Advice From Our Lord

By: Saad Khurshid, Calgary, Alberta

The Quran has advice to us, in order to help us become better human beings and to be successful in both worlds. In this article, we will go through the last 13 verses of Surah Araf and pull out lessons:

"Those ˹idols˺ you invoke besides Allah are created beings like yourselves. So call upon them and see if they will answer you, if your claims are true!" (7:194)

"Do they have feet to walk with? Or hands to hold with? Or eyes to see with? Or ears to hear with? Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Call upon your associate-gods and conspire against me without delay! (7:195)“Indeed, my Protector is Allah Who has revealed this Book. For He ˹alone˺ protects the righteous." (7:196)

"But those ˹false gods˺ you call besides Him can neither help you nor even themselves.” (7:197)

"If you ˹idolaters˺ call them to guidance, they cannot hear. And you ˹O Prophet˺ may see them facing towards you, but they cannot see." (7:198)

"Be gracious, enjoin what is right, and turn away from those who act ignorantly." (7:199)

"If you are tempted by Satan, then seek refuge with Allah. Surely He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing." (7:200)

"Indeed, when Satan whispers to those mindful ˹of Allah˺, they remember ˹their Lord˺ then they start to see ˹things˺ clearly." (7:201)

"But the devils persistently plunge their ˹human˺ associates1 deeper into wickedness, sparing no effort." (7:202)

"If you ˹O Prophet˺ do not bring them a sign ˹which they demanded˺, they ask, “Why do you not make it yourself?” Say, “I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This ˹Quran˺ is an insight from your Lord—a guide and a mercy for those who believe.” (7:203)

"When the Quran is recited, listen to it attentively and be silent, so you may be shown mercy." (7:204)

"Remember your Lord inwardly with humility and reverence and in a moderate tone of voice, both morning and evening. And do not be one of the heedless." (7:205)

"Surely those ˹angels˺ nearest to your Lord are not too proud to worship Him. They glorify Him. And to Him they prostrate." (7:205)

Lessons

Here are a few lessons we received from this passage:

1. False objects of worship are created and have no power.

2. Our protector is Allah (SWT). No one can harm us without the permission of Allah and there is no need to excessively fear others.

3. Be gracious. The term خُذِ ٱلْعَفْوَ has been translated as many things including, hold to forgiveness or pardoning, being gracious, taking what is freely given, which means treat others easily.

4. Enjoin what is right. We should encourage and command what is good.

5. Turn away from those who act ignorantly. This has also been translated as pay no attention to foolish people. Scholars have mentioned that the 3 points in verse 7:199 are important parts of Rasullullah (S) character. Although the last point to turn away from the ignorant may seem odd at the start, but the reality is that if someone does not want to listen, or wants to be ignorant, you cannot force them to listen or use their reason. You can only be gracious and encourage what is good, but if someone does not listen, then it is best to disengage and focus efforts on more productive tasks or people. This lesson is instrumental in dealing with stubborn or difficult people.

6. When you are tempted by Shaitaan, seek refuge with Allah (SWT). This can be through “Auzhobillahi minas Shaitaan ir rajeem”

7. When people who are conscious of Allah remember Allah, they start to see things clearly.

8. But the devils continue to plunge their human associates into wickedness and spare no effort to achieve their goal. Verses 200 give a solution to deal with temptations, which is to seek refuge in Allah, or seek the protection of Allah. Then the next few verses show that either you can seek refuge in Allah, see things clearly for what they are, and, from what I understand, sidestep the temptation. However, some of us will decide to pursue the temptation, and when we get into it, the devils will not stop pursuing their goal to plunge us deeper into wickedness. Therefore, when facing evil, we need to realize that falling into temptations have consequences.

9. The Quran is an insight from our lord, and a mercy and guidance for those who believe. The Quran is a source of benefit to us, it is not a burden on us. This is also mention in surah Yunus, “O mankind, there has to come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers” (10:57)

10. When the Quran is being recited be quiet and listen to it attentively in order to receive mercy. When the Quran is being recited, then listen to it. Listening to the Quran is of benefit to us, as if we listen to it, we can learn from it.

11. Remember Allah (SWT) quietly and inwardly during the evenings and the mornings. In other words take some time to remember Allah in the evenings and the mornings. Rasulullah (S) used to recite morning and evening supplications in the morning and evening. Even if you do not do that, take some time after your Fajr and Asr prayer to remember Allah and supplicate to him. Points 9, 10 and 11 are points that can spiritually uplift us.

Overall, just 13 verses in Surah Aa’raf give us lots of small lessons to help us have the correct trust in Allah (7:194-198), interact with others well (7:199), sidestep temptations (7:200–202) and spiritually improve ourselves (7:203-206). Many people read many self help books to help get these lessons, while the Quran provides these lessons for all of us to learn and benefit from.

Allah knows best.

Photo by Andrej Lišakov on Unsplash