۞ It is He who created you from a single cell, and from it created its mate, that you may live as companions. When the man covered the woman she conceived a light burden and carried it about. And when she was heavy (with child) they prayed together to their Lord: "If You bestow a healthy son on us we shall truly be grateful." 189 Thereafter, when He gave them a righteous son, they assigned Him associates in that He had given them; but God is high exalted above that they associate. 190 Do they associate (with Allah in His divinity) those who can create nothing; rather, they 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 Indeed those whom you (the disbelievers) worship besides Allah are slaves like you – so call them and they may answer you, if you are truthful! 194 Have they feet on which they can walk? Have they hands with which they can grasp? Have they eyes with which they can see? Have they ears with which they can hear? Say [O Muhammad]: 'Invoke all those to whom you ascribe a share in Allah's divinity, then scheme against me and grant me no respite. 195 My saviour is God who has revealed this Book; and He protects those who are upright; 196 whereas all those whom you invoke in His stead are neither able to give you succour nor can succour themselves; 197 And if you call them to guidance they do not listen; and you (Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) observe them looking towards you, whereas they do not perceive anything. 198 Use thou indulgence and enjoin seemliness and turn away from the ignorant. 199 And if it happens that a prompting from Satan should stir you up, seek refuge with Allah. He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. 200 Verily, they who are conscious of God bethink themselves [of Him] whenever any dark suggestion from Satan touches them - whereupon, lo! they begin to see [things] clearly, 201 But (as for) their brothers (the devils) they (i.e. the devils) plunge them deeper into error, and they never stop short. 202 And when thou bringest them not a sign, they say, 'Why hast thou not chosen one?' Say: 'I follow only what is revealed to me from my Lord; this is clear testimony from your Lord, guidance, and mercy for a people of believers.' 203 And when the Qur'an is recited, give ear to it and pay heed, that ye may obtain mercy. 204 And remember thou thy Lord within thyself with humility and fear, without loudness in word, in the morning and evenings; and be thou not of the negligent. 205 Verily those who are with thy Lord are not stiff-necked against His worship, and they hallow, and unto Him they prostrate themselves. ۩ 206
True are the words of Allah the Almighty.
End of Surah: A 'araaf (Al-A 'araaf). Sent down in Mecca after
S (Saad) before
Jinns (Al-Jinn)