Discover the meaning of the term Al-aʿraf (أعراف) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 1 min readIt is the vantage point, and it is the station of witnessing the Truth in everything, manifested through His attributes of which that thing is the locus of manifestation. It is the station of overseeing the extremities. Allah has said: ﴿And on the heights (A'raf) there are men who recognize each by their marks﴾.
And the Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: "Indeed, every verse has an outward aspect, an inward aspect, a limit, and a breakpoint."
﴿وَبَيْنَهُمَا حِجَابٌۭ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلْأَعْرَافِ رِجَالٌۭ يَعْرِفُونَ كُلًّۢا بِسِيمَىٰهُمْ ۚ وَنَادَوْا۟ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ أَن سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ لَمْ يَدْخُلُوهَا وَهُمْ يَطْمَعُونَ﴾
« And between them will be a partition, and on [its] elevations are men who recognize all by their mark. And they call out to the companions of Paradise, "Peace be upon you." They have not [yet] entered it, but they long intensely. »
Surah الأعراف : 46
﴿وَنَادَىٰٓ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْأَعْرَافِ رِجَالًۭا يَعْرِفُونَهُم بِسِيمَىٰهُمْ قَالُوا۟ مَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنكُمْ جَمْعُكُمْ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ﴾
« And the companions of the Elevations will call to men [within Hell] whom they recognize by their mark, saying, "Of no avail to you was your gathering and [the fact] that you were arrogant." »
Surah الأعراف : 48