Quran chapter: Chapter 7: The Purgatory (Al-A’araf)

A. L. M. S.*

المص

Alif-Laaam-Meeem-Saaad

*7:1 See Appendix 1 for the role of these initials in the Quran’s mathematical miracle.

This scripture has been revealed to you – you shall not harbor doubt about it in your heart – that you may warn with it, and to provide a reminder for the believers.

كِتٰبٌ أُنزِلَ إِلَيكَ فَلا يَكُن فى صَدرِكَ حَرَجٌ مِنهُ لِتُنذِرَ بِهِ وَذِكرىٰ لِلمُؤمِنينَ

kitaabun unzila ilaika falaa yakun fee sadrika harajum minhu litunzira bihee wa zikraa lilmu’mineen

You shall all follow what is revealed to you from your Lord; do not follow any idols besides Him. Rarely do you take heed.

اتَّبِعوا ما أُنزِلَ إِلَيكُم مِن رَبِّكُم وَلا تَتَّبِعوا مِن دونِهِ أَولِياءَ قَليلًا ما تَذَكَّرونَ

ittabi’oo maaa unzila ‘ilaikum mir Rabbikum wa laa tattabi’oo min dooniheee awliyaaa’a; qaleelam maa tazakkaroon

Many a community we annihilated; they incurred our retribution while they were asleep, or wide awake.

وَكَم مِن قَريَةٍ أَهلَكنٰها فَجاءَها بَأسُنا بَيٰتًا أَو هُم قائِلونَ

wa kam min qaryatin ahlaknaahaa fajaaa’ahaa ba’sunaa bayaatan aw hum qaaa’iloon

Their utterance when our retribution came to them was: “Indeed, we have been transgressors.”

فَما كانَ دَعوىٰهُم إِذ جاءَهُم بَأسُنا إِلّا أَن قالوا إِنّا كُنّا ظٰلِمينَ

famaa kaana da’waahum iz jaaa’ahum ba’sunaa illaaa an qaalooo innaa kunnaa zaalimeen

We will certainly question those who received the message, and we will question the messengers.

فَلَنَسـَٔلَنَّ الَّذينَ أُرسِلَ إِلَيهِم وَلَنَسـَٔلَنَّ المُرسَلينَ

falanas ‘alannal lazeena ursila ilaihim wa lanas ‘alannal mursaleen

We will inform them authoritatively, for we were never absent.

فَلَنَقُصَّنَّ عَلَيهِم بِعِلمٍ وَما كُنّا غائِبينَ

falanaqussanna ‘alaihim bi’ilminw wa maa kunnaa ghaaa’ibeen

The scales will be set on that day, equitably. Those whose weights are heavy will be the winners.

وَالوَزنُ يَومَئِذٍ الحَقُّ فَمَن ثَقُلَت مَوٰزينُهُ فَأُولٰئِكَ هُمُ المُفلِحونَ

walwaznu Yawma’izinil haqq; faman saqulat mawaa zeenuhoo fa-ulaaa’ika humul muflihoon

As for those whose weights are light, they will be the ones who lost their souls,* as a consequence of disregarding our revelations, unjustly.

وَمَن خَفَّت مَوٰزينُهُ فَأُولٰئِكَ الَّذينَ خَسِروا أَنفُسَهُم بِما كانوا بِـٔايٰتِنا يَظلِمونَ

wa man khaffat mawaazeenuhoo fa ulaaa’ikal lazeena khasirooo anfusahum bimaa kaanoo bi Aayaatinaa yazlimoon

*7:9 Failing to heed our Creator leads to spiritual starvation and eventual “loss” of the soul.

We have established you on earth, and we have provided for you the means of support therein. Rarely are you appreciative.

وَلَقَد مَكَّنّٰكُم فِى الأَرضِ وَجَعَلنا لَكُم فيها مَعٰيِشَ قَليلًا ما تَشكُرونَ

wa laqad makkannaakum fil ardi wa ja’alnaa lakum feehaa ma’aayish; qaleelam maa tashkuroon