Surat Al-Araf was revealed in Mecca. Its theme is the position of people in the struggle between the truth and the falsehood.  This struggle will always exist.  Falsehood will always want to spread evil and mischief and truth will always seek to spread goodness and cleanse the earth from all forms of corruption.

The Surat addresses three groups of people:

1. A group of those who are committed believers and promoters of the truth.
2. A group of those who are disbelievers and promoters of falsehoods.
3. A group of those who are uncommitted believers, they are the passive bystanders.

The theme of the Surat is the accountability of believers with respect to their commitment and responsibility towards their belief. Since the Surat was revealed to the Prophet (PBUH) in Mecca at the time when Muslims were weak and being prosecuted, one may infer that believers should support the truth independent of their political position in the society.  Feelings of fear or apathy are no excuse for not supporting the truth even when one feels that there is no one that will listen.

The Surat highlights the life of several prophets and the challenges that they faced.  These prophets are Adam, Noah, Hud, Saleh, Lot, Shuab and Moses. The Surat gave special emphasis to the story of Prophet Moses, Pharaoh and Bani Israel to demonstrate the response of the believers, the disbelievers and the passive bystanders regarding their commitment to the truth.  The Surat also gave special attention to Prophet Adam and his encounter with Satan to warn us from being deceived by Satan’s trickery.

The Surat starts with.

كِتَـٰبٌ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ فَلَا يَكُن فِى صَدۡرِكَ حَرَجٌ۬ مِّنۡهُ لِتُنذِرَ بِهِۦ وَذِكۡرَىٰ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ (٢) ٱتَّبِعُواْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ مِن دُونِهِۦۤ أَوۡلِيَآءَ‌ۗ قَلِيلاً۬ مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ

This is a Book that was sent down to you, so let there be no distress in your heart because of it, so you may forewarn (the disbelievers) through it, and (it is) a reminder for the believers. (2) Follow what has been sent down to you from your Lord and do not follow any guardian other than Him (Allah). Little do you remember!  (Al-Araf 7:2-3)

In the opening of the Surat, Allah points out that He is fully aware that we may be feeling uneasy, burdened, and overwhelmed because of our responsibility to deliver Allah’s message to others.

The Surat gives us a story of a community from Bani Israel that were divided in the three groups: believers, disbelievers, and uncommitted believers, i.e., bystanders.  Allah says:

وَسۡـَٔلۡهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلۡقَرۡيَةِ ٱلَّتِى ڪَانَتۡ حَاضِرَةَ ٱلۡبَحۡرِ إِذۡ يَعۡدُونَ فِى ٱلسَّبۡتِ إِذۡ تَأۡتِيهِمۡ حِيتَانُهُمۡ يَوۡمَ سَبۡتِهِمۡ شُرَّعً۬ا وَيَوۡمَ لَا يَسۡبِتُونَ‌ۙ لَا تَأۡتِيهِمۡ‌ۚ ڪَذَٲلِكَ نَبۡلُوهُم بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفۡسُقُونَ (١٦٣)

And ask them about the town situated by the sea; when they transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath (i.e., Saturday): when their fish came to them openly on their Sabbath and did not come to them on the days that are not Sabbath. This is the way We tested them because of their repellence (against Allah’s Command). (7:163)

 In this story, the believers were divided in two groups, one group advised the rebellious group to stop violating Allah’s command, but the other group questioned the value of the advice and said:

وَإِذۡ قَالَتۡ أُمَّةٌ۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ لِمَ تَعِظُونَ قَوۡمًا‌ۙ ٱللَّهُ مُهۡلِكُهُمۡ أَوۡ مُعَذِّبُہُمۡ عَذَابً۬ا شَدِيدً۬ا‌ۖ

And when a community among them said: “Why do you preach to a people whom Allah is about to destroy or to punish with a severe torment?” (7:164)

 The true believers responded by saying:

قَالُواْ مَعۡذِرَةً إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمۡ وَلَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَّقُونَ (١٦٤)

They said: “In order to absolve ourselves before your Lord, and perhaps they may fear Allah.” (7:164)

 The believers’ responsibility is to convey Allah’s message for two reasons: first, to free themselves from the sin for not acting to stop evil, and second, they do not know whether their advice will impact the transgressors or not.   Only Allah is in control of the outcomes.  Allah informs us that only those who gave the advice will be saved:

