Al-A'raf: 96

Ayah

Word by Word

وَلَوۡ

And if

أَنَّ

[that]

أَهۡلَ

people

ٱلۡقُرَىٰٓ

(of) the cities

ءَامَنُواْ

(had) believed

وَٱتَّقَوۡاْ

and feared Allah

لَفَتَحۡنَا

surely We (would have) opened

عَلَيۡهِم

upon them

بَرَكَٰتٖ

blessings

مِّنَ

from

ٱلسَّمَآءِ

the heaven

وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ

and the earth

وَلَٰكِن

but

كَذَّبُواْ

they denied

فَأَخَذۡنَٰهُم

So We seized them

بِمَا

for what

كَانُواْ

they used to

يَكۡسِبُونَ

earn

Translation

If the people of the towns had but believed and feared Allah, We should indeed have opened out to them (All kinds of) blessings from heaven and earth; but they rejected (the truth), and We brought them to book for their misdeeds.

Tafsir

Afflictions that struck Earlier Nations

Allah says;

وَمَا أَرۡسَلۡنَا فِي قَرۡيَةٍ مِّن نَّبِيٍّ إِلاَّ أَخَذۡنَا أَهۡلَهَا بِالۡبَأۡسَاء وَالضَّرَّاء لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَضَّرَّعُونَ

And We sent no Prophet unto any town (and they denied him), but We seized its people with Ba'sa' and Darra', so that they might humble themselves (to Allah).

Allah mentions the Ba'sa' and Darra' that struck the earlier nations to whom He sent Prophets.

Ba'sa', refers to the physical sicknesses and ailments that they suffered, while Darra', refers to the poverty and humiliation that they experienced,

لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَضَّرَّعُونَ

(so that they might humble themselves) supplicate, humble themselves and invoke Allah, that He might remove the afflictions that they suffered from.

This Ayah indicates that Allah sent down severe afflictions to them so that they might invoke Him, but they did not do what He ordered them. Therefore, He changed the affliction into prosperity to test them

ثُمَّ بَدَّلۡنَا مَكَانَ السَّيِّيَةِ الۡحَسَنَةَ

Then We changed the evil for the good,

Therefore, Allah changed the hardship into prosperity, disease and sickness into health and well-being, and poverty into richness in provision, so that they might be thankful to Allah for this, but they did none of that.

Allah's statement,

حَتَّى عَفَواۡ

until they `Afaw,

refers to increase in numbers, wealth and offspring.

Allah said next,

وَّقَالُواۡ قَدۡ مَسَّ ابَاءنَا الضَّرَّاء وَالسَّرَّاء

and they said:""Our fathers were touched with evil and with good.""

He tested them with this (afflictions) and that (ease and abundance) so that they may humble themselves and repent to Him. However, they failed both tests, for neither this nor that compelled them to change their ways.

They said, ""We suffered Ba'sa' and Darra', but prosperity came afterwards, just as like our forefathers in earlier times."" ""Therefore,"" they said, ""it is a cycle where we sometimes suffer a hardship and at other times, we enjoy a bounty.""

However, they did not comprehend Allah's wisdom, nor the fact that He is testing them in both cases. To the contrary, the believers are grateful to Allah in good times and practice patience in hard times.

In the Sahih, there is a Hadith that says;

عَجَبًا لِلۡمُوۡمِنِ لَا يَقۡضِي اللهُ لَهُ قَضَاءً إِلاَّ كَانَ خَيۡرًا لَهُ

وَإِنۡ أَصَابَتۡهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبَرَ فَكَانَ خَيۡرًا لَهُ

وَإِنۡ أَصَابَتۡهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ فَكَانَ خَيۡرًا لَه

The matter of the believer is amazing, for nothing that Allah decrees for him, but it is better for him.

If a Darra' (harm) strikes him, he is patient, and this is better for him,

if he is given Sarra' (prosperity), he thanks (Allah) for it and this is better for him.

The believer, therefore, is aware of the test behind the afflictions whether it may be prosperity or adversity that Allah sends to him, as well as the blessings.

