Marmaduke Pickthall, The Meaning of The Glorious Koran. An Explanatory Translation (1930)
SÛRAH VII
Al-A‘râf, “The Heights,” takes its name from a word in v. 46, “And on the Heights are men who know them all by their marks.” The best authorities assign the whole of it to about the same period as Sûrah VI, i.e. the Prophet’s last year in Mecca, though some consider vv. 163–167 to have been revealed at Al-Madînah. The subject may be said to be the opponents of God’s will and purpose, from Satan onward, through the history of Divine Guidance. A late Meccan Sûrah.
The Heights
1. Alif. Lâm. Mîm. Sad.1
2. (It is) a Scripture that is revealed unto thee (Muhammad) — so let there be no heaviness in thy heart therefrom — that thou mayest warn thereby, and (it is) a Reminder unto believers.
3. (Saying): Follow that which is sent down unto you from your Lord, and follow no protecting friends beside Him. Little do ye recollect!
4. How many a township have We destroyed! As a raid by night, or while they slept at noon, Our terror came unto them.
5. No plea had they, when Our terror came unto them, save that they said: Lo! We were wrong-doers.
6. Then verily We shall question those unto whom (Our
1 See Sûr. II, v. 1, footnote.
