Tafsir of Al-A'raf 7:17

"Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them to be thankful.'' Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas commented on:

ثم ﻻتينهم من بين أيديهم

(Then I will come to them from before them), Raising doubts in them concerning their Hereafter,

ومن خلفهم

(and (from) behind them), making them more eager for this life,

وعن أيمانهم

(from their right), causing them confusion in the religion,

وعن شمايلهم

(and from their left), luring them to commit sins.'' This is meant to cover all paths of good and evil. Shaytan discourages the people from the path of good and lures them to the path of evil. Al-Hakam bin Abban said that Ikrimah narrated from Ibn Abbas concerning the Ayah,

ثم ﻻتينهم من بين أيديهم ومن خلفهم وعن أيمانهم وعن شمايلهم

Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, "He did not say that he will come from above them, because the mercy descends from above.'' Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas said,

وﻻ تجد أكثرهم شاكرين

and You will not find most of them to be thankful. "means, those who single Him out (in worship).'' When Shaytan said this, it was a guess and an assumption on his part. Yet, the truth turned out to be the same, for Allah said,

ولقد صدق عليهم إبليس ظنه فاتبعوه إﻻ فريقا من المومنين

وما كان له عليهم من سلطن إﻻ لنعلم من يومن باﻻخرة ممن هو منها فى شك وربك على كل شء حفيظ

And indeed Iblis (Shaytan) did prove true his thought about them, and they followed him, all except a group of true believers. And he had no authority over them, except that We might test him who believes in the Hereafter, from him who is in doubt about it. And your Lord is Watchful over everything. (34:20-21) This is why there is a Hadith that encourages seeking refuge with Allah from the lures of Shaytan from all directions. Imam Ahmad narrated that Abdullah bin Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah used to often recite this supplication in the morning and when the night falls,

اللهم إني أسٲلك العافية في الدنيا واﻻخرة

اللهم إني أسٲلك العفو والعافية في ديني ودنياي وأهلي ومالي

اللهم استر عوراتي وآمن روعاتي

اللهم احفظني من بين يدي ومن خلفي وعن يميني وعن شمالي ومن فوقي وأعوذ بعظمتك أن أغتال من تحتي

O Allah! I ask You for well-being in this life and the Hereafter. O Allah! I ask You for pardon and well-being in my religion, life, family and wealth. O Allah! Cover my errors and reassure me in times of difficulty. O Allah! Protect me from before me, from behind me, from my right, from my left and from above me. I seek refuge with Your greatness from being killed from below me.'' Waki` commented (about being killed from below), "This refers to earthquakes.'' Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim collected this Hadith, and Al-Hakim said, "Its chain is Sahih.''