Quote:
{7:94} And We sent to no city a prophet [who was denied] except that We seized its people with poverty and hardship that they might humble themselves [to God].
I suggest,
{7:94} And We had not sent into a village any prophet [who was belied] except that We seized its people with distress and hardship that perhaps they might implore [Us].Quote:
{7:95} Then We exchanged in place of the bad [condition], good, until they increased [and prospered] and said, "Our fathers [also] were touched with hardship and ease." So We seized them suddenly while they did not perceive.
I hate to disagree with all translators in their translation of
عفوا. The translations given are along the lines of "increase", "affluence", etc., but the context clearly shows that the meaning is "started to forget." This semantic is mentioned often in the Quran, e.g.,
The verb means to forgo, skip or let pass. Its use in the subject verse means to skip or fade away. That is, they got accustomed to the good life that they forgot the hardship their parents experienced. I suggest,
{7:95} And then We substituted in place of the unpleasantness, the good thing, until they overlooked [their parents hardship] and said, "Our fathers were touched with hardship and pleasantness." So We seized them abruptly while they were not sensing [what was happening].Quote:
{7:96} And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared God, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they were earning."
I suggest,
{7:96} And if the people of the villages had believed and watched out [for God], We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they belied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they had been earning."