# 7. Surah Al-A'raf, Verse 173 - **Surah:** 7. Surah Al-A'raf (The Heights) — سورة الأعراف - **Verse:** 173 / 206 · **Juz:** 9 · **Mushaf page:** 172 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-araf/verse-173 ## Arabic اَوْ تَقُولُٓوا اِنَّـمَٓا اَشْرَكَ اٰبَٓاؤُ۬نَا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَكُنَّا ذُرِّيَّةً مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْۚ اَفَتُهْلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ ## Transcription Aw taqooloo innama ashraka abaonamin qablu wakunna thurriyyatan min baAAdihimafatuhlikuna bima faAAala almubtiloon ## Translations ### Aisha Bewley Or lest you say, ‘Our forefathers associated others with Allah before our time, and we are merely descendants coming after them. So are You going to destroy us for what those purveyors of falsehood did?’ ### Progressive Muslims Nor can you Say: "It was our fathers who set up partners before and we were simply a progeny who came after them. Would You destroy us for what the innovators did" ### Shabbir Ahmed Nor will any excuse avail them such as, "It was our forefathers who took false gods and we inherited their belief system. Will you punish us for what falsehood others practiced?" (You will not be questioned what others used to do. No one will bear the load of another (2:134), (39:7)). ### Sam Gerrans — The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation “Or you say: ‘Our fathers but ascribed a partnership before, and we were progeny after them; wilt Thou then destroy us for what the creators of vanity did?’” ### The Monotheist Group — The Quran: A Monotheist Translation Nor can you say: "It was our fathers who set up partners before and we were simply a progeny who came after them. Would You destroy us for what the innovators did?" ### Rashad Khalifa — The Final Testament Nor can you say, "It was our parents who practiced idolatry, and we simply followed in their footsteps. Will You punish us because of what others have innovated?" ### Mohamed Ahmed - Samira Or, lest they should say: "It were our fathers who had ascribed compeers to God; we are only their offspring. Will You destroy us for the deeds of those who dealt in vanities?" ### Sahih International — (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley) Or [lest] you say, "It was only that our fathers associated [others in worship] with Allah before, and we were but descendants after them. Then would You destroy us for what the falsifiers have done?" ### Muhammad Asad or lest you say, "Verily, it was but our forefathers who, in times gone by, began to ascribe divinity to other beings beside God; and we were but their late offspring: wilt Thou, then, destroy us for the doings of those inventors of falsehoods?" ### Marmaduke Pickthall Or lest ye should say: (It is) only (that) our fathers ascribed partners to Allah of old and we were (their) seed after them. Wilt Thou destroy us on account of that which those who follow falsehood did? ### Abul A'la Maududi — Tafhim commentary Or say: 'Our forefathers before us who associated others with Allah in His divinity; we were merely their offspring who followed them. And would You destroy us for that which the unrighteous did?'[1] _Footnotes_ - [1] The verse describes the purpose of the primordial covenant. The purpose is to make every person responsible for his deeds so that if he rebels against God he will be held fully accountable for that rebelfion. Because of the covenant, no one will be able either to plead for acquittal on grounds of ignorance, or blame his misdeeds on his ancestors. In other words, this primordial covenant has been mentioned as the reason for the inherent awareness in every single person that God is the only Lord and Deity. Thus, none can totally absolve himself of his responsibility on the plea that he was altogether ignorant, or transfer the blame for his error to the corrupt environment in which he was brought up. Now, it can be argued that even if the