Surah Al-A’raf Ayat 169 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 169
And there followed them successors who inherited the Scripture [while] taking the commodities of this lower life and saying, “It will be forgiven for us.” And if an offer like it comes to them, they will [again] take it. Was not the covenant of the Scripture taken from them that they would not say about Allah except the truth, and they studied what was in it? And the home of the Hereafter is better for those who fear Allah, so will you not use reason?
After them succeeded an (evil) generation: They inherited the Book, but they chose (for themselves) the vanities of this world, saying (for excuse): “(Everything) will be forgiven us.” (Even so), if similar vanities came their way, they would (again) seize them. Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them, that they would not ascribe to Allah anything but the truth? and they study what is in the Book. But best for the righteous is the home in the Hereafter. Will ye not understand?
Then others succeeded them who inherited the scriptures, and yet kept themselves occupied in acquiring the goods of this world and kept saying: ‘We shall be forgiven.’ And when there comes to them an opportunity for acquiring more of those goods, they seize it. Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them that they would not ascribe to Allah anything but the truth? And they have read what is in the Book and know that the abode of the Hereafter is better for the God-fearing. Do you not understand?
Then after them succeeded an (evil) generation, which inherited the Book, but they chose (for themselves) the goods of this low life (evil pleasures of this world) saying (as an excuse): “(Everything) will be forgiven to us.” And if (again) the offer of the like (evil pleasures of this world) came their way, they would (again) seize them (would commit those sins). Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them that they would not say about Allah anything but the truth? And they have studied what is in it (the Book). And the home of the Hereafter is better for those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious – see V. 2:2). Do not you then understand?
And a generation hath succeeded them who inherited the scriptures. They grasp the goods of this low life (as the price of evil-doing) and say: It will be forgiven us. And if there came to them (again) the offer of the like, they would accept it (and would sin again). Hath not the covenant of the Scripture been taken on their behalf that they should not speak aught concerning Allah save the truth? And they have studied that which is therein. And the abode of the Hereafter is better, for those who ward off (evil). Have ye then no sense?
Then there succeeded even after them a succession who inherited the Book, taking the advantage of this meaner (life), and saying, “Soon it will be forgiven us.” And in case an advantage, the like of it, comes up to them, they will take it. Has not the compact of the Book been taken upon them, that they should say nothing concerning Allah except the truth? And they studied what is in it; and the Last Residence is most charitable for the ones who are pious. Then do you not consider (that?. (
and they were succeeded by generations who, although they inherited the Scripture, took the fleeting gains of this lower world, saying, ‘We shall be forgiven,’ and indeed taking them again if other such gains came their way. Was a pledge not taken from them, writ-ten in the Scripture, to say nothing but the truth about God? And they have studied its contents well. For those who are mindful of God, the Hereafter is better. ‘Why do you not use your reason?’
پھر ان کے بعد ایسے لوگ ان کے جانشین ہوئے کہ کتاب کو ان سے حاصل کیا وه اس دنیائے فانی کا مال متاع لے لیتے ہیں اور کہتے ہیں کہ ہماری ضرور مغفرت ہو جائے گی حاﻻنکہ اگر ان کے پاس ویسا ہی مال متاع آنے لگے تو اس کو بھی لے لیں گے۔ کیا ان سے اس کتاب کے اس مضمون کا عہد نہیں لیا گیا کہ اللہ کی طرف بجز حق بات کے اور کسی بات کی نسبت نہ کریں، اور انہوں نے اس کتاب میں جو کچھ تھا اس کو پڑھ لیا اور آخرت واﻻ گھر ان لوگوں کے لیے بہتر ہے جو تقویٰ رکھتے ہیں، پھر کیا تم نہیں سمجھتے
Quran 7 Verse 169 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Al-A’raf ayat 169, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(7:169) Then others succeeded them who inherited the scriptures, and yet kept themselves occupied in acquiring the goods of this world and kept saying: We shall be forgiven.’ And when there comes to them an opportunity for acquiring more of those goods, they seize it.[129] Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them that they would not ascribe to Allah anything but the truth? And they have read what is in the Book[130] and know that the abode of the Hereafter is better for the God-fearing.[131] Do you not understand?
129. The Jews knowingly commit sins in the belief that being God’s chosen people they will necessarily be pardoned and spared God’s punishment. As a result of this misconception, they neither repent nor refrain from committing sins. How unfortunate the Jews are! They received the Scriptures which could have made them leaders of all mankind. But they were so petty-minded that they aspired to nothing higher than paltry worldly benefits. Thus even though they had the potential of becoming the upholders of justice and righteousness across the world they ended up merely as worshippers of this world.
130. The people of Israel know well that the Torah does not unconditionally assure them salvation. They have never been promised by God or any of His Prophets that they will attain deliverance no matter what they do. Therefore they have absolutely no right to ascribe to God something which He never told them. What makes their crime even worse is that their claim to unconditional salvation constitutes a sacrilege of their covenant with God whereby they pledged never to attribute any false statement to God.
131. The above verse has two renderings. It may be either translated as above or it may be rendered thus: ‘For the righteous, only the home in the Hereafter is the best.’ Going by the first rendering, the verse means that salvation is not the exclusive privilege of a particular person or a family. It is absolutely out of the question that one will attain deliverance even if one commits sins, simply on account of being a Jew. A little reflection will help one realize that only the righteous and God-fearing will be rewarded in the Hereafter. In the light of the second rendering, only the unrighteous prefer worldly, gains to reward in the Hereafter. As for the righteous, they are conscious of the importance of the Hereafter and hence forego worldly benefits for the sake of reward in the Next World.
Ibn-Kathir
The tafsir of Surah Al-A’raf verse 169 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah A’raf ayat 168 which provides the complete commentary from verse 168 through 170.
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