Surah Araf ayat 169 Tafsir Quran 7:169

﴿فَخَلَفَ 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﴾
[ الأعراف: 169]

7:169 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?

And there succeeded after them a generation who inherited the Scripture the Torah from their forefathers choosing the transient things of this inferior life that is the ephemeral aspects of this lowly thing that the world is in the way of what is lawful and what is unlawful and saying ‘It will be forgiven us’ what we have done; and yet if similar transient things were to come to them they would take them wa-in ya’tihim ‘aradun mithluhu ya’khudhūhu this sentence is a circumstantial qualifier in other words they hope for forgiveness whilst committing the same offence again and persisting in it and in the Torah there is no such promise about forgiveness for persistence in sin. Has not the covenant of the Scripture mīthāqu l-kitābi the annexation functions in place of fī ‘in’ sc. ‘the covenant in the Scripture’ been taken a-lam yu’khadh ‘has it not been taken’ is an interrogative meant as an affirmative from them that they should not say about God anything but the truth? And they have studied wa-darasū is a supplement to yu’khadh ‘has it not been taken?’ they have read what is in it so why do they impute lies to it the Scripture by ascribing to it the idea of forgiveness for persistence in sin? And the Abode of the Hereafter is better for those who are wary of what is unlawful. Do they not understand? ya‘qilūn may also be read as ta‘qilūn ‘do you not understand?’ that it is better and so prefer it to the abode of this world?

Then, there came their successors on whom the weight of AL-Tawrah had devolved and the responsibility of subscribing to its precept had fallen. Yet they chose to go by the world and its vanities, and unmerited forgiveness haunted their imagination; They said: We will be forgiven our iniquities, and in vanity they wasted their days. Every opportunity favourable to a wicked end or purpose gave them occasion to a burst of merriment. Do they not recall to the mind that they did subscribe to the covenant Allah had revealed in AL-Tawrah which they have carefully studied; the covenant forbidding them to relate to Allah but the truth and emphasizing that the Hereafter is infinitely far better and more advantageous to those who entertain the profound reverence dutiful to Allah. Can you - people- not reflect

