Surah Al-A'raf Verse 168 - Read, Listen, Translation, English : And We divided them throughout the earth into nations. Of…

Al-A'raf · 168/206

Translation Transliteration — Al-A'raf

وَقَطَّعْنَاهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ أُمَمًا ۖ مِّنْهُمُ الصَّالِحُونَ وَمِنْهُمْ دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَبَلَوْنَاهُم بِالْحَسَنَاتِ وَالسَّيِّئَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ ۝١٦٨

🔤 Transliteration

Wa qatta`naahum fil ardi umamam minhumus aalihoona wa min hum doona zaalika wa balawnaahum bilhasanaati wassaiyi aati la`allahum yarji`oon

📖 Translation (English Meaning)

📖 English Meaning

And We divided them throughout the earth into nations. Of them some were righteous, and of them some were otherwise. And We tested them with good [times] and bad that perhaps they would return [to obedience].

🌐 Additional reference in Français

📜

Translation — Tafsir

Word Meanings:

Qatta'nāhum – We divided them, scattered them, and dispersed them.
Umaman – Communities, groups, or nations (plural of *ummah*).
As-Ṣāliḥūn – The righteous, those who fulfill the rights of Allah and the rights of His servants.
Dūna dhālika – Below that rank; those who fall short of righteousness, including the negligent and the disbelievers.
Balawnāhum – We tested them, tried them, and put them through trials.
Al-Ḥasanāt – The good things, blessings, prosperity, and ease.
As-Sayyi'āt – The bad things, hardships, afflictions, and calamities.
Yarji'ūn – They might return, turn back, or repent.

Explanation of the Verse:

After the Children of Israel broke their covenant and rebelled against Allah's commands, Allah decreed that they would be scattered across the earth as separate communities, never again united under one rule or one land. This was both a punishment for their transgression and a test of their patience and faith. Among these scattered groups, some remained righteous—steadfast in their worship of Allah, upholding His rights and the rights of His creation. Others fell short of that rank, becoming negligent in their duties, while still others went even further, sinking into disbelief and open sin.

Allah then tells us that He tested these communities with both good times and hard times. He gave them periods of prosperity, abundant provision, and ease, to see whether they would be grateful and obedient. He also afflicted them with hardship, poverty, illness, and calamities, to see whether they would turn back to Him in humility and repentance. The ultimate purpose of all these trials—whether pleasant or painful—was to bring them back to the straight path, to awaken their hearts, and to lead them away from their arrogance and rebellion.

This verse carries a profound lesson for all of humanity: the alternation of ease and difficulty in life is not random. It is a divine method of education and purification. Prosperity tests our gratitude, while adversity tests our patience. Both are opportunities to draw closer to Allah, to remember Him, and to correct our course before we meet Him.

A Da'wah Reflection:

Dear reader, look at the wisdom of your Lord! He does not leave His servants unchecked. When we stray, He sends us gentle reminders—sometimes through blessings, to soften our hearts, and sometimes through trials, to wake us from heedlessness. Every blessing you enjoy is a call to thankfulness, and every difficulty you face is a call to return to Him. Do not let either pass you by without reflection. The door of repentance is always open, and your Lord's mercy is far greater than your sins. Turn to Him today, before the final test arrives—the test from which there is no return. He is waiting for you with open arms, for He says: *"Call upon Me; I will respond to you"* (Ghāfir 40:60).

🎧 Listen

📜 Verse 166-170 — Al-A'raf

166فَلَمَّا عَتَوْا عَن مَّا نُهُوا عَنْهُ قُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا قِرَدَةً خَاسِئِينَ

So when they were insolent about that which they had been forbidden, We said to them, "Be apes, despised."

167وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكَ لَيَبْعَثَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ مَن يَسُومُهُمْ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَسَرِيعُ الْعِقَابِ ۖ وَإِنَّهُ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

And [mention] when your Lord declared that He would surely [continue to] send upon them until the Day of Resurrection those who would afflict them with the worst torment. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.

168وَقَطَّعْنَاهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ أُمَمًا ۖ مِّنْهُمُ الصَّالِحُونَ وَمِنْهُمْ دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَبَلَوْنَاهُم بِالْحَسَنَاتِ وَالسَّيِّئَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

169فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ وَرِثُوا الْكِتَابَ يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَٰذَا الْأَدْنَىٰ وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَا وَإِن يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضٌ مِّثْلُهُ يَأْخُذُوهُ ۚ أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِم مِّيثَاقُ الْكِتَابِ أَن لَّا يَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْحَقَّ وَدَرَسُوا مَا فِيهِ ۗ وَالدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

And there followed them successors who inherited the Scripture [while] taking the commodities of this lower life and saying, "It will be forgiven for us." And if an offer like it comes to them, they will [again] take it. Was not the covenant of the Scripture taken from them that they would not say about Allah except the truth, and they studied what was in it? And the home of the Hereafter is better for those who fear Allah, so will you not use reason?

170وَالَّذِينَ يُمَسِّكُونَ بِالْكِتَابِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُصْلِحِينَ

But those who hold fast to the Book and establish prayer - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of the reformers.

← Verse 167 📖 Al-A'raf Verse 169 →

Al-A'rafQuran Index

206Verse

MeccanRevelation

168Verse

Translation — Al-A'raf 168

Surah Al-A'raf Verse 168 - Read, Listen, Translation, English : And We divided them throughout the earth into nations. Of…

Surah Verse 168/206 — Al-A'raf الأعراف (Meccan). Read Listen Translation (English). Listen: Al-A'raf Listen, Al-A'raf Translation, Al-A'raf mp3, Al-A'raf pdf. Verse 166–170. English Meaning: Français.

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