Tafsir of Al-A'raf 7:102

Al-A'raf (The Heights): Verse 102

{And We did not find in most of them any firm commitment (or covenant).}

Regarding this verse, there are several interpretations:

1. The Covenant in Adam's Loins: Ibn Abbas said this refers to the fulfillment of the covenant God made with them while they were in the loins of Adam, when He said:

   {“Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Yes, indeed.”} (Al-A'raf: 172) Since God took this covenant from them and they affirmed it, their subsequent violation made it as if they had no covenant at all. This is why it is stated: {And We did not find in most of them any firm commitment.}

2. The Covenant as Faith (Iman): Ibn Mas'ud said that the covenant here means faith. The evidence for this is the Almighty's saying:

   {Except one who has taken a covenant with the Most Merciful.} (Maryam: 87) This means one who believed and affirmed Lā ilāha illā Allāh (There is no god but God).

3. The Covenant as Proofs: The covenant refers to the establishment of proofs indicating the truthfulness of Monotheism (Tawhid) and Prophethood. Under this interpretation, the meaning is: We did not find in most of them adherence to these established proofs.

{And indeed, We found most of them to be defiantly disobedient (Fāsiqīn).}

This means that the reality and the matter at hand is that We found most of them to be transgressors, deviating from obedience and turning away from the religion.

{Then We sent after them Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they wronged by them. So observe how was the end of the corrupters (al-mufsidīn).}