The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 627
PT. 9 AL-A'RĀF CH. 7 not come upon you but of a يَسْتَلُونَكَ كَأَنَّكَ حَفِيٌّ عَنْهَا قُلْ إِنَّمَا heavens and the earth. It shall عِلْمُهَا عِنْدَ اللهِ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ sudden. They ask thee as if لَا يَعْلَمُونَ thou wert well acquainted therewith. Say, 'The knowledge thereof is only with Allah; but most men do not know. '1074 1074. Important Words: "16:78; 54:51. (?when will it come to pass) ایان مرساها is derived from L. They say i. e. the mountain was firmly based or fixed upon the ground. means, the ship cast anchor and became stationary. is the noun- infinitive or a noun of time or a noun of place, meaning, the act of anchoring or the time or place of anchorage; or the time and place of becoming stationary; or of coming to pass. The expression means, when will it come to pass, or what is the time of its taking place; or when will it occur or happen? (Lane & Aqrab). (well acquainted) is derived from which means, he walked barefooted; or his feet became chafed by walking much. means, he showed him much honour and kindness and affection; or he behaved towards him with solicitude and manifested joy and pleasure. die means, he asked or inquired much respecting him; he exceeded the usual bounds in making much inquiry respecting him. showing much honour and solicitude and manifesting joy or pleasure at meeting another; asking or inquiring حفى So means, much respecting another's state or condition; going to the utmost in asking or inquiring; or knowing in the utmost degree (Lane & Aqrab). Commentary: The reference in the opening sentence of the verse is to 7:186. When the opponents of Islam were told that their hour had already drawn near, they inquired of the Prophet the exact time when the promised hour would come. The awarding of punishment is as painful to God as the receiving of it is to men, and this is the meaning of the words, It lies heavy on the heavens and the earth. The word "heavens" here represents God and angels, while the word "earth" represents human beings. The word signifies (1) importunate in inquiring; or (2) well acquainted. The sentence would thus mean: (1) They ask thee concerning the exact time when the hour of their punishment will come to pass, as if thou wert repeatedly inquiring of God as to its time of occurrence; or (2) they ask thee about the time of the "Hour", as if thou wert well acquainted with it. In both these cases the clause would imply that the Holy Prophet neither knew when the "Hour" 1067 حفى