فَلَمَّا نَسُواْ مَا ذُڪِّرُواْ بِهِۦۤ أَنجَيۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ يَنۡہَوۡنَ عَنِ ٱلسُّوٓءِ وَأَخَذۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ بِعَذَابِۭ بَـِٔيسِۭ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفۡسُقُونَ (١٦٥)

“When they disregarded the advice that they were given, we saved those who forbade evil; but We seized the wrong doers with a grievous punishment, because they have been rebellious.” (7:165)

 

In this story, Allah informed us of the reward of those who gave the advice but what will happen to those who did not give the advice and even tried to discourage those who wanted to give the advice?  To answer this question, we go to a scene from the day of Judgment that the Surat presents.  The scene is set for us in Ayat 36 to 53.  The Ayat indicate that the people in Heaven and those in Hell will be able to see and communicate with each other.

وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ أَصۡحَـٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ أَن قَدۡ وَجَدۡنَا مَا وَعَدَنَا رَبُّنَا حَقًّ۬ا فَهَلۡ وَجَدتُّم مَّا وَعَدَ رَبُّكُمۡ حَقًّ۬ا‌ۖ قَالُواْ نَعَمۡ‌ۚ فَأَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنُۢ بَيۡنَہُمۡ أَن لَّعۡنَةُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ (٤٤)

The companions of Paradise will call out to the inmates of the Fire: “We have found true what our Lord had promised us; have you found true what your Lord had promised?” They will say “yes”.  Then an announcer who is in between them will proclaim: “The curse of Allah is on the wrong doers”. (7:44)

After this exchange between the people in Heaven and people in Hell, a barrier will be set between them, so they will no longer see each other. But there were still people whose fate has not been decided and those people will be standing on an overpass bridge between Heaven and Hell and thus they can see both the people in Heaven and those in Hell.  The name of the Surat is in reference to this overpass bridge that is called “Al-Araf” which is translated as “The Heights”.   This scene is presented to us in these Ayat:

وَبَيۡنَہُمَا حِجَابٌ۬‌ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلۡأَعۡرَافِ رِجَالٌ۬ يَعۡرِفُونَ كُلاَّۢ بِسِيمَٮٰهُمۡ‌ۚ وَنَادَوۡاْ أَصۡحَـٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ أَن سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيۡكُمۡ‌ۚ لَمۡ يَدۡخُلُوهَا وَهُمۡ يَطۡمَعُونَ (٤٦) ۞ وَإِذَا صُرِفَتۡ أَبۡصَـٰرُهُمۡ تِلۡقَآءَ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلنَّارِ قَالُواْ رَبَّنَا لَا تَجۡعَلۡنَا مَعَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ (٤٧) وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡأَعۡرَافِ رِجَالاً۬ يَعۡرِفُونَہُم بِسِيمَٮٰهُمۡ قَالُواْ مَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنكُمۡ جَمۡعُكُمۡ وَمَا كُنتُمۡ تَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ (٤٨) أَهَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلَّذِينَ أَقۡسَمۡتُمۡ لَا يَنَالُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِرَحۡمَةٍ‌ۚ ٱدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ لَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَلَآ أَنتُمۡ تَحۡزَنُونَ (٤٩)

“And between the two groups (those in Heaven and those in Hell), there will be a barrier. And on Al-Araf (the Heights) there will be people who can see and recognize each group (the group in Paradise and the group in Hell) by their respective marks. They will call out to the people of Paradise, “peace be on you”. For they (men on Al-Araf) have not entered paradise yet, yet they are hoping to (enter it).  (46) And when their eyes will be turned towards the people of the Fire, they will say: “Our Lord, do not make us with the wrong doers.” (47)  And the people of Al-Araf will call out the people (of the fire) whom they will recognize by their marks, saying: “Of what benefit to you were your great number and resources or the arrogance that you used to show?” (48) Are those people about whom you used to swear that Allah would not show them mercy. (It has been said to them): “Enter Paradise, there shall be no fear on you, nor shall you grieve.” (7:46-49)

In studying the Surat, you note that Allah does not say what will happen to those who are on Al-Araf   They were passive and uncommitted to promoting the truth in this life.  Allah considered them unworthy to give His verdict about them in the Quran and thus they are kept in limbo and in a state of distress.     Also, the Prophet (PBUH) did not mention in any hadith their fate.