The Children of Israel scatter throughout the Land Allah states that He divided the Jews into various nations, sects and groups, وَقُلْنَا مِن بَعْدِهِ لِبَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ اسْكُنُواْ الاٌّرْضَ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ الاٌّخِرَةِ جِئْنَا بِكُمْ لَفِيفًا ( And We said to the Children of Israel after him (after Musa died ): "Dwell in the land, then, when the final and the last promise comes near, We shall bring you altogether as a mixed crowd ( gathered out of various nations ).")17:104 مِّنْهُمُ الصَّـلِحُونَ وَمِنْهُمْ دُونَ ذَلِكَ ( some of them are righteous and some are away from that ), some of them are led aright and some are not righteous, just as the Jinns declared, وَأَنَّا مِنَّا الصَّـلِحُونَ وَمِنَّا دُونَ ذَلِكَ كُنَّا طَرَآئِقَ قِدَداً ( "There are among us some that are righteous, and some the contrary; we are groups having different ways (religious sects ).") 72:11 Allah said here, وَبَلَوْنَـهُمْ ( And We tried them ), and tested them, بِالْحَسَنَـتِ وَالسَّيِّئَاتِ ( with good and evil ), with times of ease, difficulty, eagerness, fear, well-being and affliction, لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ ( in order that they might turn (to Allah )) Allah said next, فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ وَرِثُواْ الْكِتَـبَ يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَـذَا الاٌّدْنَى ( Then after them succeeded an (evil ) generation, which inherited the Book, but they chose ( for themselves ) the goods of this low life) This Ayah means, after the generation made up of righteous and unrighteous people, another generation came that did not have goodness in them, and they inherited the Tawrah and studied it.
Mujahid commented on Allah's statement, يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَـذَا الاٌّدْنَى ( They chose (for themselves ) the goods of this low life) "They will consume anything they can consume in this life, whether legally or illegally.
Yet, they wish for forgiveness, وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَا وَإِن يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضٌ مِّثْلُهُ يَأْخُذُوهُ ( Saying: "(Everything ) will be forgiven for us." And if ( again ) the offer of the like came their way, they would ( again ) seize them.)" Qatadah commented on Allah's statement, يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَـذَا الاٌّدْنَى ( they chose (for themselves ) the goods of this low life) "This, by Allah, is an evil generation, وَرِثُواْ الْكِتَـبَ ( which inherited the Book ) after their Prophets and Messengers, for they were entrusted with this job by Allah's command to them.
Allah said in another Ayah, فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُواْ الصَّلَـوةَ ( Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who neglect the Salah (the prayers ).) 19:59 Allah said next, يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَـذَا الاٌّدْنَى وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَا ( They chose the goods of this low life saying: "(Everything ) will be forgiven to us.") They wish and hope from Allah, while deceiving themselves, وَإِن يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضٌ مِّثْلُهُ يَأْخُذُوهُ ( And if (again ) the offer of the like came their way, they would ( again ) seize them.) Nothing stops them from this behavior, for whenever they are given an opportunity in this life, they will consume regardless of it being allowed or not." As-Suddi said about Allah's statement, فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ ( Then after them succeeded an (evil ) generation) until, وَدَرَسُواْ مَا فِيهِ ( and they have studied what is in it (the Book ).) "Every time the Children of Israel appointed a judge, he used to take bribes.
The best ones among them held a counsel and took covenants from each that they would not take bribes.
However, when one of them would take bribes in return for judgment and was asked, `What is the matter with you; you take a bribe to grant judgment', he replied, `I will be forgiven.' So the rest of his people would admonish him for what he did.
But when he died, or was replaced, the one who replaced him would take bribes too.
Therefore, Allah says, if the others ( who admonished him ) would have a chance to loot this world, they will take it."' Allah said, أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِم مِّيثَاقُ الْكِتَـبِ أَن لاَّ يِقُولُواْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلاَّ الْحَقَّ ( Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them that they would not say about Allah anything but the truth ) thus, admonishing them for this behavior.
Allah took a pledge from them that they would declare the truth to people and not hide it.
Allah said in another Ayah, وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَـقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَـبَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلاَ تَكْتُمُونَهُ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَاشْتَرَوْاْ بِهِ ثَمَناً قَلِيلاً فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ ( (And remember ) when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture to make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it, but they threw it away behind their backs, and purchased with it some miserable gain! And indeed worst is that which they bought) 3:187.
Ibn Jurayj said that Ibn `Abbas said about the Ayah, أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِم مِّيثَاقُ الْكِتَـبِ أَن لاَّ يِقُولُواْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلاَّ الْحَقَّ ( Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them that they would not say about Allah anything but the truth ), "Their claim that Allah will forgive the sins they keep committing without repenting from them." Allah said, وَالدَّارُ الاٌّخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ ( And the home in the Hereafter is better for those who have Taqwa Do not you then understand ) Encouraging them to seek Allah's tremendous reward and warning them against His severe torment.
Allah says here, `My reward and what I have are better for those who avoid prohibitions, abandon lusts and become active in the obedience of their Lord.' أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ ( Do not you then understand ) Allah says' Do not these people, who preferred this life instead of what is with Me, have any sense to prohibit them from their foolish and extravagant ways' Allah then praises those who adhere to His Book, which directs them to follow His Messenger Muhammad , وَالَّذِينَ يُمَسِّكُونَ بِالْكِتَـبِ ( And as to those who hold fast to the Book ) adhere to it, implement its commands and refrain from its prohibitions, وَأَقَامُواْ الصَّلَوةَ إِنَّا لاَ نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُصْلِحِينَ ( and perform the Salah, certainly We shall never waste the reward of those who do righteous deeds. )

(7:169) Then others succeeded them who inherited the scriptures, and yet kept themselves occupied in acquiring the goods of this world and kept saying: 'We shall be forgiven.' And when there comes to them an opportunity for acquiring more of those goods, they seize it. *129 Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them that they would not ascribe to Allah anything but the truth? And they have read what is in the Book *130 and know that the abode of the Hereafter is better for the God-fearing. *131 Do you not understand?

And there followed them successors who inherited meaning

*129).
The Jews knowingly commit sins in the belief that being God's chosen people they will necessarily be pardoned and spared God's punishment.
As a result of this misconception, they neither repent nor refrain from committing sins.
How unfortunate the Jews are! They received the Scriptures which could have made them leaders of all mankind.
But they were so petty-minded that they aspired to nothing higher than paltry worldly benefits.
Thus even though they had the potential of becoming the upholders of justice and righteousness across the world they ended up merely as worshippers of this world.