covenant did take place, no human being remembers its occurrence. No human being is aware that a long time ago, at the time of creation, he had affirmed, in response to God's query, that God indeed was his Lord. This being the case, it can be further argued that no charge can be legitimately brought against man on the ground of a covenant with God which he no longer remembers to have made. In response to this it can be said that had the covenant been made fully in man's conscious memory, it would be meaningless for God to put man to the test in this world. Hence, there can be no denying that the covenant is not preserved in man's conscious memory. But it has doubtlessly been preserved in man's sub-conscious mind. In this respect the primordial covenant is no different from other pieces of knowledge in man's sub-conscious mind. Whatever man has so far achieved in the way of culture and civilization can be attributed to his latent potentialities. All external factors and internal motivations simply account for helping the actualization of those potentialities. Neither education nor training nor environmental factors can bring out anything which is not potentially found in the human mind. Likewise, external factors have no power to root out man's latent potentialities. External factors may, at the most, cause a person to deflect from the course dictated by sound human nature. However, man's sound nature is inclined to resist the pressure of external forces and exert itself in order to find an outlet. As we have said earlier, this is not peculiar to man's religious propensity alone, but is equally true of all his mental potentialities. In this regard the following points are particularly noteworthy: (1) All man's potentialities exist in the sub-conscious mind and prove their existence when they manifest themselves in the form of human action. (2) The external manifestation of these potentialities requires external stimuli such as instruction, upbringing. and attitudinal orientation. In other words, our actions consist of the responses of our inherent potentialities to external stimuli. (3) Man's inner potentialities can be suppressed both by false urges within him as well as external influences by trying to pervert and distort those latent potentialities. The potentialities themselves, however, cannot he totally rooted out. The same holds true of man's intuitive knowledge regarding his position in the universe and his relationship with his Creator. In this connection the following points should be borne in mind: (1) That man has always had such intuitive knowledue is evident from the fact that this knowledge has surfaced throughout history in every period and in every part of the world, and which no power has so far been able to extirpate. (2) That this intuitive knowledge conforms to objective reality, is borne out by, the fact that whenever this knowledge has influenced human life, it has had beneficial results. (3) That in order to manifest itself in his practical life, man's intuitive knowledge has always required external stimuli. The stimuli have consisted of the advent of the Prophets (peace be on them), the revelation of the Heavenly Books, and the striving of those who have tried to follow them and invite others to do the same. It is for this reason that the Qur'an has been desienated as mudhakkir (the reminder): dhikr (remembrance); tadhkirah (admonition). and the function of the Qur'an has been characterized as tadhkir(reminding). What this suggests is that the Prophets, the Heavenly Books and those who invite people to the truth do not seek to provide human beings with something new, something which exists outside of them. Their task rather consists of bringing to the surface and rejuvenating what is latent, though dormant, in man himself. Throughout the ages man has always positively responded to this 'Reminder'. This itself is testimony to the fact that it is embodied in a knowledge which has always been