Texts of Islam

The Qur'ân, ed. Palmer (SBE6): VII. The Chapter of Al Aarâf

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This is a passage from the Qur'an — specifically from Surah Al-A'raf (Chapter 7), taken from E.H. Palmer's 1880 English translation published in the Sacred Books of the East series. The text is religious scripture in the Islamic tradition, presenting itself as divine revelation transmitted through the Prophet Muhammad. Its central content covers foundational theological and moral themes: the creation of humanity, Satan's prideful refusal to bow to Adam and his subsequent role as humanity's tempter, the story of Adam and Eve's fall from Paradise, and warnings about divine judgment — with graphic descriptions of Hell's torments for the unjust and Paradise's rewards for the righteous. A notable structural feature is the concept of "Al-A'raf," an intermediate zone between Heaven and Hell populated by souls who know the inhabitants of both, which is distinctive to this surah. The passage then moves into a series of prophetic narratives — Noah's warning to his people, the prophet Hud's mission to the tribe of 'Ad — establishing a recurring Qur'anic pattern: a prophet brings God's message, his community rejects him, and divine punishment follows. Readers interested in Islamic scripture, comparative religion, or the history of 19th-century translation of Eastern religious texts would find this directly relevant.

The Qur'ân, ed. Palmer (SBE6): VII. The Chapter of Al Aarâf

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