*130).
The people of Israel know well that the Torah does not unconditionally assure them salvation.
They have never been promised by God or any of His Prophets that they will attain deliverance no matter what they do.
Therefore they have absolutely no right to ascribe to God something which He never told them.
What makes their crime even worse is that their claim to unconditional salvation constitutes a sacrilege of their covenant with God whereby they pledged never to attribute any false statement to God.

*131).
The above verse has two renderings.
It may be either translated as above or it may be rendered thus: 'For the righteous, only the home in the Hereafter is the best.' Going by the first rendering, the verse means that salvation is not the exclusive privilege of a particular person or a family.
It is absolutely out of the question that one will attain deliverance even if one commits sins, simply on account of being a Jew.
A little reflection will help one realize that only the righteous and God-fearing will be rewarded in the Hereafter.
In the light of the second rendering, only the unrighteous prefer worldly, gains to reward in the Hereafter.
As for the righteous, they are conscious of the importance of the Hereafter and hence forego worldly benefits for the sake of reward in the Next World.

 

The Children of Israel scatter throughout the Land Allah states that He divided the Jews into various nations, sects and groups, وَقُلْنَا مِن بَعْدِهِ لِبَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ اسْكُنُواْ الاٌّرْضَ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ الاٌّخِرَةِ جِئْنَا بِكُمْ لَفِيفًا ( And We said to the Children of Israel after him (after Musa died ): "Dwell in the land, then, when the final and the last promise comes near, We shall bring you altogether as a mixed crowd ( gathered out of various nations ).")17:104 مِّنْهُمُ الصَّـلِحُونَ وَمِنْهُمْ دُونَ ذَلِكَ ( some of them are righteous and some are away from that ), some of them are led aright and some are not righteous, just as the Jinns declared, وَأَنَّا مِنَّا الصَّـلِحُونَ وَمِنَّا دُونَ ذَلِكَ كُنَّا طَرَآئِقَ قِدَداً ( "There are among us some that are righteous, and some the contrary; we are groups having different ways (religious sects ).") 72:11 Allah said here, وَبَلَوْنَـهُمْ ( And We tried them ), and tested them, بِالْحَسَنَـتِ وَالسَّيِّئَاتِ ( with good and evil ), with times of ease, difficulty, eagerness, fear, well-being and affliction, لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ ( in order that they might turn (to Allah )) Allah said next, فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ وَرِثُواْ الْكِتَـبَ يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَـذَا الاٌّدْنَى ( Then after them succeeded an (evil ) generation, which inherited the Book, but they chose ( for themselves ) the goods of this low life) This Ayah means, after the generation made up of righteous and unrighteous people, another generation came that did not have goodness in them, and they inherited the Tawrah and studied it.
Mujahid commented on Allah's statement, يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَـذَا الاٌّدْنَى ( They chose (for themselves ) the goods of this low life) "They will consume anything they can consume in this life, whether legally or illegally.
Yet, they wish for forgiveness, وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَا وَإِن يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضٌ مِّثْلُهُ يَأْخُذُوهُ ( Saying: "(Everything ) will be forgiven for us." And if ( again ) the offer of the like came their way, they would ( again ) seize them.)" Qatadah commented on Allah's statement, يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَـذَا الاٌّدْنَى ( they chose (for themselves ) the goods of this low life) "This, by Allah, is an evil generation, وَرِثُواْ الْكِتَـبَ ( which inherited the Book ) after their Prophets and Messengers, for they were entrusted with this job by Allah's command to them.
Allah said in another Ayah, فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُواْ الصَّلَـوةَ ( Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who neglect the Salah (the prayers ).) 19:59 Allah said next, يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَـذَا الاٌّدْنَى وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَا ( They chose the goods of this low life saying: "(Everything ) will be forgiven to us.") They wish and hope from Allah, while deceiving themselves, وَإِن يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضٌ مِّثْلُهُ يَأْخُذُوهُ ( And if (again ) the offer of the like came their way, they would ( again ) seize them.) Nothing stops them from this behavior, for whenever they are given an opportunity in this life, they will consume regardless of it being allowed or not." As-Suddi said about Allah's statement, فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ ( Then after them succeeded an (evil ) generation) until, وَدَرَسُواْ مَا فِيهِ ( and they have studied what is in it (the Book ).) "Every time the Children of Israel appointed a judge, he used to take bribes.
The best ones among them held a counsel and took covenants from each that they would not take bribes.
However, when one of them would take bribes in return for judgment and was asked, `What is the matter with you; you take a bribe to grant judgment', he replied, `I will be forgiven.' So the rest of his people would admonish him for what he did.
But when he died, or was replaced, the one who replaced him would take bribes too.
Therefore, Allah says, if the others ( who admonished him ) would have a chance to loot this world, they will take it."' Allah said, أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِم مِّيثَاقُ الْكِتَـبِ أَن لاَّ يِقُولُواْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلاَّ الْحَقَّ ( Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them that they would not say about Allah anything but the truth ) thus, admonishing them for this behavior.
Allah took a pledge from them that they would declare the truth to people and not hide it.
Allah said in another Ayah, وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَـقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَـبَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلاَ تَكْتُمُونَهُ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَاشْتَرَوْاْ بِهِ ثَمَناً قَلِيلاً فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ ( (And remember ) when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture to make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it, but they threw it away behind their backs, and purchased with it some miserable gain! And indeed worst is that which they bought) 3:187.
Ibn Jurayj said that Ibn `Abbas said about the Ayah, أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِم مِّيثَاقُ الْكِتَـبِ أَن لاَّ يِقُولُواْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلاَّ الْحَقَّ ( Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them that they would not say about Allah anything but the truth ), "Their claim that Allah will forgive the sins they keep committing without repenting from them." Allah said, وَالدَّارُ الاٌّخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ ( And the home in the Hereafter is better for those who have Taqwa Do not you then understand ) Encouraging them to seek Allah's tremendous reward and warning them against His severe torment.
Allah says here, `My reward and what I have are better for those who avoid prohibitions, abandon lusts and become active in the obedience of their Lord.' أَفَلاَ تَعْقِلُونَ ( Do not you then understand ) Allah says' Do not these people, who preferred this life instead of what is with Me, have any sense to prohibit them from their foolish and extravagant ways' Allah then praises those who adhere to His Book, which directs them to follow His Messenger Muhammad , وَالَّذِينَ يُمَسِّكُونَ بِالْكِتَـبِ ( And as to those who hold fast to the Book ) adhere to it, implement its commands and refrain from its prohibitions, وَأَقَامُواْ الصَّلَوةَ إِنَّا لاَ نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُصْلِحِينَ ( and perform the Salah, certainly We shall never waste the reward of those who do righteous deeds. )

