> The Eloquence of the Quran ( البلاغة في القرآن ) Part-1

Question: Shaikh Obaid, the Quran is full of eloquent language, beauty of which cannot be surpassed.. Can you give some examples to demonstrate this further please?

 

Answer:

 

Brother Tanweer,

 

The language of the Quran is the clear and pure Arabic, as Allah (SWT) says in the Quran in 16:103. Nothing in the entire Arabic anthology  comes near to the Quran's eloquence and wisdom,

 

وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّمَا يُعَلِّمُهُ ۥ  بَشَرٌ  ۗ  لِّسَانُ الَّذِى يُلْحِدُونَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْجَمِىٌّ وَهٰذَا لِسَانٌ عَرَبِىٌّ مُّبِينٌ

"And We certainly know that they say, It is only a human being who teaches the Prophet. The tongue of the one they refer to is foreign, and this Qur'an is [in] a clear Arabic language."

(QS. An-Nahl 16: Verse 103)

 

 

There are many of examples in the Quran which beautifully illustrate the eloquence. Translations of the Quran in other languages hardly do justice to bring out the real beauty of the words of Allah. So, in order to truly discern and appreciate its eloquence, we need to go back to Arabic.

 

We will talk about a few examples, they should provide a good  glimpse into the character of the supreme language of the Quran. In this talk ( Part-1) let's go through example below.

 

Differences in use of words 'Qariyah' قرية and 'AlMadinah' المدينة  in the Quran

 

In the English translations, these words are translated exactly the same as either City or Town. But there are more nuances to it than any translation is capable of conveying.


Words قرية  /  الْقَرْيَة and their plurals قُرٰى / الْقُرٰى are used more than 55 times in total in the Quran. Grammatically, in the Quran they come as definite nouns الْقَرْيَة / الْقُرٰى - (مَعْرِفَة) and as indefinite nouns قرية  / قُرٰى - (نَكِرَةٌ) Also they always appear as 'nouns' in the Quran, and never in the verb form (صيغة الفعل ).


For the sake of simplicity, I will use simple term قرية  from now on, which should imply all four forms -  قرية  ,الْقَرْيَة ,قُرٰى  and الْقُرٰى.


Word المدينة is used 14 times in the Quran, 4 times for Al-Madinah Munawwara  and the rest for other cities.  It only comes as definite noun (مَعْرِفَة ) in the Quran. The non-Arabic speakers at times can be excused for using indefinite noun for  مدينة ,  while Arabic speakers do use it as a definite noun المدينة .

In the Quran, whenever a city is referred to as قرية   it is always used in the 'negative context'. Either her dwellers are non-believers who reject the faith, or it is used in conjunction of themes such as punishment, destruction, hypocrisy, abomination, oppression, corruption, rejection of faith, stinginess, insult, sinfulness of individual or society, lying and ungratefulness etc. We find in the Quran that whenever word قرية is used,  its people are always criticised directly or indirectly by Allah (SWT).

 

On the other hand, whenever word المدينة  is used for a city in the Quran, her dwellers include both believers (ahl-e Imaan ) and non-believers ( ahl-e shirr ), a mixed society. المدينة  is never used in negative context in the Quran, or in conjunction with any derogatory themes as mentioned in the case of قرية   . Nowhere in the Quran Allah (SWT) mentions of aالمدينة   that was destroyed as His punishment.

 

Keeping this in mind, let us explore some examples from the Quran.

 

All examples of use of المدينة in the Quran

Word المدينة is used 14 times in the Quran, 4 times for Al-Madinah Munawwara  and the rest for other cities.
As we all know, our beloved Messenger Muhammad (SAW) and his companions lived in Al-Madinah Munawwara. So did the people of the Book (Bani Israel tribes)  and the hypocrites (Munafiqin) who lived alongside the righteous group. So Al-Madinah Munawwara had a mixed population in terms of their faiths.

