الأعراف
Al Araf
Verses
206
Revelation
Makki
Period
Late Makkan
Surah No.
7 / 114
Al-A'raf is one of the longest Makkan surahs, named after the elevated barrier between Paradise and Hellfire. It recounts the stories of multiple prophets (Adam, Nuh, Hud, Salih, Lut, Shu'ayb, and Musa) and the punishment of their peoples to warn the Quraysh that their rejection of the Prophet would bring similar consequences. The surah covers the story of humanity from the creation of Adam to the final judgement.
أسباب النزول
Revealed during the middle to late Makkan period when the Prophet faced intense opposition. The extended narratives of previous prophets were meant to console the Prophet and warn the Quraysh that civilisations far mightier than theirs had been destroyed for rejecting divine guidance. Verses 163-166 regarding the people of the town on the Sabbath were particularly directed at the Jewish communities whose history was known to the Arabs.
“Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days.”
This verse about the creation of the cosmos was revealed to establish Allah's absolute sovereignty and to refute the polytheist claim that other beings shared in divine power or creation.
“And when your Lord took from the children of Adam, from their loins, their descendants and made them testify of themselves: Am I not your Lord? They said: Yes, we have testified.”
The verse of the primordial covenant (Mithaq), describing how all human souls testified to Allah's lordship before being sent into the world. This verse explains the innate human disposition (fitra) toward monotheism.
The surah is recommended for recitation in Friday prayer according to the practice of the Prophet's companions.