Quran-7:171 Surah Al-araf English Translation,Transliteration and Tafsir(Tafseer).

۞وَإِذۡ نَتَقۡنَا ٱلۡجَبَلَ فَوۡقَهُمۡ كَأَنَّهُۥ ظُلَّةٞ وَظَنُّوٓاْ أَنَّهُۥ وَاقِعُۢ بِهِمۡ خُذُواْ مَآ ءَاتَيۡنَٰكُم بِقُوَّةٖ وَٱذۡكُرُواْ مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ

Transliteration:( Wa iz nataqnal jabala fawqahum ka annahoo zullatunw wa zannooo annahoo waaqi'un bihim khuzoo maaa aatainaakum biquwwatinw wazkuroo maa feehi la'allakum tattaqoon )

171. And when We raised [393] the mountain over them as if it were a canopy, and they thought that it would fall on them [394]. (We said,) “Hold firmly to what We have given you and remember what is in it, so that you may become accountable [395]." (Kanzul Imaan Translation)

(171) And [mention] when We raised the mountain above them as if it was a dark cloud and they were certain that it would fall upon them,[416] [and Allāh said], "Take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it that you might fear Allāh." (Saheen International Translation)

Surah Al-Araf Ayat 171 Tafsir (Commentry)



  • Tafseer-e-Naeemi (Ahmad Yaar Khan)
  • Ibn Kathir
  • Ala-Madudi
  • Shaheen International

📖 Commentary on Surah Al-A‘raaf – Verse 171

And when We raised [393] the mountain over them as if it were a canopy, and they thought that it would fall on them [394]. (We said,) “Hold firmly to what We have given you and remember what is in it, so that you may become accountable [395]."


✅ Divine Power Manifested Through the Angel [393]

The mountain was uprooted and raised above the Israelites like a canopy by Hazrat Jibraeel (on whom be peace), by the command of Allah Almighty. Since the actions of His beloved servants are attributed to Allah, the verse states “We raised”—reflecting that the miracle, though executed by an angel, was truly by divine will.


✅ Fear-Induced Prostration and Its Lasting Effect [394]

When the mountain loomed overhead, every Israelite fell into prostration, placing their left cheek on the ground while keeping one eye upward—fearing the mountain might fall. To this day, the Yahud prostrate differently, not placing their forehead fully on the ground, a posture inherited from that moment of awe and fear. (Tafseer Khazainul Irfaan)


✅ Firm Acceptance under Divine Pressure [395]

Initially, when Hazrat Musa (on whom be peace) presented the complete Tauraat, the Israelites hesitated, overwhelmed by its strict commands. In response, Allah raised a mountain over them, either from Sinai or Palestine, and warned them: accept this Book or be crushed beneath it. This moment shows why the Qur’an was revealed gradually over 23 years—out of divine mercy, making it easier for people to absorb and act upon the laws, unlike the sudden imposition experienced by Bani Israel.

Ibn-Kathir

171. And (remember) when We Nataqna the mountain over them as if it had been a canopy, and they thought that it was going to fall on them. (We said): “Hold firmly to what We have given you ﴿the Tawrah﴾, and remember that which is therein (act on its commandments), so that you may fear Allah and obey Him.”


Raising Mount Tur over the Jews, because of Their Rebellion

`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas commented on the Ayah,

﴿وَإِذ نَتَقْنَا الْجَبَلَ فَوْقَهُمْ﴾

(And (remember) when We Nataqna the mountain over them), “We raised the mountain, as Allah’s other statement testifies,

﴿وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَهُمُ الطُّورَ بِمِيثَـقِهِمْ﴾

(And for their covenant, We raised over them the mountain) ﴿4:154﴾.” Also, Sufyan Ath-Thawri narrated that Al-A`mash said that, Sa`id bin Jubayr said that Ibn `Abbas said, “The angels raised the Mount over their heads, as reiterated by Allah’s statement,

﴿وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَهُمُ الطُّورَ﴾

(We raised over them the mountain) ﴿4:154﴾.” Al-Qasim bin Abi Ayyub narrated that Sa`id bin Jubayr said that Ibn `Abbas said, “Musa later on proceeded with them to the Sacred Land. He took along the Tablets, after his anger subsided, and commanded them to adhere to the orders that Allah ordained to be delivered to them. But these orders became heavy on them and they did not want to implement them until Allah raised the mountain over them,

﴿كَأَنَّهُ ظُلَّةٌ﴾

(as if it had been a canopy), that is, when the angels raised the mountain over their heads.” An-Nasa’i collected it.

(7:171) And recall when We shook the mountain over them as though it were a canopy, and they thought that it was going to fall over them; and We said: Hold firmly to that which We have given you, and remember what is in it, that you may guard against evil.[132]

Ala-Maududi

(7:171) And recall when We shook the mountain over them as though it were a canopy, and they thought that it was going to fall over them; and We said: Hold firmly to that which We have given you, and remember what is in it, that you may guard against evil.[132]


132. The allusion here is to the event which took place when Moses proclaimed God’s Divine Law at the foot of Mount Sinai.

Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God; and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. And Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and the smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. (Exodus 19: 17-18.)

This awesome atmosphere was created by God at the time when He made the people of Israel enter into a covenant with Him in order to impress upon them the gravity of the event and the supreme importance of the covenant. It should not be mistakenly assumed, however, that the people of Israel, who were reluctant to make the covenant, were forced to enter into it. In fact they were all believers and had gone to the Mount merely to make the covenant. The extraordinary conditions which God created were such as to make the Israelites realize that making a covenant with God was not an ordinary matter. They were rather made to feel that they were entering into a covenant with none other than Almighty God and that violating it could spell their disaster.

This concludes the discourse especially addressed to the Israelites. From here on the discourse is directed to all mankind, and particularly to the people whom the Prophet (peace be on him) addressed directly.

(171) And [mention] when We raised the mountain above them as if it was a dark cloud and they were certain that it would fall upon them,[416] [and Allāh said], "Take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it that you might fear Allāh."

[416]- For their rebellion and disobedience.

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