recognized by; man's soul. Forces arising from ignorance and obscurantism, lust and bigotry, and the erroneous teachings and promptings of devils - human as well as jinn - have always attempted to suppress, conceal, and distort the fact that the truth preached by the Prophets is embedded in man's soul. These attempts gave rise to polytheism, atheism, religious misdirection and moral corruption. Despite the combined efforts of the forces of falsehood, however, this knowledge has always had an imprint on the human heart. Hencel, whenever any effort was made to revive that knowledge, it has proved successful. Doubtlessly those who are bent on denying the truth can resort to a great deal of sophistry in order to deny or at least create doubt and confusion about the existence of this knowledge. However on the Day of Resurrection the Creator will revive in man the memory of the first assembly when man made his covenant with God and accepted Him as his Only Lord. On that occasion God will provide evidence to the effect that the covenant always remained imprinted on man's soul. He will also show how from time to time man tried to suppress his inner voice which urged him to respond to the call of the covenant; how again and again his heart pressed him to affirm the truth; how his intuition induced him to denounce the errors of belief and practice; how the truth ingrained in his soul tried to express itself and respond to those who called to it; and how on each occasion he lulled his inner self to sleep because of his lust and bigotry.However a Day will come when man will no longer be in a position to put forth specious arguments to justify his false claims. That will be the Day when man will have no option but to confess his error. It will then be impossible for people to say that they were ignorant, or negligent. In the words of the Qur'an: '...and they will bear witness against themselves that they had disbelieved' (al-An'am 6: 130). ### Abdel Khalek Himmat — Al- Muntakhab Or you might say: "Our fathers had incorporated with Allah other deities, and as their descendents, they have had much influence on our thoughts; will You O Allah subject us to the torment to pay a debt owed to You by the damned!" ### Bijan Moeinian Man cannot say then: "Why do you hold us responsible for what our grandfathers started and we simply followed in their footsteps?" ### Al-Hilali & Khan Or lest you should say: "It was only our fathers afortime who took others as partners in worship along with Allâh, and we were (merely their) descendants after them; will You then destroy us because of the deeds of men who practised Al-Bâtil (i.e. polytheism and committing crimes and sins, invoking and worshipping others besides Allâh)?" (Tafsir At-Tabarî). ### Abdullah Yusuf Ali Or lest ye should say: "Our fathers before us may have taken false gods, but we are (their) descendants after them: wilt Thou then destroy us because of the deeds of men who were futile?" ### Mustafa Khattab — The Clear Quran Nor say, ‘It was our forefathers who had associated others ˹with Allah in worship˺ and we, as their descendants, followed in their footsteps. Will you then destroy us for the falsehood they invented?’" ### Taqi Usmani or you should say, "It was our forefathers who associated partners with Allah, and we were their progeny after them; would you then destroy us on account of what the erroneous did?" ### Abdul Haleem or, ‘It was our forefathers who, before us, ascribed partners to God, and we are only the descendants who came after them: will you destroy us because of falsehoods they invented?’ ### Arthur John Arberry or lest you say, 'Our fathers were idolaters aforetime, and we were seed after them. What, wilt Thou then destroy us for the deeds of the vain-doers?' ### E. Henry Palmer or say, 'Verily, our fathers associated others with God before us, and we were but their seed after them: wilt Thou then destroy us for what vaindoers did?' - ### Hamid S. Aziz Or say, "Verily, our fathers associated others with Allah before us, and we were but their seed after them. Will you then destroy us for the futile deeds of the doers of futility (or vanities)?" ### Mahmoud Ghali Or that you should not say, "Surely it is only our fathers (who) associated (i. e., associated others with Allah) earlier, and we were (their) offspring even after them. Would You then cause us to perish for what the wrong-doers performed?". ### George Sale Or lest you should say, 'It was only our fathers who associated co-partners with Allah in the past and we were merely a generation after them. Wilt Thou then destroy us for what those, who lied, did? ### Syed Vickar Ahamed Or in case you may say: "Our fathers before us may have taken false gods, but we are (their) descendants: Then will You destroy us because of the deeds of men who were useless?" ### Amatul Rahman Omar Or (lest) you should say, `It were only our forefathers who associated partners (with God) in the past and we only happened to be their children who came after them (to follow in their footsteps). Will You then destroy us for the vain doings of the perpetrators of falsehood?' ### Ali Quli Qarai or lest you should say, ‘Our fathers ascribed partners [to Allah] before [us] and we were descendants after them. Will You then destroy us because of what the falsifiers have done?’ ### Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır — Kur'an-ı Kerim ve Yüce Meali Yahud, ancak önceden atalarımız şirk koştular, biz ise onlardan sonra bir zürriyyet idik, şimdi o batılı te'sis edenlerin yaptıklarıyle bizi helak mi edeceksin? demeyesiniz. ### Elmalılı (sadeleştirilmiş) Yahut, "Ancak, atalarımız şirk koştular, biz ise onlardan sonra gelen bir nesil idik; şimdi o batılı tesis edenlerin yaptıklarıyla bizi helak mı edeceksiniz?" demeyesiniz diye. ### Ahmed Hulusi — Türkçe Kur'an Çözümü Bir de "Daha önce atalarımız yalnızca müşrik olarak yaşarlardı; biz de onların devamı bir zürriyetiz (onların genetik özelliklerinin devamıyız); Hakk'ı inkar eden atalarımız yüzünden bizi helak mı edeceksin?" demeyesiniz (için yukarıdaki olayı açıkladık. Zira her insan İslam fıtratı {programı} üzere yaratılır. Din anlayışı çevresinin şartlandırmasıyla başlar). ### Ali Bulaç — Kur'an-ı Kerim ve Türkçe Anlamı Ya da: "Bizden önce ancak atalarımız şirk koşmuştu, biz ise onlardan sonra gelme bir kuşağız; işleri batıl olanların yaptıklarından dolayı bizi helak mi edeceksin?" dememeniz için. ### Bayraktar Bayraklı — Yeni Bir Anlayışın Işığında Kur'an Meali Ya da "Daha önce atalarımız şirke batmıştı. Biz de onların ardından gelen bir soyuz. Gerçeği çiğneyenler yüzünden bizi helak mi edeceksin?" demeyesiniz. ### Diyanet İşleri — Kur'an-ı Kerim Türkçe Meali Yahut, "Bizden önce babalarımız Allah'a ortak koşmuşlar. Biz onlardan sonra gelen bir nesiliz. Şimdi batılcıların işlediği yüzünden bizi helak mı edeceksin?" dememeniz içindir. ### Gültekin Onan Ya da: "Bizden önce ancak atalarımız ortak koşmuştu, biz ise onlardan sonra gelme bir kuşağız; işleri batıl olanların yaptıklarından dolayı bizi helak mi edeceksin?" dememeniz için. ### Hasan Basri Çantay — Kur'an-ı Hakim ve Meal-i Kerim Yahud "Daha evvel ancak atalarımız (Allaha) şirk koşmuşdu. Biz de onların ardından (gelen) bir nesliz Şimdi o baatılı kuranların işlediği (günahlar) yüzünden bizi helak mı edeceksin?" dememeniz içindi. ### İbni Kesir Veya daha önce sadece atalarımız şirk koşmuştu, biz ise onların ardından gelen bir nesiliz, bizi batıl işleyenlerin yaptıkları yüzünden helak eder misin? demeyesiniz. ### Muhammed Esed — Kur'an Mesajı yahut: "Aslında, önce (biz değil,) atalarımızdı Allahtan başkasına tanrısal nitelikler yakıştıranlar; biz sadece onların izinden yürüyen bir kuşağız; öyleyse, batılı ihdas edenlerin işlediklerinden dolayı bizi mi helak edeceksin?" demeyesiniz. ### Şaban Piriş — Kur'an-ı Kerim Türkçe Anlamı -Bizim atalarımız önceden şirk koşmuşlar. Biz de onlardan sonra gelen bir nesiliz. Batıla düşenlerin