Al-Qur'an Surah Al-A'raf Verse 46

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Between the two groups there will be a barrier. And on A‘rāf (the Heights) there shall be people who will recognize each group through their signs, and they will call out to the people of Paradise, “Peace on you.” They will not have entered it, yet they will hope to.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

There will be a barrier between Paradise and Hell. And on the heights ˹of that barrier˺ will be people[[ Although the word “rijâl” generally means “men,” some Quran commentators believe that the word “rijâl” here can also mean “people,” but they are called men since men make up the majority in the group. In some Arabic dialects, “rijâl” is the plural of “rajul” (man) and “rajulah” (woman). ]] who will recognize ˹the residents of˺ both by their appearance.[[ The faces of the residents of Paradise will be bright, whereas those of the residents of Hell will be gloomy.]] They will call out to the residents of Paradise, “Peace be upon you!” They will have not yet entered Paradise, but eagerly hope to.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Between them there will be a barrier, and on its Heights there will be men who will recognize each group by their marks. They will call out to the people of Paradise, “Peace be on you.” They will not have entered it, yet they will eagerly hope [to enter].

A. J. Arberry

And between them is a veil, and on the Ramparts are men knowing each by their mark, who shall call to the inhabitants of Paradise: 'Peace be upon you! They have not entered it, for all their eagerness.'

Abdul Haleem

A barrier divides the two groups with men on its heights recognizing each group by their marks: they will call out to the people of the Garden, ‘Peace be with you!’- they will not have entered, but they will be hoping,

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And betwixt the twain there will be a veil, and, on the heights will be men recognising them all by their mark, and they will cry unto the fellows of the Garden; peace be unto you! They will not have entered it yet, while they shall be longing.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Between them shall be a veil, and on the heights will be men who would know every one by his marks; they will call out to the Companions of the Garden, "peace on you"; they will not have entered, but they will have an assurance (thereof).

Abul Ala Maududi

And between the two there will be a barrier, and on the Heights will be men who will recognize each person by his mark and will cry, out to the people of Paradise: 'Peace be to you.'These will be the ones who had not yet joined them in Paradise, though they long to do so.

Ahmed Ali

There will be a veil between them, and on the wall will be the men (of al-A'raf) who will recognise everyone by their distinguishing marks, and will call to the inmates of Paradise: "Peace on you," without having entered it themselves though hoping to do so.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Between Paradise and Hell is a veil; and on the Heights will be some men who will recognise them all by their foreheads; and they call to the people of Paradise, “Peace be upon you”; they have not entered Paradise and they yearn for it.

Ali Quli Qarai

There will be a veil between them. And on the Elevations will be certain men who recognize each of them by their mark. They will call out to the inhabitants of paradise, ‘Peace be to you!’ (They will not have entered it, though they would be eager to do so.

Ali Ünal

And between the two there is a barrier, and on the Heights (between Paradise and Hell) are some men, recognizing each by their countenances. They – not yet entering Paradise, but longing for it – call out to the companions of Paradise: "Peace be upon you!"

Amatul Rahman Omar

And between the two (- the Fire and the Paradise) is a barrier, and on the elevated places there shall be men (like the Prophets and other exalted spiritual dignitaries) who will recognise every one by his appearance. And they shall call out to the (prospective) inmates of Paradise, `Peace be on you!´ These (prospective inmates of Paradise) will not have (yet) entered therein, though they will be hoping (for this entry).

English Literal

And between them (B) (is) a partition/barrier/protection , and on the fence between Heaven and Hell/the highest tip of anything (are) men they know each/all with (by) their marks/identifications/expressions, and they called/cried (to) the Paradises` company/friends : "That a greeting/security/peace on you." They did not enter it and they are coveting/desiring .

Faridul Haque

Between Paradise and Hell is a veil; and on the Heights will be some men who will recognise them all by their foreheads; and they call to the people of Paradise, "Peace be upon you"; they have not entered Paradise and they yearn for it.

Hamid S. Aziz

And betwixt the two (Hell and Paradise) there is a veil, and on the Heights are men (exalted or able men) who know each by their marks; and they greet the companions of the Garden, "Peace be upon you!" They enter it not though they hope (or desire, or are assured) to do so.

Hilali & Khan

And between them will be a barrier screen and on Al-A'raf (a wall with elevated places) will be men (whose good and evil deeds would be equal in scale), who would recognise all (of the Paradise and Hell people), by their marks (the dwellers of Paradise by their white faces and the dwellers of Hell by their black faces), they will call out to the dwellers of Paradise, "Salamun 'Alaikum" (peace be on you), and at that time they (men on Al-A'raf) will not yet have entered it (Paradise), but they will hope to enter (it) with certainty.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Who hinder (men) from Allah’s way and seek to make it crooked, and they are disbelievers in the Hereafter.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And between the two there shall be a veil, and on the most elevated places there shall be men who know all by their marks, and they shall call out to the dwellers of the garden: Peace be on you; they shall not have yet entered it, though they hope.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Between them is a veil. And on the Heights are men who know them all by their marks. And they call unto the dwellers of the Garden: Peace be unto you! They enter it not although they hope (to enter).

