7. Sura al-Araf

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَلاَ تُفْسِدُواْ فِي الأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلاَحِهَا ...

7: 56. Do no mischief on the earth, after it hath been set in order,

C1034. The man who prays with humility and earnestness finds the ground prepared by Allah for his spiritual advancement. It is all set in order, and cleared of weeds. He does not, like the wicked, upset that order, to introduce evil or mischief into it.

... وَادْعُوهُ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا...

but call on Him with fear and longing (in your hearts):

C1035. Fear and longing: the fear of Allah is really a fear lest we should diverge from His Will, or do anything which would not be pleasing to Him:

unlike ordinary fear, it therefore brings us nearer to Allah, and in fact nourishes our longing and desire for Him.

...إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿٥٦﴾

for the mercy of Allah is (always) near to those who do good.

Other versions:

7: 56 [al-Araf, Mecca 39]

Asad hence, do not spread corruption on earth after it has been so well ordered. And call unto Him with fear and longing: verily, God’s grace is ever near unto the doers of good!

Yusuf Ali Do no mischief on the earth after it hath been set in order but call on Him with fear and longing (in your hearts): for the mercy of Allah is (always) near to those who do good.

Pickthall Work not confusion in the earth after the fair ordering (thereof), and call on Him in fear and hope. Lo! the mercy of Allah is nigh unto the good.

Transliteration Wa la_ tufsidu_ fil ardi ba'da isla_hiha_ wad'u_hu khaufaw wa tama'a_(n), inna rahmatalla_hi qaribum minal muhsinin(a).

[[ Ruby’s comment – If human beings do not do mischief and comply with God’s moral laws, He/she would find this life and reality in good order and functions well. Only when humans do mischief and do not comply with God’s laws this reality become difficult and disorderly with disturbances and violence.]

It is also to note the reference of the physical things such as the creation of the heaven and the earth, night and day, moon, stars, wind, heavy clouds, etc mentioned before and after this verse seems to imply that it is human responsibility not to corrupt or disrupt the working of things with excessiveness and transgression of human action. Is this indicating the stewardship of the environment as human responsibility? ]

[[ Ali’s notes - 1034 The man who prays with humility and earnestness finds the ground prepared by Allah for his spiritual advancement. It is all set in order, and cleared of weeds. He does not, like the wicked, upset that order, to introduce evil or mischief into it. (7.56)

1035 Fear and longing: the fear of Allah is really a fear lest we should diverge from His Will, or do anything which would not be pleasing to Him: unlike ordinary fear, it therefore brings us nearer to Allah, and in fact nourishes our longing and desire for Him. (7.56)]]