Al-Qur'an Surah Al-A'raf Verse 100

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Have all these events still not taught a lesson to those who inherit the land after its (former) inhabitants, that if We so willed, We could afflict them for their sins? But We seal their hearts, so that they do not listen.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Is it not clear to those who take over the land after ˹the destruction of˺ its former residents that—if We will—We can punish them ˹too˺ for their sins and seal their hearts so they will not hear ˹the truth˺?

Ruwwad Translation Center

Is it not clear to those who inherit the land after its former people that, if We so willed, We could punish them for their sins and seal up their hearts so that they do not hear?

A. J. Arberry

Is it not a guidance to those who inherit the earth after those who inhabited it that, did We will, We would smite them because of their sins, sealing their hearts so they do not hear?

Abdul Haleem

Is it not clear to those who inherit the land from former generations that We can punish them too for their sins if We will? And seal up their hearts so that they cannot hear?

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Guideth it not those who inherit the land after the people thereof, that, had We willed, We would have afflicted them for their sins? And We have put a seal upon their hearts, so that they hearken not.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

To those who inherit the earth in succession to its (previous) possessors, is it not a guiding, (lesson) that, if We so willed, We could punish them (too) for their sins, and seal up their hearts so that they could not hear?

Abul Ala Maududi

Has it not, then, become plain to those who have inherited the earth in the wake of the former generations that, had We so willed, We could have afflicted them for their sins, (they, however, are heedless to basic facts and so) We seal their hearts so that they hear nothing.

Ahmed Ali

Do not the people who inherited the earth from the (earlier) inhabitants perceive that We could afflict them too for their sins if We pleased, and put seals on their hearts that they may not hear (the voice of truth)?

Ahmed Raza Khan

Or did not those who inherited the land after its owners, get enough guidance that if We will, We can afflict them with calamity for their sins? And We set seals upon their hearts so they do not hear.

Ali Quli Qarai

Does it not dawn upon those who inherited the earth after its [former] inhabitants that if We wish We will punish them for their sins, and set a seal on their hearts so they would not hear?

Ali Ünal

Has it not, then, become clear to those who have inherited the earth in the wake of former generations that, if We so willed, We could strike them for their sins? But (they are unresponsive to the meaning of events because, in consequence of their wrongdoing, their misguided attitudes and arrogance, and the grave sins they commit) We impress their hearts with a seal so that they cannot hear (the revealed truths and any admonition).

Amatul Rahman Omar

Does it not serve as guidance to those who have inherited the earth from its (previous) occupants that, if We will, We can afflict them (with some punishment) for their sins and put a seal upon their hearts, so that they will not be able to listen (to some guiding advice).

English Literal

Or did He not guide to those inheriting the earth/Planet Earth from after its people , that if We will/want, We struck/marked them because of their crimes, and We stamp/cover/seal on their hearts/minds , so they do not hear/listen?

Faridul Haque

Or did not those who inherited the land after its owners, get enough guidance that if We will, We can afflict them with calamity for their sins? And We set seals upon their hearts so they do not hear.

Hamid S. Aziz

Is it not a guidance (lesson) shown to those who inherit the earth after its (former) people, that, did We please, We would smite them in their sins, and would set a stamp upon their heart that they should not hear?

Hilali & Khan

Is it not clear to those who inherit the earth in succession from its (previous) possessors, that had We willed, We would have punished them for their sins. And We seal up their hearts so that they hear not?

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Are they secure from Allah’s plan? But none feels secure from Allah’s plan except the people who perish.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Is it not clear to those who inherit the earth after its (former) residents that if We please We would afflict them on account of their faults and set a seal on their hearts so they would not hear.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Is it not an indication to those who inherit the land after its people (who thus reaped the consequence of evil-doing) that, if We will, We can smite them for their sins and print upon their hearts so that they hear not?

Muhammad Sarwar

Is it not a lesson for the successors of the past generations that had We wanted, We could have punished them for their sins, sealed their hearts and deprived them of hearing?

