Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE

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al-Aʿrāf
(474 words)

al-Aʿrāf (pl. of ʿurf, “elevated place”, “crest”), appears in an eschatological judgement scene in Qurʾān 7:46, where a dividing wall is spoken of, which separates the dwellers of Paradise from the dwellers of Hell, and men “who are on the al-aʿrāf and recognise each by his marks” (Q 7:48, “those of the al-aʿrāf”). The interpretation of this passage is disputed. Richard Bell makes a doubtful conjecture that the word is al-iʿrāf and translates: “(Presiding) over the recognition are men, who recognise… .” According to Tor Andrae the “men on the elevated places” are …

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Paret, Rudi, updated by, ¨ and Cook, David B., “al-Aʿrāf”, in: Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE, Edited by: Kate Fleet, Gudrun Krämer, Denis Matringe, John Nawas, Devin J. Stewart. Consulted online on 28 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1573-3912_ei3_COM_23763>
First published online: 2017
First print edition: 9789004335738, 2017, 2017-4



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