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Tafsir of Al-A'raf 7:200

Surah Al-A'raf 7:200

ﱭ ﱮ ﱯ ﱰ ﱱ ﱲ ﱳ ﱴ ﱵ ﱶ ﱷ

And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is Hearing and Knowing.

Tafsir

Mafatih al-Ghayb

Verse range: 7:200

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Al-A'raf: (200) And if a suggestion from Satan should touch you...

There are several issues herein:

The First Issue: Abu Zayd narrated that when the verse {And turn away from the ignorant} (Al-A'raf: 199) was revealed, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "How, O Lord, concerning anger?" Then this verse was revealed: {And if a suggestion from Satan should touch you...}

The Second Issue: Know that the "touching" (nagh) of Satan refers to his whispers and prodding in the heart with what he beautifies as sins for a person. According to Abu Zayd, "I incited discord among the people" means I corrupted what was between them. It is also said that *nagh* means agitation, which most often occurs during anger. Its root is agitation through movement toward evil.

The established meaning is that when the Almighty commanded him to embrace what is right (al-'urf), a foolish person might become agitated and display foolishness. At that point, the Almighty commanded him to remain silent in response, saying: {And turn away from the ignorant}. Since it is known that when the foolish person proceeds with foolishness, anger and resentment are stirred up, and the person cannot remain in a state of safety, and at that state, Satan finds an opportunity to lead that person to what is inappropriate—it is therefore necessary that the Almighty clarified what serves as a remedy for this purpose, saying: {then seek refuge in Allah}. The discussion regarding the interpretation of seeking refuge has already been covered exhaustively at the beginning of the Book.

The Third Issue: Those who challenge the infallibility (Ismah) of the Prophets used this verse as evidence, arguing that if it were not possible for the Messenger to commit a sin or an error, he would not have been told: {And if a suggestion from Satan should touch you, then seek refuge in Allah}.

The response to this is multifaceted:

  1. The essence of this statement is that the Almighty told him: If a suggestion from Satan occurs in your heart, just as the Almighty said: {If you should associate others with Allah, your deeds would surely become worthless} (Az-Zumar: 65), yet this did not indicate that he associated others with Allah. He also said: {If there were therein any deities other than Allah, there would have been ruin in both} (Al-Anbiya: 22), yet this did not indicate that deities had occurred in them.
  2. Suppose we grant that Satan whispers to the Messenger (peace be upon him); however, this does not compromise his infallibility. What compromises his infallibility is if the Messenger accepts his suggestion, and the verse does not indicate that. Al-Sha'bi narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "There is no human being except that a devil is with him." They asked, "And you, O Messenger of Allah?" He replied, "And me, but Allah helped me, so he submitted (became Muslim). He came to me, and I seized him by the throat. If it were not for the supplication of Solomon, he would have been left lying in the mosque." This indicates that Satan whispers to the Prophet (peace be upon him). Furthermore, Allah says: {And We did not send before you any messenger or prophet except that when he recited, Satan threw [some falsehood] into his recitation} (Al-Hajj: 52).
  3. Suppose we grant that Satan whispers and that he (peace be upon him) accepts the effect of his whisper. However, we restrict this situation to the abandonment of the better or more preferable action. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Indeed, a veil is cast over my heart, and I seek forgiveness from Allah seventy times a day and night."

The Fourth Issue: Seeking refuge in Allah during this state is for a person to remember the great favors of Allah upon him and His severe punishment. Each of these two matters calls one to turn away from the demands of base nature and turn toward the command of the Divine Law.

The Fifth Issue: Although this address was specifically directed to the Prophet, it is a general admonition for all accountable persons. This is because seeking refuge in Allah, in the manner mentioned, is a grace that prevents the influence of Satan's whispers. Therefore, the Almighty said: {So when you recite the Qur'an, seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan. Indeed, he has no authority over those who have believed and upon their Lord rely} (An-Nahl: 97-98). Since it is established by text that this seeking refuge has an effect in repelling Satan's suggestion, persistence in it is obligatory in most situations.

The Sixth Issue: His statement: {Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing} indicates that seeking refuge with the tongue is only beneficial if the knowledge of the meaning of seeking refuge is present in the heart. It is as if the Almighty is saying: Utter the words of seeking refuge with your tongue, for I am All-Hearing, and hold the meanings of seeking refuge in your mind and heart, for I am All-Knowing of what is in your innermost being. In reality, verbal utterance without heartfelt knowledge is devoid of benefit and effect.

< { Indeed, those who fear Allah, when touched by a passing thought from Satan, remember [Allah], and thereupon they become seeing. * And their brothers [of the devils] extend them in error, and then they do not cease. } >