Take Refuge in God in Temptation

7. Sura al-Araf

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللّهِ...

7: 200. If a suggestion from Satan assail thy (mind), seek refuge with Allah;

C1171. Even a Prophet of Allah is but human. He might think that revenge or retaliation, or a little tactful silence when evil stalks abroad, or some compromise with ignorance, might be best for the cause.

He is to reject such suggestions.

...إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٠٠﴾

for He heareth and knoweth (all things).

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَواْ إِذَا مَسَّهُمْ طَائِفٌ مِّنَ الشَّيْطَانِ تَذَكَّرُواْ فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْصِرُونَ ﴿٢٠١﴾

7: 201. Those who fear Allah, when a thought of evil from Satan assaults them, bring Allah to remembrance when lo! they see (aright)!

C1172. Allah protects His own, as no one else can. He is the sure refuge -and the only one- for men of faith.

If we are confused or angry, being blinded by this world, He will open our eyes.

وَإِخْوَانُهُمْ يَمُدُّونَهُمْ فِي الْغَيِّ ثُمَّ لاَ يُقْصِرُونَ ﴿٢٠٢﴾

7: 202. But their brethren (the evil ones) plunge them deeper into error, and never relax (their efforts).

C1173. We go back to consider the ungodly, whom we left at verse 198, in order to be taught our behaviour towards evil.

The forces of evil never relax their efforts to draw their "brethren" (those who go into their family) deeper and deeper into the mire of sin and destruction.

Asad’s Version:

7: 200 And if it should happen that a prompting from Satan stirs you up, seek refuge with God; behold, He is all hearing, all-knowing.

7: 201, 202 Verily, they who are conscious of God bethink themselves [of Him] whenever any dark suggestion from Satan touches them – whereupon lo! They begin to see [things] clearly, even though their brethren would draw them into error: and then they cannot fail.