Surah al-A`raf (The Elevated Places) 7 : 102

Overview (Verses 101 - 102)

A History Recorded by God

Having outlined, with highly inspiring touches, the operative rules of nature, the sūrah addresses God’s Messenger (peace be upon him) informing him of the net outcome of putting those communities to trial, pointing out certain facts about the nature of faith and disbelief, as well as the nature of human beings, as seen in those communities: “We have related to you parts of the history of those communities. Messengers from among themselves came to them with clear evidence of the truth; but they would not believe in what they had formerly rejected. Thus does God seal the hearts of the unbelievers. We found that most of them were untrue to their commitments; indeed We found most of them to be transgressors.” (Verses 101-102)

This history is clearly stated to have been revealed by God. The Prophet could not have learnt it from any source other than revelation.

“Messengers from among themselves came to them with clear evidence of the truth.” (Verse 101) But no evidence was of benefit to them, because they continued to reject the message after having received that evidence in the same way as they rejected it before such evidence was given them. They simply would not believe in what they had already rejected. No matter how clear the evidence of the truth is, it will not lead such people to adopt the faith. What those people lacked was not plain proof of the truth, but rather open hearts and minds, and a keen desire to receive guidance. They lacked an active nature that receives and responds. When they refused to open their minds to elements of guidance, God sealed their hearts and they could no longer give any proper response: “Thus does God seal the hearts of the unbelievers.” (Verse 101)

The history of those communities reveals a predominant fact: “We found that most of them were untrue to their commitments; indeed We found most of them to be transgressors.” (Verse 102) The commitment mentioned in this verse may refer to the pledge God has received from human nature and to which reference is made later in the sūrah: “Your Lord brought forth their offspring from the loins of the children of Adam, and called them to bear witness about themselves: Am I not your Lord?’— to which they answer: ‘Yes, indeed, we do bear witness that You are.’” (Verse 172) It may also refer to the commitment to faith given by their forefathers who followed God’s messengers, but subsequent generations deviated, as happens indeed in every community. Successive generations deviate gradually until they go out of the fold altogether and sink back into ignorance, or jāhiliyyah.

Whatever the commitment is to which the sūrah is referring here, the fact remains that most of those communities were untrue to it. They followed their own fleeting whims and shifting desires. They could not fulfil their pledges.

“Indeed we found most of them to be transgressors.” (Verse 102) They deviate from God’s faith and from their original commitment. This is the result of following one’s capricious desires and taking solemn commitments lightly. Whoever turns away from God’s guidance, lacking the determination to fulfil the commitments he has made to Him, is hound to move away from faith into corruption and transgression. That was true of the people of those communities, and that was their end.