Al-Madinah Munawwara is mentioned in below 4 verses,

 

وَمِمَّنْ حَوْلَكُمْ مِّنَ الْأَعْرَابِ مُنٰفِقُونَ  ۖ  وَمِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ  ۖ  مَرَدُوا عَلَى النِّفَاقِ لَا تَعْلَمُهُمْ  ۖ  نَحْنُ نَعْلَمُهُمْ  ۚ  سَنُعَذِّبُهُمْ مَّرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّونَ إِلٰى عَذَابٍ عَظِيمٍ

"And among those around you of the bedouins are hypocrites, and [also] from the people of Madinah. They have become accustomed to hypocrisy. You, [O Muhammad], do not know them, [but] We know them. We will punish them twice [in this world]; then they will be returned to a great punishment."

(QS. At-Tawba 9: Verse 101)

 

مَا كَانَ لِأَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُمْ مِّنَ الْأَعْرَابِ أَنْ يَتَخَلَّفُوا عَنْ رَّسُولِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يَرْغَبُوا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ عَنْ نَّفْسِهِۦ  ۚ  ذٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ لَا يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌ وَلَا نَصَبٌ وَلَا مَخْمَصَةٌ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يَطَئُونَ مَوْطِئًا يَغِيظُ الْكُفَّارَ وَلَا يَنَالُونَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ نَّيْلًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُمْ بِهِۦ عَمَلٌ صٰلِحٌ  ۚ  إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

"It was not [proper] for the people of Madinah and those surrounding them of the bedouins that they remain behind after [the departure of] the Messenger of Allah or that they prefer themselves over his self. That is because they are not afflicted by thirst or fatigue or hunger in the cause of Allah, nor do they tread on any ground that enrages the disbelievers, nor do they inflict upon an enemy any infliction but that is registered for them as a righteous deed. Indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of the doers of good."

(QS. At-Tawba 9: Verse 120)

 

لَّئِنْ لَّمْ يَنْتَهِ الْمُنٰفِقُونَ وَالَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ مَّرَضٌ وَالْمُرْجِفُونَ فِى الْمَدِينَةِ لَنُغْرِيَنَّكَ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ لَا يُجَاوِرُونَكَ فِيهَآ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

"If the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease and those who spread rumors in al-Madinah do not cease, We will surely incite you against them; then they will not remain your neighbors therein except for a little."

(QS. Al-Ahzaab 33: Verse 60)

 

يَقُولُونَ لَئِنْ رَّجَعْنَآ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ لَيُخْرِجَنَّ الْأَعَزُّ مِنْهَا الْأَذَلَّ  ۚ  وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِۦ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلٰكِنَّ الْمُنٰفِقِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

"They say, If we return to al-Madinah, the more honored [for power] will surely expel therefrom the more humble. And to Allah belongs [all] honor, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know."

(QS. Al-Munaafiqoon 63: Verse 8)

 

Below 10 verses refer to other cities,

 

In verse 7:123, Allah refers to the city of Pharoah but Moosa (AS) was in it as well, so both believers (ahl-e Imaan ) and non-believers ( ahl-e shirr ) were present within it.

 

قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ ءَامَنْتُمْ بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ  ۖ  إِنَّ هٰذَا لَمَكْرٌ مَّكَرْتُمُوهُ فِى الْمَدِينَةِ لِتُخْرِجُوا مِنْهَآ أَهْلَهَا  ۖ  فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

"Said Pharaoh, You believed in him before I gave you permission. Indeed, this is a conspiracy which you conspired in the city to expel therefrom its people. But you are going to know."

(QS. Al-A'raaf 7: Verse 123)

 

In verse 12:30, Yusuf (AS) was present in the city as well as women.

