Revealed during the late Makkan period, Surah Al-A'raf (The Heights) acts as a sweeping historical and cosmic narrative that chronicles the eternal battle between divine guidance and satanic deception. It was sent down to console the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and warn the arrogant leadership of Makkah by extensively detailing the tragic fates of previous nations—such as the people of Noah, Hud, Salih, Lot, and Shu'ayb—who defied their messengers and faced divine ruin. The chapter traces the origins of this human struggle back to the very beginning, vividly depicting Satan’s arrogant refusal to bow to Adam, his expulsion, and his vow to mislead humanity, serving as a profound psychological warning against the destructive nature of pride. It takes its name from a powerful scene on the Day of Judgment depicting "The Heights," a massive partition where people whose good and bad deeds are perfectly equal wait in suspense, observing the inhabitants of both Paradise and Hellfire. By highlighting the primordial covenant where every human soul inherently testified to God's Lordship before physical birth, the Surah reminds humanity that recognizing the Creator is embedded in their nature, ultimately urging them to heed the lessons of history, cling to the mercy of revelation, and walk the path of humility.
Transliteration
Aliflammeemsad
Translation
Alif, Lam, Meem, Saad
Transliteration
Kitabun onzila ilayka fala yakun fee sadrika harajun minhu litunthira bihi wathikra lilmumineena
Translation
A Scripture was revealed to you, so let there be no anxiety in your heart because of it. You are to warn with it—and a reminder for the believers
Transliteration
IttabiAAoo ma onzila ilaykum min rabbikum wala tattabiAAoo min doonihi awliyaa qaleelan ma tathakkaroona
Translation
Follow what is revealed to you from your Lord, and do not follow other masters beside Him. Little you recollect
Transliteration
Wakam min qaryatin ahlaknaha fajaaha basuna bayatan aw hum qailoona
Translation
How many a town have We destroyed? Our might came upon them by night, or while they were napping
Transliteration
Fama kana daAAwahum ith jaahum basuna illa an qaloo inna kunna thalimeena
Translation
When Our might came upon them, their only cry was, “We were indeed wrongdoers.”
Transliteration
Falanasalanna allatheena orsila ilayhim walanasalanna almursaleena
Translation
We will question those to whom messengers were sent, and We will question the messengers
Transliteration
Falanaqussanna AAalayhim biAAilmin wama kunna ghaibeena
Translation
We will narrate to them with knowledge, for We were never absent
Transliteration
Waalwaznu yawmaithini alhaqqu faman thaqulat mawazeenuhu faolaika humu almuflihoona
Translation
The scales on that Day will be just. Those whose weights are heavy—it is they who are the successful
Transliteration
Waman khaffat mawazeenuhu faolaika allatheena khasiroo anfusahum bima kanoo biayatina yathlimoona
Translation
But as for those whose weights are light—it is they who have lost their souls, because they used to mistreat Our revelations
Transliteration
Walaqad makkannakum fee alardi wajaAAalna lakum feeha maAAayisha qaleelan ma tashkuroona
Translation
We have established you firmly on earth, and made for you in it livelihood—but rarely do you give thanks
Transliteration
Walaqad khalaqnakum thumma sawwarnakum thumma qulna lilmalaikati osjudoo liadama fasajadoo illa ibleesa lam yakun mina alssajideena
Translation
We created you, then We shaped you, then We said to the angels, “Bow down before Adam;” so they bowed down, except for Satan; he was not of those who bowed down
Transliteration
Qala ma manaAAaka alla tasjuda ith amartuka qala ana khayrun minhu khalaqtanee min narin wakhalaqtahu min teenin
Translation
He said, “What prevented you from bowing down when I have commanded you?” He said, “I am better than he; You created me from fire, and You created him from mud.”
Transliteration
Qala faihbit minha fama yakoonu laka an tatakabbara feeha faokhruj innaka mina alssaghireena
Translation
He said, “Get down from it! It is not for you to act arrogantly in it. Get out! You are one of the lowly!”
Transliteration
Qala anthirnee ila yawmi yubAAathoona
Translation
He said, “Give me respite, until the Day they are resurrected.”
Transliteration
Qala innaka mina almunthareena
Translation
He said, “You are of those given respite.”
Transliteration
Qala fabima aghwaytanee laaqAAudanna lahum sirataka almustaqeema
Translation
He said, “Because you have lured me, I will waylay them on Your straight path
Transliteration
Thumma laatiyannahum min bayni aydeehim wamin khalfihim waAAan aymanihim waAAan shamailihim wala tajidu aktharahum shakireena
Translation
Then I will come at them from before them, and from behind them, and from their right, and from their left; and you will not find most of them appreciative.”
Transliteration
Qala okhruj minha mathooman madhooran laman tabiAAaka minhum laamlaanna jahannama minkum ajmaAAeena
Translation
He said, “Get out of it, despised and vanquished. Whoever among them follows you—I will fill up Hell with you all
Transliteration
Waya adamu oskun anta wazawjuka aljannata fakula min haythu shituma wala taqraba hathihi alshshajarata fatakoona mina alththalimeena
Translation
And you, Adam, inhabit the Garden, you and your wife, and eat whatever you wish; but do not approach this tree, lest you become sinners.”
Transliteration
Fawaswasa lahuma alshshaytanu liyubdiya lahuma ma wooriya AAanhuma min sawatihima waqala ma nahakuma rabbukuma AAan hathihi alshshajarati illa an takoona malakayni aw takoona mina alkhalideena
Translation
But Satan whispered to them, to reveal to them their nakedness, which was invisible to them. He said, “Your Lord has only forbidden you this tree, lest you become angels, or become immortals.”