righteous) by abandoning the prohibitions and performing acts of obedience,

(on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve. But those who reject Our Ayat and treat them with arrogance,) meaning, their hearts denied the Ayat and they were too arrogant to abide by them,

أُولَـئِكَ أَصْحَـبُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـلِدُونَ

(they are the dwellers of the Fire, they will abide therein forever.) without end to their dwelling in it.

Tafsir Saʿdi

English translation, public domain

The first and the second verse both mentioned two crimes committed by disbelievers. They took Halal as Haram and made the Haram become Halal for themselves by themselves. The third verse (34) describes their sad end and the punishment they would have in the Hereafter. It was said:

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ ۖ فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَأْخِرُ‌ونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ

(And for every people there is an appointed time. So, when their appointed time comes, they will not be late for a moment, nor will they go before).

In other words, what is being said here is that those committing excesses who, despite their contumacy, are basking in the sunshine of the blessings of Allah Ta` ala, and do not seem to be anywhere close to being punished, they should not lose sight of the customary practice of Allah that He, in His infinite mercy, keeps granting a long leash to sinners so that they would somehow stop doing what they do. But, the term of this leash and the time of this respite stands determined in the ultimate knowledge of Allah Ta` ala. When that time comes, it just comes - neither too late nor too soon. Thus, criminals are caught in punishment. At times, the punishment descends right here in this world - and if, the punishment does not visit them here, it waits to receive them soon after their death.

As for the appointed time not being late or early as stated in this verse, it is a manner of saying, something like saying to a salesperson in a store: at is your last price, more or less? It is obvious that the inquiry is for the lower price, not the higher. But, it is put there as a subordinate suffix. Similarly, the real objective here is to state that there will be no delay after the appointed time. The mention of ` before' along with ` late' makes it closer to common comprehension.