Sūra VII.: A’rāf, or the Heights

Section 12

94. Wama arsalna fee qaryatin min nabiyyin illa akhathna ahlaha bialba/sa-i waalddarra-i laAAallahum yaddarraAAoona

94. Whenever We sent a prophet
To a town, We took up
Its people in suffering
And adversity, in order
That they might learn humility.

95. Thumma baddalna makana alssayyi-ati alhasanata hatta AAafaw waqaloo qad massa abaana alddarrao waalssarrao faakhathnahum baghtatan wahum la yashAAuroona

95. Then We changed their suffering
Into prosperity, until they grew
And multiplied, and began
To say: "Our fathers (too)
Were touched by suffering
And affluence"… Behold!
We called them to account
Of a sudden, while they
Realised not (their peril).

96. Walaw anna ahla alqura amanoo waittaqaw lafatahna AAalayhim barakatin mina alssama-i waal-ardi walakin kaththaboo faakhathnahum bima kanoo yaksiboona

96. If the people of the towns
Had but believed and feared
God, We should indeed
Have opened out to them
(All kinds of) blessings
From heaven and earth;
But they rejected (the truth),
And We brought them
To book for their misdeeds.

97. Afaamina ahlu alqura an ya/tiyahum ba/suna bayatan wahum na-imoona

97. Did the people of the towns
Feel secure against the coming
Of Our wrath by night
While they were asleep?

98. Awa amina ahlu alqura an ya/tiyahum ba/suna duhan wahum yalAAaboona

98. Or else did they feel
Secure against its coming
In broad daylight while they
Played about (care-free)?

99. Afaaminoo makra Allahi fala ya/manu makra Allahi illa alqawmu alkhasiroona

99. Did they then feel secure
Against the Plan of God?—
But no one can feel
Secure from the Plan
Of God, except those
(Doomed) to ruin!

Next: Section 13 (100-108)