Tafseer of The Heights · Al-A'raaf · 7:140
He said, "Is it other than Allah I should desire for you as a god while He has preferred you over the worlds?"
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 His word: قَالَ أَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْغِيكُمْ إِلَهًا وَهُوَ فَضَّلَكُمْ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ (140) ("He said: Shall I seek for you a god other than Allah, while He has preferred you above the worlds?") (140)
Abū Jaʿfar said: The Exalted, whose praise is proclaimed, says: Mūsā said to his people: shall I seek for you any god other than Allah, and appoint for you a worshipped being whom you worship, while it is Allah who is your Creator, who has preferred you above the worlds of your age and your time? He says: shall I seek for you a worshipped being that can neither benefit you nor harm you, whom you worship, and would you forsake the worship of the One who has preferred you above creation? Indeed, this on your part is sheer ignorance!
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The footnotes:
(11) See the explanation of "baghā (to seek/desire)" earlier, 12 : 559, note 3, and the references mentioned there.
(12) See the explanation of "al-ʿālamīn (the worlds)" earlier in the linguistic indexes (ʿalima).
