سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ
Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 175
وَٱتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ٱلَّذِىٓ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فَٱنسَلَخَ مِنْهَا فَأَتْبَعَهُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ فَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْغَاوِينَ ﴿175﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And recite (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) to them the story of him to whom We gave Our Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), but he threw them away; so Shaitân (Satan) followed him up, and he became of those who went astray.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَٱتْلُ
wa-ut'lu
And recite
عَلَيْهِمْ
ʿalayhim
to them
نَبَأَ
naba-a
(the) story
ٱلَّذِىٓ
alladhī
(of the) one whom
ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ
ātaynāhu
We gave [him]
ءَايَـٰتِنَا
āyātinā
Our Verses
فَٱنسَلَخَ
fa-insalakha
but he detached
مِنْهَا
min'hā
[from] them
فَأَتْبَعَهُ
fa-atbaʿahu
so followed him
ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ
l-shayṭānu
the Shaitaan
فَكَانَ
fakāna
and he became
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْغَاوِينَ
l-ghāwīna
those gone astray
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
175. (O Prophet,) recite to them the story of the one [177] to whom We gave Our signs, but he cast them off, so Satan pursued him, and he became one of the misguided.
[177]
The Example of People Who Chase After the World and Desires of the Self:
The name of this person is neither mentioned in the Quran nor in the Hadith, and the statements of the commentators are also different, because the method of Allah and His Messenger is such that generally the name of an evil person is not mentioned to disgrace him, rather only his characteristic is described so that others may avoid it. And this is a sign of the highest moral standard, that no one is disgraced and the real purpose is also achieved. And this example can apply to every person who possesses such qualities. This person was a scholar of the divine verses, a man of action, and his supplications were answered, and he was also famous among people for his asceticism and piety. Some people came to him and requested a supplication which was religiously unlawful. At first, he refused to make such an unlawful supplication, but when those people tempted him with much wealth and riches, after a little hesitation, he became willing to do that unlawful act. In this way, he gained worldly benefit, but he fell from the high rank he was heading towards and intended to reach. Once Satan's trick worked on him, Satan's job became relatively easy thereafter. Thus, after a short time, he became completely disobedient to Allah merely for worldly interests, and from his lofty position, he kept falling until he reached the lowest depths of the earth. Allah Almighty has given the example of this person or someone like him as that of a dog, whose greed and avarice is such that even if someone throws a stone at it, it thinks that perhaps a bone or a piece of bread has been thrown. Then it snatches at it and will certainly take it in its mouth at least once. Its tongue is always hanging out and saliva keeps dripping, and it tries to sniff everything in the hope that it might catch the scent of food from somewhere. Its greed is such that even if it finds a carcass to eat somewhere, and it is much more than its need, still it tries to ensure that no other dog shares that carcass with it. And this example fits those dogs of the world who, for the sake of their desires and worldly interests, are ready to sacrifice even their best values.
[177]
The Example of People Who Chase After the World and Desires of the Self:
The name of this person is neither mentioned in the Quran nor in the Hadith, and the statements of the commentators are also different, because the method of Allah and His Messenger is such that generally the name of an evil person is not mentioned to disgrace him, rather only his characteristic is described so that others may avoid it. And this is a sign of the highest moral standard, that no one is disgraced and the real purpose is also achieved. And this example can apply to every person who possesses such qualities. This person was a scholar of the divine verses, a man of action, and his supplications were answered, and he was also famous among people for his asceticism and piety. Some people came to him and requested a supplication which was religiously unlawful. At first, he refused to make such an unlawful supplication, but when those people tempted him with much wealth and riches, after a little hesitation, he became willing to do that unlawful act. In this way, he gained worldly benefit, but he fell from the high rank he was heading towards and intended to reach. Once Satan's trick worked on him, Satan's job became relatively easy thereafter. Thus, after a short time, he became completely disobedient to Allah merely for worldly interests, and from his lofty position, he kept falling until he reached the lowest depths of the earth. Allah Almighty has given the example of this person or someone like him as that of a dog, whose greed and avarice is such that even if someone throws a stone at it, it thinks that perhaps a bone or a piece of bread has been thrown. Then it snatches at it and will certainly take it in its mouth at least once. Its tongue is always hanging out and saliva keeps dripping, and it tries to sniff everything in the hope that it might catch the scent of food from somewhere. Its greed is such that even if it finds a carcass to eat somewhere, and it is much more than its need, still it tries to ensure that no other dog shares that carcass with it. And this example fits those dogs of the world who, for the sake of their desires and worldly interests, are ready to sacrifice even their best values.
