alastu-birabbikum

Sūra VII.: A’rāf, or the Heights

Section 22

172. Wa-ith akhatha rabbuka min banee adama min thuhoorihim thurriyyatahum waashhadahum AAala anfusihim alastu birabbikum qaloo bala shahidna an taqooloo yawma alqiyamati inna kunna AAan hatha ghafileena

172. When thy Lord drew forth
From the Children of Adam—
From their loins—
Their descendants, and made them
Testify concerning themselves, (saying):
“Am I not your Lord
(Who cherishes and sustains you)?”—
They said: “Yea!
We do testify!” (This), lest
Ye should say on the Day
Of Judgment: “Of this we
Were never mindful”:

173. Aw taqooloo innama ashraka abaona min qablu wakunna thurriyyatan min baAAdihim afatuhlikuna bima faAAala almubtiloona

173. Or lest ye should say:
“Our fathers before us
May have taken false gods,
But we are (their) descendants
After them: wilt Thou then
Destroy us because of the deeds
Of men who were futile?”

174. Wakathalika nufassilu al-ayati walaAAallahum yarjiAAoona

174. Thus do We explain
The Signs in detail;
And perchance they may turn
(Unto Us).