 

وَقَالَ نِسْوَةٌ فِى الْمَدِينَةِ امْرَأَتُ الْعَزِيزِ تُرٰوِدُ فَتٰىهَا عَنْ نَّفْسِهِۦ  ۖ  قَدْ شَغَفَهَا حُبًّا  ۖ  إِنَّا لَنَرٰىهَا فِى ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ

"And women in the city said, The wife of al-'Azeez is seeking to seduce her slave boy; he has impassioned her with love. Indeed, we see her [to be] in clear error."

(QS. Yusuf 12: Verse 30)

 

In verse 15:67, Loot (AS) was present in the city.

 

وَجَآءَ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ

"And the people of the city came rejoicing."

(QS. Al-Hijr 15: Verse 67)

 

 Above is in contrast to same city referred in 21:74 as قرية AFTER Loot (AS) was saved and left the city.

 

وَلُوطًا ءَاتَيْنٰهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا وَنَجَّيْنٰهُ مِنَ الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِى كَانَت تَّعْمَلُ الْخَبٰٓئِثَ  ۗ  إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمَ سَوْءٍ فٰسِقِينَ

"And to Lot We gave judgement and knowledge, and We saved him from the city that was committing wicked deeds. Indeed, they were a people of evil, defiantly disobedient."

(QS. Al-Anbiyaa 21: Verse 74)

 

 

In verse 18:19, when the young men woke up from sleep, they asked one of them to bring food from the city they were in.

 

وَكَذٰلِكَ بَعَثْنٰهُمْ لِيَتَسَآءَلُوا بَيْنَهُمْ  ۚ  قَالَ قَآئِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ  ۖ  قَالُوا لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ  ۚ  قَالُوا رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَابْعَثُوٓا أَحَدَكُمْ بِوَرِقِكُمْ هٰذِهِۦٓ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ أَيُّهَآ أَزْكٰى طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُمْ بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا

"And similarly, We awakened them that they might question one another. Said a speaker from among them, How long have you remained [here]? They said, We have remained a day or part of a day. They said, Your Lord is most knowing of how long you remained. So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the city and let him look to which is the best of food and bring you provision from it and let him be cautious. And let no one be aware of you."

(QS. Al-Kahf 18: Verse 19)

 

In the story of Moosa (AS) and the pious man (Khidr AS), when they reach to a city, her people acted negatively towards them and refused any hospitality - it is referred as قرية in verse 18:77.

فَانْطَلَقَا حَتّٰىٓ إِذَآ أَتَيَآ أَهْلَ قَرْيَةٍ اسْتَطْعَمَآ أَهْلَهَا فَأَبَوْا أَنْ يُضَيِّفُوهُمَا فَوَجَدَا فِيهَا جِدَارًا يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَنْقَضَّ فَأَقَامَهُ ۥ   ۖ  قَالَ لَوْ شِئْتَ لَتَّخَذْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا

"So they set out, until when they came to the people of a town, they asked its people for food, but they refused to offer them hospitality. And they found therein a wall about to collapse, so al-Khidh r restored it. [Moses] said, If you wished, you could have taken for it a payment."

(QS. Al-Kahf 18: Verse 77)

In contrast to above,  when Khidr (AS) told Moosa (AS) that there once was a pious man who lived in the same city whose treasure for his orphan children was buried beneath the wall, he referred to the same city as المدينة in verse 18:82,

 

وَأَمَّا الْجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلٰمَيْنِ يَتِيمَيْنِ فِى الْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحْتَهُ ۥ  كَنْزٌ لَّهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صٰلِحًا فَأَرَادَ رَبُّكَ أَنْ يَبْلُغَآ أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسْتَخْرِجَا كَنْزَهُمَا رَحْمَةً مِّنْ رَّبِّكَ  ۚ  وَمَا فَعَلْتُهُ ۥ  عَنْ أَمْرِى  ۚ  ذٰلِكَ تَأْوِيلُ مَا لَمْ تَسْطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًا

"And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord intended that they reach maturity and extract their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience."