Similarly, in another Hadith,

لَاايَزَالُ الۡبَلَاءُ بِالۡمُوۡمِنِ حَتَّى يَخۡرُجَ نَقِيًّا مِنۡ ذُنُوبِهِ

The believer will continue to be tested by afflictions until he ends up pure from sin.

وَالۡمُنَافِق مِثۡله كَمَثَلِ الۡحِمَارِ لَاا يَدۡرِي فِيمَ رَبَطَهُ أَهۡلُهُ وَلَاا فِيمَ أَرۡسَلُوه

And the parable of the hypocrite is that of a donkey, it does not know why its owners tied it or released it.

Allah said next,

فَأَخَذۡنَاهُم بَغۡتَةً وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ

So We seized them all of a sudden while they were unaware.

meaning, We struck them with punishment all of a sudden, while they were unaware.

A Hadith describes sudden death,

مَوۡتُ الۡفَجۡأَةِ رَحۡمَةٌ لِلۡمُوۡمِنِ وَأَخۡذَةُ أَسَفٍ لِلۡكَافِر

Sudden death is a mercy for the believer, but a sorrowful punishment for the disbeliever.

Blessings come with Faith, while Kufr brings Torment

Allah mentions here the little faith of the people of the towns to whom He sent Messengers. In another instance, Allah said,

فَلَوۡلَا كَانَتۡ قَرۡيَةٌ ءَامَنَتۡ فَنَفَعَهَأ إِيمَانُهَا إِلاَّ قَوۡمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّأ ءَامَنُواۡ كَشَفۡنَا عَنۡهُمۡ عَذَابَ الخِزۡىِ فِى الۡحَيَوةَ الدُّنۡيَا وَمَتَّعۡنَاهُمۡ إِلَى حِينٍ

Was there any town (community) that believed (after seeing the punishment), and its faith (at that moment) saved it (from the punishment) -- Except the people of Yunus; when they believed, We removed from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the (present) world, and permitted them to enjoy for a while. (10:98)

This Ayah indicates that no city believed in its entirety, except the city of Prophet Yunus, for they all believed after they were stricken by punishment.

Allah said (about Prophet Yunus),

وَأَرۡسَلۡنَـهُ إِلَى مِاۡيَةِ أَلۡفٍ أَوۡ يَزِيدُونَ

فَـَامَنُواۡ فَمَتَّعۡنَـهُمۡ إِلَى حِينٍ

And We sent him to a hundred thousand (people) or even more. And they believed; so We gave them enjoyment for a while. (37:147-148)

Allah said in another Ayah,

وَمَأ أَرۡسَلۡنَا فِى قَرۡيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ

And We did not send a warner to a township.... (34:34)

Allah said here,

وَلَوۡ أَنَّ أَهۡلَ الۡقُرَى امَنُواۡ وَاتَّقَواۡ

And if the people of the towns had believed and had Taqwa...

meaning their hearts had faith in what the Messenger brought them, believed and obeyed him, and had Taqwa by performing the acts of obedience and abstaining from the prohibitions,

لَفَتَحۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم بَرَكَاتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاء وَالَارۡضِ

We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth,

in reference to the rain that falls from the sky and the vegetation of the earth.

Allah said,

وَلَـكِن كَذَّبُواۡ فَأَخَذۡنَاهُم بِمَا كَانُواۡ يَكۡسِبُونَ

but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn.

They denied their Messengers, so that We punished them and sent destruction on them as a result of the sins and wickedness that they earned.

Allah then said, while warning and threatening against defying His orders and daring to commit His prohibitions

أَفَأَمِنَ أَهۡلُ الۡقُرَى

Did the people of the towns then feel secure!

meaning the disbelievers among them,

أَن يَأۡتِيَهُمۡ بَأۡسُنَا

that should come to them our punishment,

Our torment and punishing example,

بَيَاتاً

Bayatan,

during the night,

وَهُمۡ نَأيِمُونَ

while they were asleep.

أَوَ أَمِنَ أَهۡلُ الۡقُرَى أَن يَأۡتِيَهُمۡ بَأۡسُنَا ضُحًى وَهُمۡ يَلۡعَبُونَ

Or, did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our punishment in the forenoon while they were playing!

while they are busy in their affairs and unaware

أَفَأَمِنُواۡ مَكۡرَ اللّهِ

Did they then feel secure against Allah's plan!