yaptıklarından dolayı bizi helak mi edeceksin? dersiniz diye.. ### Süleyman Ateş — Kur'an-ı Kerim ve Yüce Meali Yahut: "(Ne yapalım) daha önce babalarımız (Allah'a) ortak koştu, biz de onlardan sonra gelen bir nesil old(uğumuz için öyle yapt)ık. (Gerçekleri) iptal edenlerin yaptıkları yüzünden bizi helak mı ediyorsun?" demeyesiniz diye (sizin Rabbiniz olduğum hakkında sizleri şahid tutmuştuk). ### Yaşar Nuri Öztürk — Kur'an-ı Kerim Meali Şöyle de demeyesiniz: "Daha önce atalarımız şirke batmıştı. Biz de onların ardından gelen bir soyuz. Gerçeği çiğneyenler yüzünden bizi helak mı edeceksin?" ### Mustafa İslamoğlu — Hayat Kitabı Kur’an ya da "Doğrusu bizden önce babalarımız şirk koşmuştu, bizse sadece onların peşinden giden bir kuşağız; dolayısıyla, batılı icat edenlerin yaptıkları yüzünden bizi mi helak edeceksin?" gerekçesine sığınmayasınız. ### Erhan Aktaş (Eski Baskı) — Kerim Kur'an Veya "Biz, bizden önce şirk koşan atalarımızın ardından gelen bir nesiliz, batılla amel edenlerin yaptıkları yüzünden bizi mi yok edeceksin?" demeyesiniz diye. ### Ali Rıza Safa — Kur'an-ı Kerim Gerçek Veya "Aslında, bizden önce atalarımız ortaklar koşmuşlardı. Biz, onlardan sonra gelen bir kuşağız. Gerçeğe aykırı yolu izleyenlerin yaptıkları yüzünden, bizi mi yıkıma uğratacaksın?" diyemezsiniz. ### Süleymaniye Vakfı (Eski Baskı) — Süleymaniye Vakfı Meali Şunu da diyemezsiniz: "Önceden ortaklar uyduran atalarımızdı. Biz ise onlardan sonra gelen bir nesildik. O boş işlere dalanların yaptıklarından ötürü bizi yok mu edeceksin?" ### Mehmet Okuyan — Kur’an Meal-Tefsir Veya "Daha önce atalarımız Allah'a ortak koşmuştu; biz de onlardan sonra gelen nesiller olduğumuz için;[1] (yani) yanlış yapanlar nedeniyle bizi de mi helak edeceksin?" dersiniz diye (işte böyle yapmıştık).[2] _Footnotes_ - [1] Bu iki ayet En‘âm 6:156-157 ve Zümer 39:56-58. ayetlerle birlikte okunmalıdır. - [2] Bu ayetler yani A‘râf 7:172-173. ayetler En‘âm 6:156-157 ve Zümer 39:56-58. ayetlerle birlikte okunmalıdır. ### Erhan Aktaş (10. Baskı) — Kerim Kur'an Veya "Biz, bizden önce şirk koşan atalarımızın ardından gelen bir nesiliz, batılla amel edenlerin yaptıkları yüzünden bizi mi yok edeceksin?" demeyesiniz diye. ### Erhan Aktaş — Kerim Kur'an Veya "Biz, bizden önce şirk koşan atalarımızın ardından gelen bir nesiliz, batılla amel edenlerin yaptıkları yüzünden bizi mi yok edeceksin?" demeyesiniz diye. ### Süleymaniye Vakfı — Süleymaniye Vakfı Meali Ya da şöyle derdiniz: "Sana bizden önce, atalarımız ortak koştu. Biz, onlardan sonra gelen bir nesildik (onlara uyduk). Batıla dalan o kimselerin yaptıkları yüzünden bizi helak mı edeceksin[1]?" _Footnotes_ - [1] Kendilerine elçi gelmeyen toplumlar, sadece şirkten ve evrensel doğrulardan sorumlu olurlar. Çünkü Allah'ın bir ortağının olamayacağını ve evrensel doğruları kendi gözlemleriyle öğrenmiş olurlar. ## Words | # | word | meaning | root | |---|---|---|---| | 1 | أَوْ — aw | Or | — | | 2 | تَقُولُوٓا۟ — taqūlū | you say | قول — Kaf-Vav-Lam | | 3 | إِنَّمَآ — innamā | Only | — | | 4 | أَشْرَكَ — ashraka | partners (were) associated (with Allah) | شرك — Şin-Ra-Kef | | 5 | ءَابَآؤُنَا — ābāunā | (by) our forefathers | ابو — Elif-Be-Vav | | 6 | مِن — min | from | — | | 7 | قَبْلُ — qablu | before (us) | قبل — Kaf-Be-Lam | | 8 | وَكُنَّا — wakunnā | and we are | كون — Kef-Vav-Nun | | 9 | ذُرِّيَّةًۭ — dhurriyyatan | descendants | ذرر — Zal-Ra-Ra | | 10 | مِّنۢ — min | from | — | | 11 | بَعْدِهِمْ ۖ — baʿdihim | after them | بعد — Be-Ayn-Dal | | 12 | أَفَتُهْلِكُنَا — afatuh'likunā | So will You destroy us | هلك — he-Lam-Kef | | 13 | بِمَا — bimā | for what | — | | 14 | فَعَلَ — faʿala | did | فعل — Fe-Ayn-Lam | | 15 | ٱلْمُبْطِلُونَ — l-mub'ṭilūna | the falsifiers | بطل — Be-Ta-Lam | --- Previous: https://quran.so/surah-al-araf/verse-172.md · Next: https://quran.so/surah-al-araf/verse-174.md Retrieved: 2026-08-14 Quran.so — https://quran.so — CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — When quoting, name the translator.