Surah Al-Araf – Mohamed Shaaban Abu Qarn

Al-Araf, "The Heights", is the seventh surah of the Quran. A Meccan surah of 206 verses, it is 39th in the traditional order of revelation. It follows the struggle between guidance and error from Adam and Iblis to the Day of Judgment, and tells at length the stories of Noah, Hud, Salih, Lot, Shu'ayb and above all Moses. It closes with the first verse of prostration in the Mushaf.

Name and context

Al-A'raf are the heights of the barrier between Paradise and Hell. On them stand men who recognise everyone by their marks and greet the people of Paradise, hoping to enter it themselves (7:46–49); commentators most often describe them as people whose good and bad deeds weigh the same.

One of the "seven long surahs", it is often described as the longest Meccan surah. Zayd ibn Thabit reproached Marwan for reciting short surahs at the sunset prayer, when he had heard the Prophet ﷺ recite "the longer of the two long ones" (al-Bukhari 764), which other versions identify as Al-A'raf (an-Nasa'i 990). Aisha reported that the Prophet recited it at Maghrib, dividing it between the two rak'as (an-Nasa'i 991).

Main themes

• The Book sent down as a reminder (7:1–3), and the fate of the towns that were destroyed (7:4–9).
• Adam and his wife, Iblis refusing out of pride to bow, the temptation, and their repentance: "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves" (7:11–25); then four calls to the "Children of Adam" about clothing, modesty and Satan's deceptions (7:26–35).
• The dialogue between the people of Paradise, the people of Hell and the people of the Heights (7:36–53).
• The messengers and their peoples: Noah (7:59–64), Hud and 'Ad (7:65–72), Salih and Thamud (7:73–79), Lot (7:80–84), Shu'ayb and Madyan (7:85–93).
• Moses, the longest account: Pharaoh and the magicians, the plagues of Egypt, the Exodus, the meeting on the mountain where Moses asked to see God (7:143), the tablets, the golden calf and the Sabbath-breakers (7:103–171).
• The primordial covenant, when the children of Adam answered "Yes" to "Am I not your Lord?" (7:172).
• God's most beautiful names, by which He is to be invoked (7:180), and the Hour, whose time He alone knows (7:187).
• Final guidance: "Hold to forgiveness, command what is right, and turn away from the ignorant" (7:199), and listen in silence when the Quran is recited (7:204).

When a visitor insulted Umar ibn al-Khattab, verse 7:199 was recited to him and he held back his anger (al-Bukhari 4642).

The verse of prostration

The surah ends with the first verse of prostration (sajda) in the order of the Mushaf: those who are near their Lord are never too proud to worship Him; they glorify Him and prostrate before Him (7:206).

The stories of the same prophets are told again in Hud and Ash-Shuara, and that of Moses in Taha.