His torment, vengeance, and His power to destroy them while they are inattentive and heedless,

فَلَ يَأۡمَنُ مَكۡرَ اللّهِ إِلاَّ الۡقَوۡمُ الۡخَاسِرُونَ

None feels secure from Allah's plan except the people who are the losers.

Al-Hasan Al-Basri said,

""The believer performs the acts of worship, all the while feeling fear, in fright and anxiety. The Fajir (wicked sinner, or disbeliever) commits the acts of disobedience while feeling safe (from Allah's torment)!

Allah says,

أَوَلَمۡ يَهۡدِ لِلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الَارۡضَ مِن بَعۡدِ أَهۡلِهَا أَن لَّوۡ نَشَاء أَصَبۡنَاهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمۡ

Is it not a guidance for those who inherit the earth from its previous inhabitants that had We willed, We would have punished them for their sins.

Ibn Abbas commented on Allah's statement,

أَوَلَمۡ يَهۡدِ لِلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الَارۡضَ مِن بَعۡدِ أَهۡلِهَا

(Is it not a guidance for those who inherit the earth from its previous inhabitants. ..),

""(Allah says,) did We not make clear to them that had We willed, We would have punished them because of their sins!""

Mujahid and several others said similarly.

Abu Jafar bin Jarir At-Tabari explained this Ayah,

""Allah says, `Did We not make clear to those who succeeded on the earth after destroying the previous nations who used to dwell in that land. Then they followed their own ways, and behaved as they did and were unruly with their Lord. (Did We not make clear to them) that,

أَن لَّوۡ نَشَاء أَصَبۡنَاهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمۡ

(that had We willed, We would have punished them for their sins) by bringing them the same end that was decreed for those before them,

وَنَطۡبَعُ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمۡ

And We seal up their hearts,

We place a cover over their heart,

فَهُمۡ لَا يَسۡمَعُونَ

so that they hear not,

words of advice or reminding""'

I say that similarly, Allah said,

أَفَلَمۡ يَهۡدِ لَهُمۡ كَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا قَبۡلَهُمۡ مِّنَ الۡقُرُونِ يَمۡشُونَ فِى مَسَـكِنِهِمۡ إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لَايَـتٍ لاٌّوۡلِى النُّهَى

Is it not a guidance for them:how many generations We have destroyed before them, in whose dwellings they walk Verily, in this are signs indeed for men of understanding. (20:128)

أَوَلَمۡ يَهۡدِ لَهُمۡ كَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ مِّنَ الۡقُرُونِ يَمۡشُونَ فِى مَسَاكِنِهِمۡ إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لاّيَاتٍ أَفَلَ يَسۡمَعُونَ

Is it not a guidance for them:how many generations We have destroyed before them in whose dwellings they do walk about Verily, therein indeed are signs. Would they not then listen! (32:26)

and,

أَوَلَمۡ تَكُونُواۡ أَقۡسَمۡتُمۡ مِّن قَبۡلُ مَا لَكُمۡ مِّن زَوَالٍوَسَكَنتُمۡ فِى مَسَـكِنِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواۡ أَنفُسَهُمۡ

Had you not sworn aforetime that you would not leave (the world for the Hereafter). And you dwelt in the dwellings of men who wronged themselves! (14:44-45)

Also, Allah said,

وَكَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا قَبۡلَهُمۡ مِّن قَرۡنٍ هَلۡ تُحِسُّ مِنۡهُمۡ مِّنۡ أَحَدٍ أَوۡ تَسۡمَعُ لَهُمۡ رِكۡزاً

And how many a generation before them have We destroyed! Can you find a single one of them or hear even a whisper of them! (19:98)

meaning, do you see any of them or hear their voices.

