Sūra VII.: A’rāf, or the Heights

Section 2

11. Walaqad khalaqnakum thumma sawwarnakum thumma qulna lilmala-ikati osjudoo li-adama fasajadoo illa ibleesa lam yakun mina alssajideena

11. It is We Who created you
And gave you shape;
Then We bade the angels
Bow down to Adam, and they
Bowed down; not so Iblīs;
He refused to be of those
Who bow down.

12. Qala ma manaAAaka alla tasjuda ith amartuka qala ana khayrun minhu khalaqtanee min narin wakhalaqtahu min teenin

12. (God) said: "What prevented
Thee from bowing down
When I commanded thee?"
He said: "I am better
Than he: Thou didst create
Me from fire, and him from clay."

13. Qala faihbit minha fama yakoonu laka an tatakabbara feeha faokhruj innaka mina alssaghireena

13. (God) said: "Get thee down
From this: it is not
For thee to be arrogant
Here: get out, for thou
Art of the meanest (of creatures)."

14. Qala anthirnee ila yawmi yubAAathoona

14. He said: "Give me respite
Till the day they are
Raised up."

15. Qala innaka mina almunthareena

15. (God) said: "Be thou
Among those who have respite."

16. Qala fabima aghwaytanee laaqAAudanna lahum sirataka almustaqeema

16. He said: "Because thou
Hast thrown me out
Of the Way, lo! I will
Lie in wait for them
On Thy Straight Way:

17. Thumma laatiyannahum min bayni aydeehim wamin khalfihim waAAan aymanihim waAAan shama-ilihim wala tajidu aktharahum shakireena

17. "Then will I assault them
From before them and behind them,
From their right and their left:
Nor wilt Thou find,
In most of them,
Gratitude (for Thy mercies).

18. Qala okhruj minha mathooman madhooran laman tabiAAaka minhum laamlaanna jahannama minkum ajmaAAeena

18. (God) said: "Get out
From this, disgraced
And expelled. If any
Of them follow thee,—
Hell will I fill
With you all.

19. Waya adamu oskun anta wazawjuka aljannata fakula min haythu shi/tuma wala taqraba hathihi alshshajarata fatakoona mina alththalimeena

19. "O Adam! dwell thou
And thy wife in the Garden,
And enjoy (its good things)
As ye wish: but approach not
This tree, or ye run
Into harm and transgression."

20. Fawaswasa lahuma alshshaytanu liyubdiya lahuma ma wooriya AAanhuma min saw-atihima waqala ma nahakuma rabbukuma AAan hathihi alshshajarati illa an takoona malakayni aw takoona mina alkhalideena

20. Then began Satan to whisper
Suggestions to them, bringing
Openly before their minds
All their shame
That was hidden from them
(Before): he said: "Your Lord
Only forbade you this tree,
Lest ye should become angels
Or such beings as live for ever."

21. Waqasamahuma innee lakuma lamina alnnasiheena

21. And he swore to them
Both, that he was
Their sincere adviser.

22. Fadallahuma bighuroorin falamma thaqa alshshajarata badat lahuma saw-atuhuma watafiqa yakhsifani AAalayhima min waraqi aljannati wanadahuma rabbuhuma alam anhakuma AAan tilkuma alshshajarati waaqul lakuma inna alshshaytana lakuma AAaduwwun mubeenun

22. So by deceit he brought about
Their fall: when they
Tasted of the tree,
Their shame became manifest
To them, and they began
To sew together the leaves
Of the Garden over their bodies.
And their Lord called
Unto them: "Did I not
Forbid you that tree,
And tell you that Satan
Was an avowed
Enemy unto you?"

23. Qala rabbana thalamna anfusana wa-in lam taghfir lana watarhamna lanakoonanna mina alkhasireena

23. They said: "Our Lord!
We have wronged our own souls:
If Thou forgive us not
And bestow not upon us
Thy Mercy, we shall
Certainly be lost."

24. Qala ihbitoo baAAdukum libaAAdin AAaduwwun walakum fee al-ardi mustaqarrun wamataAAun ila heenin

24. (God) said: "Get ye down,
With enmity between yourselves.
On earth will be your dwelling-place
And your means of livelihood,—
For a time."

25. Qala feeha tahyawna wafeeha tamootoona waminha tukhrajoona

25. He said: "Therein shall ye
Live, and therein shall ye
Die; but from it shall ye
Be taken out (at last)."

Next: Section 3 (26-31)