Session Twenty-Four, Verses 58 and 59, The Differences Between Verse 59 and Verse 162 of Surat al-A’raf

Session Twenty-Four

Verses 58 and 59 – The Differences Between Verse 59 and Verse 162 of Surat al-A’raf – Verse 60 – General Explanation of the Verse

February 7, 2025

The Differences Between Verse 59 and Verse 162 of Surat al-A’raf

The points relating to verses 58 and 59 of Surat al-Baqarah have now been set forth; only one point remains, namely the differences between verse 59 and its counterpart in Surat al-A’raf. Just as we noted the differences between verse 58 and verse 161 of Surat al-A’raf, it is fitting that we likewise note the differences between verse 59 and verse 162 of Surat al-A’raf.

Verse 59 of Surat al-Baqarah reads: “But those who did wrong substituted a saying other than that which had been said to them, so We sent down upon those who did wrong a punishment from the sky on account of the transgression they used to commit” («فَبَدَّلَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا قَوْلًا غَيْرَ الَّذِي قِيلَ لَهُمْ فَأَنْزَلْنَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا رِجْزًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ»). In Surat al-A’raf, verse 162 states: “But those who did wrong among them substituted a saying other than that which had been said to them, so We sent down upon them a punishment from the sky on account of the wrong they used to commit” («فَبَدَّلَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْهُمْ قَوْلًا غَيْرَ الَّذِي قِيلَ لَهُمْ فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِجْزًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَظْلِمُونَ»). As we have already noted, verses 58 and 59 are, in terms of meaning, identical to verses 161 and 162 of Surat al-A’raf; there are, however, certain differences in expression between them. We shall now address the differences that exist here between these two verses in Surat al-Baqarah and Surat al-A’raf.

The First Difference

In verse 59, the verse reads: “But those who did wrong substituted a saying other than that which had been said to them” («فَبَدَّلَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا قَوْلًا غَيْرَ الَّذِي قِيلَ لَهُمْ»), whereas verse 162 of Surat al-A’raf states: “But those who did wrong among them substituted a saying other than that which had been said to them” («فَبَدَّلَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْهُمْ قَوْلًا غَيْرَ الَّذِي قِيلَ لَهُمْ») — here the word “minhum” (“among them”) has been added. What is the reason for this addition in this verse? Why is the word “minhum” included here, while this word is not mentioned in Surat al-Baqarah?

The reason given for this addition in this verse relates to the manner in which this narrative is presented in Surat al-A’raf, which begins with this verse: “And among the people of Moses is a community that guides by truth and acts justly in accordance with it” («وَمِنْ قَوْمِ مُوسَى أُمَّةٌ يَهْدُونَ بِالْحَقِّ وَبِهِ يَعْدِلُونَ»). At the outset of this narrative, reference is made to the various categories and types within the people of Moses — that a group among them guided by the truth, while another group engaged in wrongdoing. Here, the narrative began with the word “min” (“from” or “among”), stating that one group was of this kind and another group was of that kind; now, having reached the end of the episode, in keeping with the partitive sense (tab’id) introduced by the word “min” at the outset, the word “minhum” is likewise included here, the verse stating: “But those who did wrong among them substituted a saying other than that which had been said to them.” Hence, the mention of “minhum” is on account of the correspondence between the beginning and the end of the narrative. That is, the people of Moses were, as it were, of two kinds: a just community (ummah ‘adilah) and a wrongdoing community (ummah ja’irah); here, reference is made to the wrongdoing community.

The Second Difference

In this verse, it states “So We sent down upon those who did wrong a punishment from the sky” («فَأَنْزَلْنَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا رِجْزًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ»), whereas Surat al-A’raf states “So We sent down upon them a punishment from the sky on account of the wrong they used to commit” («فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِجْزًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَظْلِمُونَ»). Why has the expression “anzalna” been used here, while the expression “arsalna” is used in Surat al-A’raf? What is the difference between these two? I believe we have already touched upon this difference previously; “anzalna” points to the occurrence of the chastisement at the very outset of the matter; “the sending down from the sky” means, as it were, that We carried out and brought about this act, in response to those acts of wrongdoing they had committed. This points to the beginning of the matter and the beginning of the descent of chastisement. “Arsalna,” however, points, in a certain sense, to the continuation of this chastisement and its persistence, and to their utter helplessness and destitution, which resulted from the complete mastery of this chastisement over them. “Irsal” relates, in fact, to the final stage of the matter — the point at which it encompassed all of them. If we take “rijz” to be a particular disease — which some have taken to be plague, and others have identified as other diseases — or if we take it, instead, to be agitation, agitation itself being the worst of chastisements — in either case, this had a beginning and an end. Its beginning is expressed by the term “anzalna,” and its becoming widespread, dominant, and all-encompassing with respect to everyone is expressed by the term “arsalna.”

The Third Difference

The third difference relates to the conclusion of the verse. In this verse it states: “a punishment from the sky on account of the transgression they used to commit” («رِجْزًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ»), whereas verse 162 of Surat al-A’raf states: “So We sent down upon them a punishment from the sky on account of the wrong they used to commit” («فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِجْزًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَظْلِمُونَ»). Why is the term “yafsuqun” used here, while the term “yazlimun” is used in Surat al-A’raf? This point becomes clear in light of the explanation we have already given regarding “yafsuqun.” For the wrongdoing referred to in the verse of Surat al-A’raf was this very transgression, and for this reason, Surat al-A’raf has confined itself to the term “wrongdoing.” As for what the basis was for the descent of rijz from the sky, and what “that was on account of their transgression” means, we have already set forth three possibilities. In our discussion of the final point relating to verse 59, we noted that three possibilities exist regarding “on account of the transgression they used to commit”; it is, of course, not unlikely that one of these possibilities should be given preference. The principal point, however, is that, on the basis of these three possibilities, the fundamental and essential element was the matter of wrongdoing; indeed, in some cases, “yafsuqun” has been taken to mean “yazlimun.” Hence, this too does not constitute a significant difference in this instance.

These, then, were the points that needed to be set forth concerning verses 58 and 59.

Verse 60

Verse 60: “And [recall] when Moses prayed for water for his people, so We said: Strike the stone with your staff; and there gushed forth from it twelve springs, each group of people knowing its own drinking place. Eat and drink from the provision of God, and do not commit corruption upon the earth, spreading mischief” («وَإِذِ اسْتَسْقَى مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ فَقُلْنَا اضْرِبْ بِعَصَاكَ الْحَجَرَ فَانْفَجَرَتْ مِنْهُ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَشْرَبَهُمْ كُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا مِنْ رِزْقِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ»).

General Explanation of the Verse

The translation and general explanation of this verse is as follows: God, Blessed and Exalted, states: and recall the time when Moses, peace be upon him, requested water for his people and prayed (this, too, was on account of the shortage of water that they experienced, and they would constantly remind the Prophet Moses, peace be upon him, to ask his Lord to provide water for them); so We said to Moses: strike that stone with your staff; thereupon twelve springs of water gushed forth from that stone, in such a manner that each group among the Children of Israel knew its own drinking place. We then said to them: eat and drink from God’s provision, and do not engage in corruption and transgression upon the earth, and let not this divine blessing become a cause of your transgression.

The principal matter is what connection this verse bears to the preceding verses; this is a point to which we have generally drawn attention in connection with the preceding verses as well. We shall then explain the individual terms of this verse, and proceed thereafter to its exegesis, which exegesis will likewise be presented in the course of the several points relating to the various parts of this verse.