Note that some interpreters suggest that the people on Al-Araf are those whose good deeds and bad deeds are equal. This is a mere speculation because there is nothing in the Surat nor in the sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) that supports this suggestion. But the mention in the Surat of the believers from Bani Israel who were bystanders and don’t offer the advice when they see evil being committed is more logical to suggest that the people of Al-Araf are those people whom Allah will ignore for a long time and keep them standing while they are seeing the people in Heaven and the people in Hell and waiting for Allah’s judgement. Even if Allah accepts them to heaven at the end, the wait is enough punishment for them, particularly when one realizes that the day of judgement is equivalent to 50,000 years (even if one lives 100 years in this life, this is merely equivalent to less than 3 minutes of the day of Judgement. Life on earth is like a very short night dream).

The Surat includes an Ayat on which Imam Jaafer Al-Sadq (جعفر الصادق), said: “There is no other Ayat in the Quran that is more comprehensive of the most exalted manners than it (ليس في القرآن آية أجمع لمكارم الأخلاق من هذه الآية)”. This Ayat is:

خُذِ ٱلۡعَفۡوَ وَأۡمُرۡ بِٱلۡعُرۡفِ وَأَعۡرِضۡ عَنِ ٱلۡجَـٰهِلِينَ (١٩٩)

“Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; and turn away from the ignorant.” (Al-Araf 7:199)

Based on the theme of the Surat, the ignorant who should be disregarded are those who confess believe but discourage other believers from fulfilling their role to command what is right and advice people to stop their violations of Allah’s commands.

It is critical for every believer to deliver Allah’s message if he/she is really interested in the prosperity for his society. True prosperity for the society can only be assured thru belief and Taqwa as Allah said:

وَلَوۡ أَنَّ أَهۡلَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰٓ ءَامَنُواْ وَٱتَّقَوۡاْ لَفَتَحۡنَا عَلَيۡہِم بَرَكَـٰتٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَـٰكِن كَذَّبُواْ فَأَخَذۡنَـٰهُم بِمَا ڪَانُواْ يَكۡسِبُونَ (٩٦)

“If the people of the towns believed and have Taqwa, We would have opened for them blessings from heaven and earth; but they disbelieved, so We seized them on account of what they used to earn for themselves.” (7:96)

Those who see deviations in the society and don’t intervene are guilty of allowing sins to propagate in their community. Allah points out that heedlessness is the reason for the continuation of sins.

وَلَقَدۡ ذَرَأۡنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ ڪَثِيرً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِ‌ۖ لَهُمۡ قُلُوبٌ۬ لَّا يَفۡقَهُونَ بِہَا وَلَهُمۡ أَعۡيُنٌ۬ لَّا يُبۡصِرُونَ بِہَا وَلَهُمۡ ءَاذَانٌ۬ لَّا يَسۡمَعُونَ بِہَآ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ كَٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ بَلۡ هُمۡ أَضَلُّ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡغَـٰفِلُونَ (١٧٩)

And surely, We have created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind. They have hearts with which they understand not, and they have eyes with which they see not, and they have ears with which they hear not (the truth). They are like cattle, nay even more astray! They are the heedless ones. (7:179)

If the believers remain neutral and don’t commit to bring people from their state of heedlessness to the state of awareness, they will be guilty of ignoring their responsibility.  Therefore, Allah will ignore them on the day of Judgement and keep them in suspense.  Bystanders are clearly condemned in Surat Al-Maeda, as Allah said:

لُعِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُواْ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ لِسَانِ دَاوُ ۥدَ وَعِيسَى ٱبۡنِ مَرۡيَمَ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ بِمَا عَصَواْ وَّڪَانُواْ يَعۡتَدُونَ (٧٨) ڪَانُواْ لَا يَتَنَاهَوۡنَ عَن مُّنڪَرٍ۬ فَعَلُوهُ‌ۚ لَبِئۡسَ مَا ڪَانُواْ يَفۡعَلُونَ (٧٩)

Curses were pronounced on those who disbelieves among the Children of Israel by the tongue of David and of Jesus the son of Mary: because they disobeyed and persisted in excesses. (78) They did not forbid each other from any evil they committed. Evil indeed is what they have been doing! (Al-Maeda 5:78-79)

Even non-Muslims realized this principle, John F. Kennedy who said: “The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in a period of moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.”

