Al-A'raf 155: At a time that We determined, Moses chose seventy people from his nation. When this severe earthquake hit them, Moses said; “Oh my Dear Lord! If You had desired before, You would have destroyed them and me for the deeds (sins) that some ignorant people from among us have committed. This is nothing but a test from You. With it, those who desire (to be led astray) go astray, and those who desire (to be guided) are guided to the right path. You are our Owner, forgive us, have mercy on us. You are the best of those who forgive.”

A. Metin Saruhan · 21 February 2022 · Misinterpreted Verses

The misinterpretation

Moses chose seventy men from his people at the appointed time. When that terrible earthquake struck them, Moses said: O my Lord! If you had wished, you would have destroyed them and me earlier. Will you destroy us all because of the (sin) of some foolish among us? This job is nothing but your test. With it you mislead whomever you wish and guide whomever you wish to the straight path. You are our owner, forgive us and have mercy on us. You are the best of forgivers.

The right translation

At a time that We determined, Moses chose seventy people from his nation. When this severe earthquake hit them, Moses said; “Oh my Dear Lord! If You had desired before, You would have destroyed them and me for the deeds (sins) that some ignorant people from among us have committed. This is nothing but a test from You. With it, those who desire (to be led astray) go astray, and those who desire (to be guided) are guided to the right path. You are our Owner, forgive us, have mercy on us. You are the best of those who forgive.”

Explanation

The wrong place in this verse is this: (By it You lead astray whomsoever You will, and guide whomsoever You will.) Verily: (By it, whoever (of us) will go astray, and whoever will find the right path.)

After our Lord sends people into the world, He has no will over them. Since every soul will receive good deeds and sins with the decisions it makes of its own will, why does our Lord make a covenant with us as He says in the 172nd verse of Surah A'râf if He will guide whomever He wills to the right path or lead whomever He wills astray?

172- (He made the descendants of the Children of Adam to bear witness against themselves and said: "I am your Lord" (so that you may not say on the Day of Resurrection, "We were unaware of this"): I am your Lord. (They said) yes, we bear witness (to this). How beautifully our Lord answers this question in the 134th verse of Surah Taha: (If We had destroyed them with a torment before this (the Qur'an), they would have surely said: "O Lord! If You had sent us a messenger, we would have followed Your Verses before we fell into this humiliation and disgrace).

In Surah Al-Qasas, Verse 47: When a calamity befalls them because of what they themselves have done, our Lord! Would that You had sent us a Prophet so that we might have followed Your Verses and been of the believers! (We would not have sent you) had they not said.

Does Allah (swt) ever interfere with people here on earth? Does our Lord exercise His will over people by removing their will from them? May our Lord grant us a good comprehension and a good understanding while opening the verses, so that we can comprehend the verses and explain them according to their meanings.

What is said in the video

Of Surah Al-A'raf, we have come to verse 155.

This is a verse that was interpreted wrongly. Moses chose 70 men from his people for the time We appointed. When that terrible earthquake seized them, Moses said: O my Lord! Had You willed, You would have destroyed them and me before. Will You destroy us all because of the sin some fools among us committed ? it says. As if he is defying Allah here. He is asking a question. This is nothing but Your test. With it He leads astray whom He wills. And whom You will, You guide to the right path. This part is wrong too. You are our Master. Forgive us, have mercy on us. You are the best of those who forgive, it says.

Now we set this part right like this. Moses chose seventy men from his people for the time We appointed. When that terrible earthquake seized them, Moses said: O my Lord, because of the sin some fools among us committed, had You willed, You would have destroyed them and me before. Had You willed. Whereas what does it say here?

Moses said: O my Lord, had You willed, You would have destroyed them and me before. Will You destroy us all because of the sin some fools among us committed ? it says. Look. Now this much (?), its interpretation is like this. When that terrible earthquake seized them, Moses said: O my Lord, because of the sin some fools among us committed, had You willed, You would have destroyed them and me before. This is nothing but Your test. With it, whoever of us wills goes astray, and whoever wills finds the right path. Finds the right path. You are our Master. Forgive us and have mercy on us. You are the best of those who forgive, it says.

In one there is a question. In the other, (?), it says: You would have done what You wished. How beautiful. O my Lord, had You willed, You would have destroyed them and me before. Will You destroy us all because of the sin some fools among us committed ? it says. He is asking a question. Will You destroy us all? Whereas what am I saying here? Because of the sin some fools among us committed, had You willed, You would have destroyed them and me before. Look. Otherwise here: will You destroy us all because of the sin some fools committed ? Like defying Him.

So, with many mistakes in wording, toward Allah Almighty the etiquette too they have breached (?). The etiquette, the speech, its etiquette too they have breached (?). Yes.