Tafsir of Al-A'raf 7:1

Classification: Meccan, with the exception of eight verses: {We do not let the reward of the reformers go to waste} and {And when We raised the mountain above them}.

Length: Two hundred and six verses. It was revealed after Sūrat Ṣād.

{Alif-Lām-Mīm-Ṣād}

{A Book revealed to you, so let there be no constriction in your breast because of it, that you may warn thereby, and as a reminder to the believers.}

{كتاب} (A Book): The predicate of an omitted subject, meaning: "It is a Book."

{أنزل إليك} (revealed to you): An adjective describing it. The intended meaning of "the Book" is the Sūrah.

{فلا يكن في صدرك حرج منه} (So let there be no constriction in your breast therefrom): That is, no doubt regarding it, similar to His saying: {So if you are in doubt about that which We have revealed to you} (Yūnus: 94). Doubt is called "constriction" (ḥaraj) because the one who doubts has a constricted and tight breast, just as the one who is certain has an expanded and open breast.

It means: Do not doubt that it is revealed from God, and do not feel constricted in conveying it. For he [the Prophet] used to fear his people, their rejection of him, their turning away, and their harm; thus, his breast would tighten regarding the delivery [of the message] and would not be at ease. So God reassured him and forbade him from caring about them.

If you ask: To what does the phrase {لتنذر به} (that you may warn thereby) attach? I say: It attaches to "revealed" (unzila), meaning: It was revealed to you for the purpose of your warning with it. Or, it attaches to the prohibition; for when he no longer fears them, he warns them. Likewise, when he is certain that it is from God, his certainty emboldens him to warn, for the possessor of certainty is courageous, relying upon his Lord, and depending upon His protection.

If you ask: What is the grammatical position of {وذكرى} (and a reminder)? I say: It admits of the three vowel movements:

1. Accusative (Naṣb): By implying a verb, as if it were said: "To warn with it and to remind (tadhkīran)," because dhikrā is a noun meaning "reminding."
2. Nominative (Rafʿ): As a conjunction to Kitāb, or as the predicate of an omitted subject.
3. Genitive (Jarr): As a conjunction to the position of li-tundhira (to warn), meaning: "For warning and for reminding."

If you ask: The prohibition in His saying {فلا يكن} (let there not be) is directed at the "constriction" (ḥaraj), so what is the aspect of this? I say: It is like their saying: "Let me not see you here" (lā arayannaka hāhunā).

{اتبعوا ما أنزل إليكم من ربكم ولا تتبعوا من دونه أولياء قليلا ما تذكرون} (Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other than Him as allies. Little do you remember.)