Muhammad Sarwar

There will be a barrier between the people of Paradise and hell. There will be people on the heights who know everyone by their faces and who will say to the people of Paradise, "Peace be upon you." They hope to enter Paradise but are not yet therein.

Qaribullah & Darwish

And between them is a veil, and on the ramparts there shall stand men who will know each by their marks. To the companions of Paradise they shall call: 'Peace be upon you' Yet they did not enter it on account of their eagerness.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And between them will be a (barrier) screen and on Al-A`raf will be men, who would recognize all, by their marks. And they will call out to the dwellers of Paradise, "Peace be on you" and at that time they will not yet have entered it (Paradise), but they will hope to enter (it).

Wahiduddin Khan

A barrier will divide the two groups, and on the heights there will be men who recognize each group by their marks. They will call out to the people of the Garden, "Peace be with you." They will not have yet entered, but they will be hoping [to do so],

Talal Itani

And between them is a partition, and on the Elevations are men who recognize everyone by their features. They will call to the inhabitants of the Garden, “Peace be upon you.” They have not entered it, but they are hoping.

Tafsir jalalayn

And between them, that is, [between] the inhabitants of Paradise and those of the Fire, is a veil, a barrier, said to be the wall of the Heights, and on the Heights, which is, the wall of Paradise, are men, whose good deeds and evil deeds are equal, as [is stated] in the hadth, who know each, of the inhabitants of Paradise and those of the Fire, by their mark -- glowing faces in the case of the believers and blackened [ones] in the case of the disbelievers, for they are able to see them, their position being high -- and they call to the inhabitants of Paradise; `Peace be upon you!' God, exalted be He, says; They, that is, those men of the Heights, have not entered it, Paradise, although they aspire, to enter it. Al-Hasan [al-Basr] said, `God causes them to have this aspiration only because He desires to be generous to them'. Al-Hkim reported that Hudhayfa [b. al-Yamn] said, `While they are in this situation, God appears to them and says "Get up and enter Paradise, for I have forgiven you".'

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The People of Al-A`raf

Allah says;

وَبَيْنَهُمَا حِجَابٌ

And between them will be a (barrier) screen,

After Allah mentioned that the people of Paradise will address the people of the Fire, He stated that there is a barrier between Paradise and the Fire, which prevents the people of the Fire from reaching Paradise.

Ibn Jarir said, "It is the wall that Allah described,

فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُم بِسُورٍ لَّهُ بَابٌ بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَظَـهِرُهُ مِن قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ

So a wall will be put up between them, with a gate therein. Inside it will be mercy, and outside it will be torment. (57;13)

It is also about Al-A`raf that Allah said,

وَعَلَى الَاعْرَافِ رِجَالٌ

and on Al-A`rafwill be men."

Ibn Jarir recorded that As-Suddi said about Allah's statement,
وَبَيْنَهُمَا حِجَابٌ
(And between them will be a screen),

"It is the wall, it is Al-A`raf."

Mujahid said,

"Al-A`raf is a barrier between Paradise and the Fire, a wall that has a gate."

Ibn Jarir said,

"Al-A`raf is plural for Urf, where every elevated piece of land is known as Urf to the Arabs."

As-Suddi said,

"Al-A`raf is so named because its residents recognize (Ya`rifun) the people. Al-A`raf's residents are those whose good and bad deeds are equal, as Hudhayfah, Ibn Abbas, Ibn Mas`ud and several of the Salaf and later generations said."

Ibn Jarir recorded that Hudhayfah was asked about the people of Al-A`rafand he said,

"A people whose good and bad deeds are equal. Their evil deeds prevented them from qualifying to enter Paradise, and their good deeds qualified them to avoid the Fire. Therefore, they are stopped there on the wall until Allah judges them."

يَعْرِفُونَ كُلًّ بِسِيمَاهُمْ

who would recognize all, by their marks.

وَنَادَوْاْ أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ أَن سَلَمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ لَمْ يَدْخُلُوهَا وَهُمْ يَطْمَعُونَ



And they will call out to the dwellers of Paradise, "Peace be on you!" and at that time they will not yet have entered it (Paradise), but they will hope to enter (it).

Ma`mar said that Al-Hasan recited this Ayah,
لَمْ يَدْخُلُوهَا وَهُمْ يَطْمَعُونَ
(and at that time they will not yet have entered it (Paradise), but they will hope to enter (it), Then he said,

"By Allah! Allah did not put this hope in their hearts, except for an honor that He intends to bestow on them."

Qatadah said;

"Those who hope are those among you whom Allah informed of their places."

Allah said next,

وَإِذَا صُرِفَتْ أَبْصَارُهُمْ تِلْقَاء أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ قَالُواْ رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