( And a generation hath succeeded them ) a generation of people succeeded the righteous ones, but their successors, among the Jews, were evil ( who inherited the Scriptures ) they took the Scripture and concealed the traits and description of Muhammad ( pbuh ) that is in it. ( They grasp the goods of this low life (as the price of evil doing )) they take bribes and other unlawful stuff of this world in exchange for concealing the traits and description of Muhammad ( pbuh ) ( and say: It will be forgiven us ) the sins we commit at night shall be forgiven during the day, and the sins we commit in the day shall be forgiven at night. ( And if there came to them (again )) today ( the offer of the like ) similar to the unlawful that had come to them before, ( they would accept it ) and declaring to be lawful. ( Hath not the covenant of the Scripture been taken on their behalf that they should not speak aught concerning Allah save the Truth? And they have studied that which is therein ) of the traits and attributes of Muhammad ( pbuh ); it is also said that this means: they studied what is in it of the lawful and the unlawful but did not act upon it. ( And the abode of the Hereafter ) i.e. Paradise ( is better, for those who ward off (evil )) ward off disbelief, idolatry, indecencies, bribery and changing the traits and description of the Prophet ( pbuh ) in the Torah. Warding off these is better than the abode of the life of this world. ( Have ye then no sense? ) do you not realise that the life of this world is vanishing and the Hereafter is everlasting?

Then after them succeeded an (evil) generation, which inherited the Book, but they chose (for themselves) the goods of this low life (evil pleasures of this world) saying (as an excuse): "(Everything) will be forgiven to us." And if (again) the offer of the like (evil pleasures of this world) came their way, they would (again) seize them (would commit those sins). Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them that they would not say about Allah anything but the truth? And they have studied what is in it (the Book). And the home of the Hereafter is better for those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V. 2:2). Do not you then understand?

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