(QS. Al-Kahf 18: Verse 82)

 

 

In verse 27:48, Salih (AS) lived in the city at that time.

 

وَكَانَ فِى الْمَدِينَةِ تِسْعَةُ رَهْطٍ يُفْسِدُونَ فِى الْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ

"And there were in the city nine family heads causing corruption in the land and not amending [its affairs]."

(QS. An-Naml 27: Verse 48)

 

In verse 28:15, Moosa (AS) entered the city mentioned , hence was present in it.

 

وَدَخَلَ الْمَدِينَةَ عَلٰى حِينِ غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلَانِ هٰذَا مِنْ شِيعَتِهِۦ وَهٰذَا مِنْ عَدُوِّهِۦ  ۖ  فَاسْتَغٰثَهُ الَّذِى مِنْ شِيعَتِهِۦ عَلَى الَّذِى مِنْ عَدُوِّهِۦ فَوَكَزَهُ ۥ  مُوسٰى فَقَضٰى عَلَيْهِ  ۖ  قَالَ هٰذَا مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطٰنِ  ۖ  إِنَّهُ ۥ  عَدُوٌّ مُّضِلٌّ مُّبِينٌ

"And he entered the city at a time of inattention by its people and found therein two men fighting: one from his faction and one from among his enemy. And the one from his faction called for help to him against the one from his enemy, so Moses struck him and [unintentionally] killed him. [Moses] said, This is from the work of Satan. Indeed, he is a manifest, misleading enemy."

(QS. Al-Qasas 28: Verse 15)

 

In verse 28:18, Moosa (AS) entered the city mentioned , hence was present in it.

 

فَأَصْبَحَ فِى الْمَدِينَةِ خَآئِفًا يَتَرَقَّبُ فَإِذَا الَّذِى اسْتَنْصَرَهُ ۥ  بِالْأَمْسِ يَسْتَصْرِخُهُ ۥ   ۚ  قَالَ لَهُ ۥ  مُوسٰىٓ إِنَّكَ لَغَوِىٌّ مُّبِينٌ

"And he became inside the city fearful and anticipating [exposure], when suddenly the one who sought his help the previous day cried out to him [once again]. Moses said to him, Indeed, you are an evident, [persistent] deviator."

(QS. Al-Qasas 28: Verse 18)

 

In verse 28:20, Moosa (AS) entered the city mentioned , hence was present in it.

 

 

وَجَآءَ رَجُلٌ مِّنْ أَقْصَا الْمَدِينَةِ يَسْعٰى قَالَ يٰمُوسٰىٓ إِنَّ الْمَلَأَ يَأْتَمِرُونَ بِكَ لِيَقْتُلُوكَ فَاخْرُجْ إِنِّى لَكَ مِنَ النّٰصِحِينَ

"And a man came from the farthest end of the city, running. He said, O Moses, indeed the eminent ones are conferring over you [intending] to kill you, so leave [the city]; indeed, I am to you of the sincere advisors."

(QS. Al-Qasas 28: Verse 20)

 

In verse 36:20, the messengers of Allah (SWT) were present in the city and so was the pious man who came running to tell people to follow the messengers.

وَجَآءَ مِنْ أَقْصَا الْمَدِينَةِ رَجُلٌ يَسْعٰى قَالَ يٰقَوْمِ اتَّبِعُوا الْمُرْسَلِينَ

"And there came from the farthest end of the city a man, running. He said, O my people, follow the messengers."

(QS. Yaseen 36: Verse 20)

 

Above is in contrast to verse 36:13 where same city is referred to as قرية  BEFORE the messengers came to that city,

 

وَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ مَّثَلًا أَصْحٰبَ الْقَرْيَةِ إِذْ جَآءَهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ

"And present to them an example: the people of the city, when the messengers came to it -"

(QS. Yaseen 36: Verse 13)

 

 

Some examples of use of قرية  in the Quran

 

Words قرية and its plural قُرٰى are used more than 55 times in total in the Quran. Below are a few examples.