Qaribullah & Darwish

Is it not plain to those who inherit the earth after its inhabitants that if We willed We could smite them for their sins and set a seal upon their hearts, so that they do not hear.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Is it not a guidance for those who inherit the earth from its previons inhabitants that had We willed, We would have punished them for their sins. And We seal up their hearts so that they hear not

Wahiduddin Khan

Does it not guide the people who inherit the land from former people that We can punish them for their sins if We will? And seal up their hearts so that they would not be able to lend an ear to words of guidance?

Talal Itani

Is it not guidance for those who inherit the land after its inhabitants, that if We willed, We could strike them for their sins? And seal up their hearts, so that they would not hear?

Tafsir jalalayn

Has it not been shown, [has it not] become clear, to those who inherit the earth, as a [place of] habitation, after, the destruction of, those who inhabited it that, (an is the softened form and constitutes the subject [of the verb], its noun having been omitted, in other words [understand it as] annahu), if We will, We could smite them, with chastisement, for their sins?, as We smote those before them? (the hamza in the four instances are meant to indicate rebuke, and the [particles] fa, `so', and wa, `and', which have been inserted in two instances [each], are meant to indicate a supplement; a variant reading [for a-wa-amina] has aw amina, `or do [they] feel secure', in the [second] instance, as a supplement). And, We, seal up their hearts so that they do not hear, the admonition, in a way so as to reflect.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah says,

أَوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لِلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الَارْضَ مِن بَعْدِ أَهْلِهَا أَن لَّوْ نَشَاء أَصَبْنَاهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ

Is it not a guidance for those who inherit the earth from its previous inhabitants that had We willed, We would have punished them for their sins.

Ibn Abbas commented on Allah's statement,
أَوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لِلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الَارْضَ مِن بَعْدِ أَهْلِهَا
(Is it not a guidance for those who inherit the earth from its previous inhabitants. ..),

"(Allah says,) did We not make clear to them that had We willed, We would have punished them because of their sins!"

Mujahid and several others said similarly.

Abu Jafar bin Jarir At-Tabari explained this Ayah,

"Allah says, `Did We not make clear to those who succeeded on the earth after destroying the previous nations who used to dwell in that land. Then they followed their own ways, and behaved as they did and were unruly with their Lord. (Did We not make clear to them) that,
أَن لَّوْ نَشَاء أَصَبْنَاهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ
(that had We willed, We would have punished them for their sins) by bringing them the same end that was decreed for those before them,

وَنَطْبَعُ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ

And We seal up their hearts,

We place a cover over their heart,

فَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ



so that they hear not,

words of advice or reminding"'

I say that similarly, Allah said,

أَفَلَمْ يَهْدِ لَهُمْ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُمْ مِّنَ الْقُرُونِ يَمْشُونَ فِى مَسَـكِنِهِمْ إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لَايَـتٍ لاٌّوْلِى النُّهَى

Is it not a guidance for them;how many generations We have destroyed before them, in whose dwellings they walk Verily, in this are signs indeed for men of understanding. (20;128)

أَوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لَهُمْ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِمْ مِّنَ الْقُرُونِ يَمْشُونَ فِى مَسَاكِنِهِمْ إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لاّيَاتٍ أَفَلَ يَسْمَعُونَ

Is it not a guidance for them;how many generations We have destroyed before them in whose dwellings they do walk about Verily, therein indeed are signs. Would they not then listen! (32;26)

and,

أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُواْ أَقْسَمْتُمْ مِّن قَبْلُ مَا لَكُمْ مِّن زَوَالٍوَسَكَنتُمْ فِى مَسَـكِنِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ

Had you not sworn aforetime that you would not leave (the world for the Hereafter). And you dwelt in the dwellings of men who wronged themselves! (14;44-45)

Also, Allah said,

وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُمْ مِّن قَرْنٍ هَلْ تُحِسُّ مِنْهُمْ مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَوْ تَسْمَعُ لَهُمْ رِكْزاً

And how many a generation before them have We destroyed! Can you find a single one of them or hear even a whisper of them! (19;98)

meaning, do you see any of them or hear their voices.

There are many other Ayat that testify that Allah's torment strikes His enemies, while His bounty reaches His faithful believers. Thereafter comes Allah's statement, and He is the Most Truthful, the Lord of all that exists