من أخذ السبع الأول من القرآن فهو حبر
“Whoever takes (learns) the first seven of the Qur’an is a scholar (habr).”
Virtues and benefits of Surah Al-A’raf
Surah Al-A’raf is one of the seven long surahs given to the Prophet ﷺ in place of the Torah, and one of the “first seven” of which he ﷺ said: “Whoever learns the first seven of the Qur’an is a scholar.” The Prophet ﷺ also recited at Maghrib “the longer of the two long ones”, which is Al-A’raf, according to Zayd ibn Thabit.
Its virtues at a glance
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One of the first seven that make their holder a scholar
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever learns the first seven of the Qur’an is a scholar (habr).” Al-A’raf is one of these first seven surahs.
Authentic (sahih)Ahmad (Al-Musnad, 6/82) and Al-Hakim (Al-Mustadrak, 1/564)
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One of the seven long ones given in place of the Torah
The Prophet ﷺ said he was given the seven long ones in place of the Torah, the Mi’un in place of the Psalms, the Mathani in place of the Gospel, and was favoured with the Mufassal; Al-A’raf is one of the seven long ones.
Good (hasan)At-Tayalisi (Musnad, 1012) and Ahmad (Al-Musnad, 4/107)
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One of the long Mathani given to the Prophet ﷺ
Ibn Abbas said: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was given seven of the long Mathani, and Musa, peace be upon him, six; when he threw down the Tablets, two were taken up and four remained.
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Recited by the Prophet ﷺ in the Maghrib prayer
Zayd ibn Thabit reproached Marwan for reciting the short surahs of the Mufassal at Maghrib, reminding him that the Prophet ﷺ used to recite in it “the longer of the two long ones”, namely Al-A’raf.
Authentic (sahih)Al-Bukhari (764), Abu Dawud (812) and Ibn Khuzaymah (516)
When to recite it
- In the Maghrib prayer: the Prophet ﷺ recited Al-A’raf in it, according to the hadith of Zayd ibn Thabit narrated by Al-Bukhari
Hadiths on its virtues
Arabic text, translation, reference and authenticity grade of each hadith.
أعطيت مكان التوراة السبع الطوال، ومكان الزبور المئين، ومكان الإنجيل المثاني، وفضِّلت بالمفصل
“I was given the seven long ones in place of the Torah, the Mi’un in place of the Psalms, the Mathani in place of the Gospel, and I was favoured with the Mufassal.”
أوتي رسول اللّه ﷺ سبعًا من المثاني الطول، وأوتي موسى عليه السلام ستًّا، فلما ألقى الألواح رفعت ثنتان وبقي أربع
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was given seven of the long Mathani, and Musa (Moses), peace be upon him, was given six; when he threw down the Tablets, two were taken up and four remained.
ما لَكَ تقرأ في المغرب بقصار المفصل؛ لقد كان رسول اللّه ﷺ يقرأ في المغرب بطولى الطوليين. قال: وما طولى الطوليين؟ قال: الأعراف
Zayd ibn Thabit said to Marwan: “Why do you recite the short surahs of the Mufassal at Maghrib? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite at Maghrib the longer of the two long ones.” He was asked: “What is the longer of the two long ones?” He said: “Al-A’raf.”
What the surah is about
- Proofs of Allah’s oneness, of His Messenger’s ﷺ truthfulness and of the reality of the Day of Resurrection
- The greatness of the Qur’an, the command to follow it and the warning against opposing it
- The story of Adam and Iblis, and the warning to the children of Adam against Satan’s temptation
- The dialogues between the people of Paradise and the people of the Fire
- The stories of Nuh, Hud, Salih, Lut and Shu’ayb with their peoples
- The story of Musa with Pharaoh and the magicians, then with the Children of Israel
- Allah’s ways with nations: trial before punishment, blessings for those who believe
- The call to noble character and to remembering Allah humbly and in fear
Main purpose: To show the triumph of truth in its struggle with falsehood, and the fate of the arrogant in this world and the Hereafter.
About Surah Al-A’raf
Al-A’raf is the seventh surah in the order of the Qur’an and the longest Meccan surah, with 206 verses. The preferred view among scholars is that it is entirely Meccan; some said the eight verses 163 to 170 are Medinan. It was revealed after Surah Sad, and it details what Al-An’am, which precedes it, sets out in general terms, especially the stories of the prophets with their peoples.
Tafsir of Surah Al-A’raf Listen to Al-A’raf by other reciters
Detailed study in Arabic
The full Arabic text: introduction, virtues, themes, and a study of the chain and authenticity of each hadith.
- التعريف بسورة الأعراف
- فضائل سورة الأعراف و خصائصها
- ومناسبتها لسورة الأنعام التي قبلها
- مقاصدها ومميزاتها
- تلخيص سورة الأعراف
- الأحاديث الواردة في الفضل ودرجتها
Virtues of other surahs
All 114 surahs- Virtues of Surah Al-Kahf A light between two Fridays and protection from the Dajjal
- Virtues of Surah Al-Mulk Intercedes for its reciter and protects from the grave’s punishment
- Virtues of Surah Ya-Sin Whoever recites it at night seeking Allah’s Face is forgiven
- Virtues of Surah Al-Baqarah Satan flees the house where it is recited; it is the peak of the Qur’an
- Virtues of Surah Al-Fatihah The greatest surah of the Qur’an, without which there is no prayer
- Virtues of Surah Al-Ikhlas It equals a third of the Qur’an; loving it earns Allah’s love
- Virtues of Surah Al-Waqi’ah One of the surahs that greyed the Prophet ﷺ; he recited it at Fajr
- Virtues of Surah Ar-Rahman Recited by the Prophet ﷺ to the jinn, who responded better than people
- Ayat al-Kursi The greatest verse in the Book of Allah, a guard against Satan