 

In 2:58 below, the city referred to is Jerusalem which was ruled at that time by Amalekite king Goliath who was a non-believer.

 

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا ادْخُلُوا هٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةَ فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ رَغَدًا وَادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُولُوا حِطَّةٌ نَّغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطٰيٰكُمْ  ۚ  وَسَنَزِيدُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

And [recall] when We said, "Enter this city and eat from it wherever you will in [ease and] abundance, and enter the gate bowing humbly and say, 'Relieve us of our burdens.' We will [then] forgive your sins for you, and We will increase the doers of good [in goodness and reward]."

(QS. Al-Baqara 2: Verse 58)

 

 

.All examples below are self explanatory in terms of their context,

 

وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُقٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ وَالنِّسَآءِ وَالْوِلْدٰنِ الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْ هٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ الظَّالِمِ أَهْلُهَا وَاجْعَل لَّنَا مِنْ لَّدُنْكَ وَلِيًّا وَاجْعَل لَّنَا مِنْ لَّدُنْكَ نَصِيرًا

"And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper?"

(QS. An-Nisaa 4: Verse 75)

 

وَلُوطًا ءَاتَيْنٰهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا وَنَجَّيْنٰهُ مِنَ الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِى كَانَت تَّعْمَلُ الْخَبٰٓئِثَ  ۗ  إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمَ سَوْءٍ فٰسِقِينَ

"And to Lot We gave judgement and knowledge, and We saved him from the city that was committing wicked deeds. Indeed, they were a people of evil, defiantly disobedient."

(QS. Al-Anbiyaa 21: Verse 74)

 

وَلَقَدْ أَتَوْا عَلَى الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِىٓ أُمْطِرَتْ مَطَرَ السَّوْءِ  ۚ  أَفَلَمْ يَكُونُوا يَرَوْنَهَا  ۚ  بَلْ كَانُوا لَا يَرْجُونَ نُشُورًا

"And they have already come upon the town which was showered with a rain of evil. So have they not seen it? But they are not expecting resurrection."

(QS. Al-Furqaan 25: Verse 40)

 

وَمَآ أَهْلَكْنَا مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا وَلَهَا كِتَابٌ مَّعْلُومٌ

"And We did not destroy any city but that for it was a known decree."

(QS. Al-Hijr 15: Verse 4)

 

وَكَمْ قَصَمْنَا مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ كَانَتْ ظَالِمَةً وَأَنْشَأْنَا بَعْدَهَا قَوْمًا ءَاخَرِينَ

"And how many a city which was unjust have We shattered and produced after it another people."

(QS. Al-Anbiyaa 21: Verse 11)

 

وَإِذَآ أَرَدْنَآ أَنْ نُّهْلِكَ قَرْيَةً أَمَرْنَا مُتْرَفِيهَا فَفَسَقُوا فِيهَا فَحَقَّ عَلَيْهَا الْقَوْلُ فَدَمَّرْنٰهَا تَدْمِيرًا

"And when We intend to destroy a city, We command its affluent but they defiantly disobey therein; so the word comes into effect upon it, and We destroy it with [complete] destruction."

(QS. Al-Israa 17: Verse 16)

 

وَتِلْكَ الْقُرٰىٓ أَهْلَكْنٰهُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا وَجَعَلْنَا لِمَهْلِكِهِمْ مَّوْعِدًا

"And those cities - We destroyed them when they wronged, and We made for their destruction an appointed time."

(QS. Al-Kahf 18: Verse 59)

 

وَكَأَيِّنْ مِّنْ قَرْيَةٍ هِىَ أَشَدُّ قُوَّةً مِّنْ قَرْيَتِكَ الَّتِىٓ أَخْرَجَتْكَ أَهْلَكْنٰهُمْ فَلَا نَاصِرَ لَهُمْ

"And how many a city was stronger than your city [Makkah] which drove you out? We destroyed them; and there was no helper for them."

