Al-A'raf
Al-Araf (Arabic: ٱلأعراف, al-ʾAʿrāf; meaning: The Heights) is the 7th chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'an, with 206 verses (āyāt). Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation (Asbāb al-nuzūl), it is a "Meccan surah", which means it was revealed before the Hijra.
| ٱلْأَعْرَاف Al-Aʿraf The Elevation | |
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| Classification | Meccan |
| Other names | The Purgatory |
| Position | Juzʼ 8—9 |
| Hizb no. | 16—18 |
| No. of Rukus | 24 |
| No. of verses | 206 |
| No. of Sajdahs | 1 (verse 206) |
| No. of words | 3341 |
| No. of letters | 14435 |
| Opening muqaṭṭaʻāt | ʾAlif Lām Mīm Ṣād المص |
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This chapter takes its name from verses 46–47, in which the word A'araf appears.
According to Abul A'la Maududi, the time of its disclosure is about the same as that of Al-An'am, i. e., the last year of the Islamic prophet Muhammad's residence at Makkah: the manner of its admonition clearly indicates that it belongs to the same period and both have the same historical background; however, it cannot be declared with assurance which of these two was uncovered before the other. The audience should keep in mind the introduction to Al-An'am.