Surat Araf includes several challenges that past Prophets faced. Prophet Adam fell into Satan’s deception that made him disobey Allah’s command not to approach a specific tree.  Allah informs us of Satan’s deception by lying and false-promises:

فَوَسۡوَسَ لَهُمَا ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ لِيُبۡدِىَ لَهُمَا مَا وُ ۥرِىَ عَنۡہُمَا مِن سَوۡءَٲتِهِمَا وَقَالَ مَا نَہَٮٰكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنۡ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَا مَلَكَيۡنِ أَوۡ تَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلۡخَـٰلِدِينَ (٢٠) وَقَاسَمَهُمَآ إِنِّى لَكُمَا لَمِنَ ٱلنَّـٰصِحِينَ (٢١) فَدَلَّٮٰهُمَا بِغُرُورٍ۬‌ۚ فَلَمَّا ذَاقَا ٱلشَّجَرَةَ بَدَتۡ لَهُمَا سَوۡءَٲتُہُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخۡصِفَانِ عَلَيۡہِمَا مِن وَرَقِ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ‌ۖ وَنَادَٮٰهُمَا رَبُّہُمَآ أَلَمۡ أَنۡہَكُمَا عَن تِلۡكُمَا ٱلشَّجَرَةِ وَأَقُل لَّكُمَآ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنَ لَكُمَا عَدُوٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ (٢٢)

Then Satan whispered to them (Adam and Eve)  in order to uncover that which was hidden from them of their private parts; he said: “Your Lord has not forbidden this tree for you, but to avoid you for becoming angels or you becoming eternal. (20)  And he [Satan] swore ” I am truly a sincere advisor for you both.” (21) So, by deceit he brought their fall. When they tasted of the tree, their private parts became exposed to them, and they began to cover themselves with the leaves of Paradise. And their Lord called out to them (saying): “Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you that Satan is an open enemy to you?” (7:20-22)

The verses show that Satan knew that by eating from the tree their private parts became exposed and they felt ashamed.  What is sad is that Satan continued to succeed with Adam’s descendants by making nakedness appealing to them.  But unlike Adam and Eve who were ashamed, people are no longer ashamed, and they even feel that nakedness is a form of personal freedom and a symbol of modernity, unaware that they are victims of Satan’s handiwork.

Then the Surat presents an account that involves several prophets and that the truth will always be victorious over falsehood.  The first account involves Prophet Nuh (Noah):

لَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ فَقَالَ يَـٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُ ۥۤ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيمٍ۬ (٥٩) قَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ مِن قَوۡمِهِۦۤ إِنَّا لَنَرَٮٰكَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬ (٦٠)۬

Indeed, We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people and he said: “O my people! Worship Allah. You have no god other than Him. I fear for you the punishment of a great day”. (59)  The chiefs of his people said: “Indeed, we see you are clearly misguided.” (7:59-60)

And the result of this conflict between truth and falsehood was:

فَأَنجَيۡنَـٰهُ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُ ۥ فِى ٱلۡفُلۡكِ وَأَغۡرَقۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ‌ۚ إِنَّہُمۡ ڪَانُواْ قَوۡمًا عَمِينَ (٦٤)

“So, We saved him and those with him in the Ark, and drowned those who rejected Our Ayat (signs). They were indeed a blind people (7:64)

The next account involves Prophet Hud

وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمۡ هُودً۬ا‌ۗ قَالَ يَـٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُ ۥۤ‌ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ (٦٥) قَالَ ٱلۡمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن قَوۡمِهِۦۤ إِنَّا لَنَرَٮٰكَ فِى سَفَاهَةٍ۬ وَإِنَّا لَنَظُنُّكَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰذِبِينَ (٦٦)

And to Ad (We sent) their brother Hud. He said: “O my people! Worship Allah.  You have no god other than Him. So, will you not fear Allah?” (65) The chiefs of his people who disbelieved said: “Indeed, we see you in foolishness, and we think that you are one of the liars.” (7:65-66)

And the result of this conflict was:

فَأَنجَيۡنَـٰهُ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُ ۥ بِرَحۡمَةٍ۬ مِّنَّا وَقَطَعۡنَا دَابِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ ڪَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا‌ۖ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُؤۡمِنِينَ (٧٢)

So, We saved him and those with him out of mercy from Us, and We eradicated those who rejected Our Ayat (signs), They were not believers. (7:72)

Then we moved to the account of Prophet Saleh:

وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمۡ صَـٰلِحً۬ا‌ۗ قَالَ يَـٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَڪُم مِّنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُ ۥ‌ۖ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡڪُم بَيِّنَةٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ‌ۖ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَڪُمۡ ءَايَةً۬‌ۖ فَذَرُوهَا تَأۡڪُلۡ فِىٓ أَرۡضِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ۬ فَيَأۡخُذَكُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ۬

To Thamud (We sent) their brother Saleh. He said: “O my people, worship Allah.  You have no god other than Him. There has come to you a clear sign from your Lord. This is the she-camel of Allah, a sign for you. So, leave her to graze in Allah’s earth, and do not touch her with harm, lest a painful punishment should seize you. (7:73)

But they did not heed the warning and killed the she-camel, and the result was:

فَأَخَذَتۡهُمُ ٱلرَّجۡفَةُ فَأَصۡبَحُواْ فِى دَارِهِمۡ جَـٰثِمِينَ (٧٨)

So, the earthquake seized them, and by the morning they were dead falling on their faces in their homes. (7:78)

Then, the next account is of Prophet Lot:

وَلُوطًا إِذۡ قَالَ لِقَوۡمِهِۦۤ أَتَأۡتُونَ ٱلۡفَـٰحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِہَا مِنۡ أَحَدٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (٨٠)

And (We sent) Lot, who he said to his people: “Do you commit the shameful act which no one in all the worlds has done before you? (7:80)

When they rejected the message, the result of the conflict was:

وَأَمۡطَرۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم مَّطَرً۬ا‌ۖ فَٱنظُرۡ ڪَيۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ

And We rained down on them a rain (of stones). So, look! What was the fate of the defiant criminals. (7:84)

Then the next account is of Prophet Shuaib:

وَإِلَىٰ مَدۡيَنَ أَخَاهُمۡ شُعَيۡبً۬ا‌ۗ قَالَ يَـٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَڪُم مِّنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُ ۥ‌ۖ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡڪُم بَيِّنَةٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّڪُمۡ‌ۖ فَأَوۡفُواْ ٱلۡڪَيۡلَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَ وَلَا تَبۡخَسُواْ ٱلنَّاسَ أَشۡيَآءَهُمۡ وَلَا تُفۡسِدُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بَعۡدَ إِصۡلَـٰحِهَا‌ۚ ذَٲلِڪُمۡ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ إِن ڪُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ (٨٥)

And to Madyan, (We sent) their brother Shuaib. He said: “O my people! Worship Allah, You have no other God but Him.” A clear sign has come to you from your Lord.  Give the measure and weight in full , and do not defraud people of their things, and do not make mischief on the earth after it has been set in order. That is better for you, if you are believers. (7:85)

Their rejection of the divine message and continued transgressions ended with their destruction:

فَأَخَذَتۡہُمُ ٱلرَّجۡفَةُ فَأَصۡبَحُواْ فِى دَارِهِمۡ جَـٰثِمِينَ (٩١) ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ شُعَيۡبً۬ا كَأَن لَّمۡ يَغۡنَوۡاْ فِيهَا‌ۚ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ شُعَيۡبً۬ا كَانُواْ هُمُ ٱلۡخَـٰسِرِينَ

So, the earthquake seized them and by the morning they were dead falling on their faces in their homes (91) Those who rejected Shuaib, became as if they had never dwelt there (in their homes). Those who rejected Shuaib, they were the losers. (7:91-92)

 The Surat gives the story of the interaction between Prophet Musa (Moses) and Pharaoh and between Prophet Musa and his people of Bani Israel:  This starts With Ayat 103 and continued to Ayat 171.

ثُمَّ بَعَثۡنَا مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِم مُّوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَمَلَإِيْهِۦ فَظَلَمُواْ بِہَا‌ۖ فَٱنظُرۡ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ (١٠٣)

Then after them We sent Musa (Moses) with Our signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they did injustice to themselves. So, consider the fate of the mischief-makers.  (7:103)

When the Pharaoh and his people rejected the message and continued their transgressions, the result was:

فَٱنتَقَمۡنَا مِنۡہُمۡ فَأَغۡرَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡيَمِّ بِأَنَّہُمۡ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَڪَانُواْ عَنۡہَا غَـٰفِلِينَ (١٣٦)

Then We subjected them to retribution, and We drowned them in the sea, because they rejected Our Ayat (signs, revelations) and were heedless about them. (7:136)