(QS. Muhammad 47: Verse 13)

 

إِنَّا مُنْزِلُونَ عَلٰىٓ أَهْلِ هٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ رِجْزًا مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ

"Indeed, we will bring down on the people of this city punishment from the sky because they have been defiantly disobedient."

(QS. Al-Ankaboot 29: Verse 34)

I would like to conclude with the below Ayats (7:94 to 102) that give a clear picture about الْقُرٰى in general.

 

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا فِى قَرْيَةٍ مِّنْ نَّبِىٍّ إِلَّآ أَخَذْنَآ أَهْلَهَا بِالْبَأْسَآءِ وَالضَّرَّآءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَضَّرَّعُونَ

"And We sent to no city a prophet [who was denied] except that We seized its people with poverty and hardship that they might humble themselves [to Allah]."

(QS. Al-A'raaf 7: Verse 94)

 

ثُمَّ بَدَّلْنَا مَكَانَ السَّيِّئَةِ الْحَسَنَةَ حَتّٰى عَفَوا وَّقَالُوا قَدْ مَسَّ ءَابَآءَنَا الضَّرَّآءُ وَالسَّرَّآءُ فَأَخَذْنٰهُمْ بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

"Then We exchanged in place of the bad [condition], good, until they increased [and prospered] and said, Our fathers [also] were touched with hardship and ease. So We seized them suddenly while they did not perceive."

(QS. Al-A'raaf 7: Verse 95)

 

وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرٰىٓ ءَامَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ بَرَكٰتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلٰكِنْ كَذَّبُوا فَأَخَذْنٰهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ

"And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they were earning."

(QS. Al-A'raaf 7: Verse 96)

 

أَفَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرٰىٓ أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ بَأْسُنَا بَيٰتًا وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ

"Then, did the people of the cities feel secure from Our punishment coming to them at night while they were asleep?"

(QS. Al-A'raaf 7: Verse 97)

 

أَوَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرٰىٓ أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ بَأْسُنَا ضُحًى وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ

"Or did the people of the cities feel secure from Our punishment coming to them in the morning while they were at play?"

(QS. Al-A'raaf 7: Verse 98)

 

أَفَأَمِنُوا مَكْرَ اللَّهِ  ۚ  فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْخٰسِرُونَ

"Then did they feel secure from the plan of Allah? But no one feels secure from the plan of Allah except the losing people."

(QS. Al-A'raaf 7: Verse 99)

 

أَوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لِلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الْأَرْضَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَهْلِهَآ أَنْ لَّوْ نَشَآءُ أَصَبْنٰهُمْ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ  ۚ  وَنَطْبَعُ عَلٰى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ

"Has it not become clear to those who inherited the earth after its [previous] people that if We willed, We could afflict them for their sins? But We seal over their hearts so they do not hear."

(QS. Al-A'raaf 7: Verse 100)

 

تِلْكَ الْقُرٰى نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآئِهَا  ۚ  وَلَقَدْ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنٰتِ فَمَا كَانُوا لِيُؤْمِنُوا بِمَا كَذَّبُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ  ۚ  كَذٰلِكَ يَطْبَعُ اللَّهُ عَلٰى قُلُوبِ الْكٰفِرِينَ

"Those cities - We relate to you, [O Muhammad], some of their news. And certainly did their messengers come to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe in that which they had denied before. Thus does Allah seal over the hearts of the disbelievers."

(QS. Al-A'raaf 7: Verse 101)

 

وَمَا وَجَدْنَا لِأَكْثَرِهِمْ مِّنْ عَهْدٍ  ۖ  وَإِنْ وَجَدْنَآ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَفٰسِقِينَ

"And We did not find for most of them any covenant; but indeed, We found most of them defiantly disobedient."

(QS. Al-A'raaf 7: Verse 102)