There are many other Ayat that testify that Allah's torment strikes His enemies, while His bounty reaches His faithful believers. Thereafter comes Allah's statement, and He is the Most Truthful, the Lord of all that exists

After narrating the stories of the people of Prophets Nuh, Hud, Salih, Lut and Shu`ayb, destroying the disbelievers, saving the believers, warning these nations by explaining the truth to them with the evidence sent in the words of His Messengers, may Allah's peace and blessings be on them all, Allah said;

تِلۡكَ الۡقُرَى نَقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ

Those were the towns that We relate to you (O Muhammad),

مِنۡ أَنبَأيِهَا

their story, (and news),

وَلَقَدۡ جَاءتۡهُمۡ رُسُلُهُم بِالۡبَيِّنَاتِ

And there came indeed to them their Messengers with clear proofs,

and evidences of the truth of what they brought them.

Allah said in other Ayah,

وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبۡعَثَ رَسُولاً

And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning). (17:15)

and,

ذَلِكَ مِنۡ أَنۡبَأءِ الۡقُرَى نَقُصُّهُ عَلَيۡكَ مِنۡهَا قَأيِمٌ وَحَصِيدٌ وَمَا ظَلَمۡنَـهُمۡ وَلَـكِن ظَلَمُواۡ أَنفُسَهُمۡ

That is some of the news of the towns which We relate unto you; of them, some are standing, and some have been reaped. We wronged them not, but they wronged themselves. (11:100-101)

Allah said

فَمَا كَانُواۡ لِيُوۡمِنُواۡ بِمَا كَذَّبُواۡ مِن قَبۡلُ

but they were not such who would believe in what they had rejected before.

According to the Tafsir of Ibn Atiyyah,

meaning they would not have later on believed in what the Messengers brought them, because they denied the truth when it first came to them (although they recognized it),

This explanation is sound, and is supported by Allah's statement,

وَمَا يُشۡعِرُكُمۡ أَنَّهَأ إِذَا جَأءَتۡ لَا يُوۡمِنُونَ

وَنُقَلِّبُ أَفۡيِدَتَهُمۡ وَأَبۡصَـرَهُمۡ كَمَا لَمۡ يُوۡمِنُواۡ بِهِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ

And what will make you perceive that if it came, they will not believe. And We shall turn their hearts and their eyes away (from guidance), as they refused to believe therein for the first time. (6:109-110)

This is why Allah said here,

كَذَلِكَ يَطۡبَعُ اللّهُ عَلَىَ قُلُوبِ الۡكَافِرِينَ

وَمَا وَجَدۡنَا لَاكۡثَرِهِم

Thus Allah does seal up the hearts of the disbelievers. And most of them We found not...

meaning, We did not find most of the previous nations,

مِّنۡ عَهۡدٍ وَإِن وَجَدۡنَا أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ لَفَاسِقِينَ

true to their covenant, but most of them We found to indeed be rebellious.

This Ayah means, We found most of them to be rebellious, deviating away from obedience and compliance.

The covenant mentioned here is the Fitrah that Allah instilled in them while still in their fathers' loins, and taking their covenant, that He is their Lord, King, and that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him. They affirmed this covenant and testified against themselves to this fact. However, they defied this covenant, threw it behind their backs and worshipped others besides Allah, having no proof or plea, nor support from rationality or by divine law. Surely, the pure Fitrah defies these actions, while all the honorable Messengers, from beginning to end, forbade them.

Muslim collected the Hadith,

يَقُولُ اللهُ تَعَالَى إِنِّي خَلَقۡتُ عِبَادِي حُنَفَاءَ فَجَاءَتۡهُمُ الشَّيَاطِينُ فَاجۡتَالَتۡهُمۡ عَنۡ دِينِهِمۡ وَحَرَّمَتۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡ مَا أَحۡلَلۡتُ لَهُم

Allah said, ""I created My servants Hunafa (monotheists), but the devils came to them and deviated them from their religion and prohibited them what I allowed them.""

It is recorded in the Two Sahihs,

كُلُّ مَوۡلُودٍ يُولَدُ عَلَى الۡفِطۡرَةِ فَأَبَوَاهُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ وَيُنَصِّرَانِهِ وَيُمَجِّسَانِه

Every child is born upon the Fitrah, it is only his parents who turn him into a Jew, a Christian or a Zoroastrian."

Al-A'raf: 96

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