Tafseer of The Heights · Al-A'raaf · 7:100
Has it not become clear to those who inherited the earth after its [previous] people that if We willed, We could afflict them for their sins? But We seal over their hearts so they do not hear.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of the saying of Allah: "Has it not then become clear to those who inherit the earth after its [former] inhabitants that, if We willed, We would smite them for their sins, and We seal their hearts so that they do not hear?" (7:100)
Abū Jaʿfar said: He says: Has it not then become clear to those who are appointed as successors upon the earth after the destruction of others before them who were its inhabitants, and who then followed their way of life, performed their deeds, and exalted themselves against the command of their Lord — "that, if We willed, We would smite them for their sins"? He says: that, if We willed, We would do with them as We did with those who were before them; then We would seize them for their sins, and We would hasten Our tremendous might against them as We hastened it against those who were before them and from whom they inherited the earth, and We would destroy them for their sins. "And We seal their hearts," He says: and We close off their hearts, so that they "do not hear" — neither admonition nor reminder, a hearing from which one benefits.
* * *
And in accordance with what we have said about this, the people of interpretation also spoke.
* Mention of who said that:
14887 — Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to us, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid: "Has it not then become clear (a-wa-lam yahdi)," he said: that it is made clear.
14888 — Al-Muthannā related to me, saying: Abū Ḥudhayfa related to us, saying: Shibl related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid, the like of it.
14889 — ... he said: ʿAbdallāh ibn Ṣāliḥ related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, his saying: "Has it not then become clear (a-wa-lam yahdi)," is it not then made clear.
14890 — Muḥammad ibn Saʿd related to me, saying: my father related to me, saying: my uncle related to me, saying: my father related to me, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, his saying: "Has it not then become clear to those who inherit the earth after its inhabitants," he says: whether it has not become clear to them.
14891 — Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn related to me, saying: Aḥmad ibn al-Mufaḍḍal related to us, saying: Asbāṭ related to us, on the authority of al-Suddī: "Has it not then become clear to those who inherit the earth after its inhabitants," he says: has it not then become clear to those who inherit the earth after its inhabitants — they are the polytheists (mushrikīn).
14892 — Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His saying: "Has it not then become clear to those who inherit the earth after its inhabitants," has it not then been made clear by Us to them — "that, if We willed, We would smite them for their sins," he said: and "the guidance (al-hudā)" is the clarification with which one was sent as a guide to them, which makes it clear to them so that they would know it. Were it not for the clarification, they would not have known it.
