۞ It is God Who created you from a single soul and out of it made its spouse to bring it comfort. When he (man) engaged in carnal relations with her, she conceived a light burden which she had to carry. When the baby grew in her womb, they (husband and wife) both prayed to their Lord, "If You grant us a healthy son we shall certainly give you thanks." 189 But when He gives them a good [child], they ascribe partners to Him concerning that which He has given them. Exalted is Allah above what they associate with Him. 190 Attribute they as partners to Allah those who created naught, but are themselves created, 191 They cannot help them, nor can they help themselves. 192 and, if you pray to them for guidance, do not respond to you? As far as you are concerned, it is all one whether you invoke them or keep silent. 193 Verily those whom ye call upon besides Allah are servants like unto you: Call upon them, and let them listen to your prayer, if ye are (indeed) truthful! 194 Have they feet to walk with? Or hands to lay hold with? Or eyes to see with? Or ears to hear with? Say: "Call your 'god-partners', scheme (your worst) against me, and give me no respite! 195 Surely my guardian is Allah, Who revealed the Book, and He befriends the good. 196 The idols which you (the pagans) worship besides God can neither help you nor themselves. 197 If you call them to guidance, they will not hear you. You see them looking towards you, but they cannot see. 198 Cultivate tolerance, enjoin justice, and avoid the fools. 199 And O listener! If the devil provokes you, seek the refuge of Allah; indeed He is All Hearing, All Knowing. 200 Verily, those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V. 2:2), when an evil thought comes to them from Shaitan (Satan), they remember (Allah), and (indeed) they then see (aright). 201 And their brothers, they prolong them in error, and they will never stop. 202 [O Prophet!] When you do not produce before them any miracle, they say: 'Why do you not choose for yourself a miracle?' Say to them: 'I follow only what is revealed to me by my Lord. This is nothing but a means of insight into the truth, and guidance and mercy from your Lord to the people who believe. 203 So, when the Quran is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy. [i.e. during the compulsory congregational prayers when the Imam (of a mosque) is leading the prayer (except Surat Al-Fatiha), and also when he is delivering the Friday-prayer Khutbah]. [Tafsir At-Tabari, Vol. 9, Pages 162-4] 204 Remember your Lord deep within yourselves, humbly and privately - instead of shouting out loud - (in prayer) in the mornings and evenings and do not be of the heedless ones. 205 Surely those who are with thy Lord wax not too proud to serve Him; they chant His praise, and to Him they bow. ۩ 206
Allah the Almighty always says the truth.
End of Surah: A 'araaf (Al-A 'araaf). Sent down in Mecca after
S (Saad) before
Jinns (Al-Jinn)