 In the following Ayat, the magicians who were once staunch disbelievers became committed believers and were willing to accept the worst of prosecution for their belief:

وَأُلۡقِىَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ سَـٰجِدِينَ (١٢٠) قَالُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا بِرَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (١٢١) رَبِّ مُوسَىٰ وَهَـٰرُونَ (١٢٢) قَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦ قَبۡلَ أَنۡ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمۡ‌ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَمَكۡرٌ۬ مَّكَرۡتُمُوهُ فِى ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ لِتُخۡرِجُواْ مِنۡہَآ أَهۡلَهَا‌ۖ فَسَوۡفَ تَعۡلَمُونَ (١٢٣) لَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيۡدِيَكُمۡ وَأَرۡجُلَكُم مِّنۡ خِلَـٰفٍ۬ ثُمَّ لَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ (١٢٤) قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا مُنقَلِبُونَ (١٢٥) وَمَا تَنقِمُ مِنَّآ إِلَّآ أَنۡ ءَامَنَّا بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّنَا لَمَّا جَآءَتۡنَا‌ۚ رَبَّنَآ أَفۡرِغۡ عَلَيۡنَا صَبۡرً۬ا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسۡلِمِينَ (١٢٦)

And the magicians were put down prostrating. (120) They said: “We believe in the Lord of all the worlds. (121) The Lord of Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron).” (122)

Pharaoh said: “You have believed in him before my permission. Surely, this is a plot which you have designed in the city to expel its people from it, but you shall come to know. (123) I will cut off your hands and your legs from opposite sides.  Then I will crucify all of you.” (124) They said: “We will surely return to our Lord. (125) “And for what fault would you punish us, is it only because we believed in the Ayat (signs) of our Lord when they appeared to us! O our Lord, pour out patience upon us and cause us to die as Muslims.” (7:126)

 In this account, one can contrast the magicians’ commitment to their belief with the commitment of some believers from Bani Israel who were hesitant and uncommitted. All they want from their belief is benefits and are not willing to suffer for it:

قَالُوٓاْ أُوذِينَا مِن قَبۡلِ أَن تَأۡتِيَنَا وَمِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جِئۡتَنَا‌ۚ قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمۡ أَن يُهۡلِكَ عَدُوَّڪُمۡ وَيَسۡتَخۡلِفَڪُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَيَنظُرَ ڪَيۡفَ تَعۡمَلُونَ (١٢٩)

They said: “We were persecuted before you came to us, and after you have come to us.” He said: “It may be that your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you successors in the earth, so that He will see how you act.” (7: 129)

 Those who are uncommitted believers can be easily deceived by Satan as happened with the children of Bai Israel:  Even after they were saved by Allah from Pharaoh and saw many miracles, some of them were uncommitted and sought to worship idols:

وَجَـٰوَزۡنَا بِبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَ فَأَتَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ قَوۡمٍ۬ يَعۡكُفُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَصۡنَامٍ۬ لَّهُمۡ‌ۚ قَالُواْ يَـٰمُوسَى ٱجۡعَل لَّنَآ إِلَـٰهً۬ا كَمَا لَهُمۡ ءَالِهَةٌ۬‌ۚ قَالَ إِنَّكُمۡ قَوۡمٌ۬ تَجۡهَلُونَ (١٣٨)

We made the Children of Israel cross the sea. Then, they came upon a people devoted to their idols. They (the Israelites) said: “O Musa (Moses), make a god for us as they have gods.” He said: “you are people who have truly steeped in ignorance.” (7:138)

The Surat ends with the warning not to be among those who are heedless, but rather be among those who are committed.

وَٱذۡكُر رَّبَّكَ فِى نَفۡسِكَ تَضَرُّعً۬ا وَخِيفَةً۬ وَدُونَ ٱلۡجَهۡرِ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡلِ بِٱلۡغُدُوِّ وَٱلۡأَصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلۡغَـٰفِلِينَ (٢٠٥) إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لَا يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ عَنۡ عِبَادَتِهِۦ وَيُسَبِّحُونَهُ ۥ وَلَهُ ۥ يَسۡجُدُونَ ۩ (٢٠٦)

Remember your Lord in yourself with humility and awe, and without speaking loudly, in the mornings and evening, and do not be among the heedless. (205)  Indeed, those who are with your Lord (angels) are never too proud to worship to Him, rather they glorify His praise and prostrate before Him. (7:206)