Key Themes of Surah Al-A’raf
Among the prominent themes of Surah Al-A’raf are the following:
- Establishing the authority of the Holy Quran.
The Surah presents evidence of the oneness of Allah (Glory be to Him) and includes verses that guide the faithful while warning those who oppose and deny the truth. Furthermore, it elucidates the objectives pursued by the Islamic message in the city of Makkah.
- Emphasizing the necessity of believing in Allah alone without partners.
It underscores the importance of acknowledging the Islamic message in general and the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in particular, as well as affirming the principles of resurrection, accountability, and recompense.
- Reminding people of Allah’s blessings.
The Surah highlights the various blessings that Allah has bestowed upon His servants, such as creating humans in the best form and making the earth and all its bounties subservient to mankind. This narrative is intertwined with a tone of warning that outlines the potential punishment from Allah, illustrated through the examples of past nations and the demise that befell them due to their defiance against their prophets.
- Narrating the stories of the prophets and their communities.
It recounts the dialogues that took place between each prophet and their people, focusing on the denial and rejection faced by these communities. As a result, their punishment in this world preceded their judgment in the Hereafter. The retelling of these stories constitutes a substantial portion of the verses within this noble Surah.
The divine wisdom behind presenting these narratives in the Quranic verses is to serve as a lesson and a cautionary tale. This approach aligns with the preceding Surah Al-An’am, where the focus was primarily on presenting evidence and urging polytheists to reflect and believe.
Surah Al-A’raf follows a dual method of encouragement and warning after providing evidence. It concludes by reaffirming that guidance and misguidance lie in Allah’s hands; those who contemplate and learn from these stories will find guidance, while those who neglect to reflect will go astray and disbelieve.
Introduction to Surah Al-A’raf
Surah Al-A’raf is unanimously recognized as a Meccan Surah, situated between Surahs Al-Baqarah and Al-Nisa. It is classified among the seven lengthy Surahs and ranks third in length, containing a total of 206 verses.
This Surah is located in the eighth part of the Quran, positioned after Surah Al-An’am and before Surah Al-Anfal.
Reasons for the Revelation of Surah Al-A’raf
Surah Al-A’raf was revealed to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) after Surah Sad and prior to Surah Al-Jinn. The latter Surah was revealed while the Prophet was returning from Ta’if to Makkah, where he had gone to invite its inhabitants to embrace the message of Islam. Therefore, the revelation of Surah Al-A’raf occurred during the period between the migration to Abyssinia and the event of Isra and Mi’raj.
Maqatil bin Sulayman stated that Surah Al-A’raf contains primarily Meccan verses, except for the part where Allah (Glory be to Him) mentions: “And ask them about the city that was by the sea…” and extends to “And when your Lord took from the children of Adam, from their backs, their descendants.” The name “Al-A’raf” is derived from the mention of the owners of Al-A’raf in the verse: “And the owners of Al-A’raf called to men whom they recognized by their marks, saying, ‘What has your gathering availed you and what you used to be arrogant about?'”
It has also been narrated by Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) recited Surah Al-A’raf during the Maghrib prayer, dividing it into two rak’ahs.