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47: Muhammad (Muhammad)

Revealed at Madinah

This chapter is entitled Muhammad from the mention of the Holy Prophet’s name in v. 2, foretelling that the condition of those who believe in him will be improved. The first half of the chapter says that those who prevent people from accepting the truth will be defeated in war and Makkah will be subjugated by the Muslims. The second half refers to the weak-hearted among the Muslims and how a separation will be brought about between them and the truly faithful. This chapter was revealed at Madinah in 1 A.H. when war with the Quraish had not yet begun.

Section 1 (Verses 47:1–47:11): Opponents will Perish in War

47:1

اَلَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا وَ صَدُّوۡا عَنۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ اَضَلَّ اَعۡمَالَہُمۡ ﴿۱﴾

Those who disbelieve and turn (people) from Allah’s way, He will destroy their works.

Note 47:1

This chapter was revealed at a time when the enemies of Islam were at the height of their power, and had apparently uprooted Islam from Makkah, and were preparing to give it a death-blow at Madinah.

47:2

وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ وَ اٰمَنُوۡا بِمَا نُزِّلَ عَلٰی مُحَمَّدٍ وَّ ہُوَ الۡحَقُّ مِنۡ رَّبِّہِمۡ ۙ کَفَّرَ عَنۡہُمۡ سَیِّاٰتِہِمۡ وَ اَصۡلَحَ بَالَہُمۡ ﴿۲﴾

And those who believe and do good, and believe in what has been revealed to Muhammad — and it is the Truth from their Lord — He will remove their evil from them and improve their condition.

Note 47:2

This is another prophecy, a counterpart of the one in v.1. The Muslims, whose condition, it is announced here, will be bettered, were in a most helpless condition at the time. The majority of them had just fled from their homes, almost penniless, to save their lives and to settle down at Madinah where, however, they were not left alone, the enemy being determined to crush them by force.

47:3

ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوا اتَّبَعُوا الۡبَاطِلَ وَ اَنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوا اتَّبَعُوا الۡحَقَّ مِنۡ رَّبِّہِمۡ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ یَضۡرِبُ اللّٰہُ لِلنَّاسِ اَمۡثَالَہُمۡ ﴿۳﴾

That is because those who disbelieve follow falsehood, and those who believe follow the Truth from their Lord. Thus does Allah set forth their descriptions for people.

47:4

فَاِذَا لَقِیۡتُمُ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا فَضَرۡبَ الرِّقَابِ ؕ حَتّٰۤی اِذَاۤ اَثۡخَنۡتُمُوۡہُمۡ فَشُدُّوا الۡوَثَاقَ ٭ۙ فَاِمَّا مَنًّۢا بَعۡدُ وَ اِمَّا فِدَآءً حَتّٰی تَضَعَ الۡحَرۡبُ اَوۡزَارَہَا ۬ۚ۟ۛ ذٰؔلِکَ ؕۛ وَ لَوۡ یَشَآءُ اللّٰہُ لَانۡتَصَرَ مِنۡہُمۡ وَ لٰکِنۡ لِّیَبۡلُوَا۠ بَعۡضَکُمۡ بِبَعۡضٍ ؕ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ قُتِلُوۡا فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ فَلَنۡ یُّضِلَّ اَعۡمَالَہُمۡ ﴿۴﴾

So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, strike the necks; then, when you have overcome them, make (them) prisoners, and afterwards (set them free) as a favour or for ransom till the war lay down its burdens. That (shall be so). And if Allah please, He would certainly exact retribution from them, but that He may try some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the way of Allah, He will never allow their deeds to perish.

Note 47:4

This passage mentions the only case in which prisoners of war can be taken, and thus condemns the practice of slavery, according to which people could be seized anywhere and sold into slavery. Here we are told that prisoners of war can only be taken after meeting an enemy in regular battle, and even in that case they must be set free, either as a favour or after taking ransom. It was the former alternative that the Holy Prophet adopted in most cases. Only in the case of the seventy prisoners taken at Badr is there mention of redemption having been taken, but this was when Islam was very weak. See also 8:67 footnote.

47:5

سَیَہۡدِیۡہِمۡ وَ یُصۡلِحُ بَالَہُمۡ ۚ﴿۵﴾

He will guide them and improve their condition.

47:6

وَ یُدۡخِلُہُمُ الۡجَنَّۃَ عَرَّفَہَا لَہُمۡ ﴿۶﴾

And make them enter the Garden, which He has made known to them.

Note 47:6

The Garden of the next life is made known to the righteous in this life by making them taste of the spiritual blessings of good deeds in this very life. That a paradise is granted to the righteous in this very life is mentioned frequently in the Quran. However, triumph over those who would annihilate Truth is also spoken of as a garden in this life.

47:7

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِنۡ تَنۡصُرُوا اللّٰہَ یَنۡصُرۡکُمۡ وَ یُثَبِّتۡ اَقۡدَامَکُمۡ ﴿۷﴾

O you who believe, if you help Allah, He will help you and make firm your feet.

47:8

وَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا فَتَعۡسًا لَّہُمۡ وَ اَضَلَّ اَعۡمَالَہُمۡ ﴿۸﴾

And those who disbelieve, for them is destruction, and He will destroy their works.

47:9

ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّہُمۡ کَرِہُوۡا مَاۤ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰہُ فَاَحۡبَطَ اَعۡمَالَہُمۡ ﴿۹﴾

That is because they hate what Allah reveals, so He has made their deeds fruitless.

47:10

اَفَلَمۡ یَسِیۡرُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ فَیَنۡظُرُوۡا کَیۡفَ کَانَ عَاقِبَۃُ الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ ؕ دَمَّرَ اللّٰہُ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ۫ وَ لِلۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ اَمۡثَالُہَا ﴿۱۰﴾

Have they not travelled in the land and seen what was the end of those before them? Allah destroyed them. And for the disbelievers is (a fate) similar to it.

47:11

ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّ اللّٰہَ مَوۡلَی الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ اَنَّ الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ لَا مَوۡلٰی لَہُمۡ ﴿٪۱۱﴾

That is because Allah is the Patron of those who believe, and because the disbelievers have no patron.

Section 2 (Verses 47:12–47:19): Oppressors Shall be Brought Low

47:12

اِنَّ اللّٰہَ یُدۡخِلُ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ جَنّٰتٍ تَجۡرِیۡ مِنۡ تَحۡتِہَا الۡاَنۡہٰرُ ؕ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا یَتَمَتَّعُوۡنَ وَ یَاۡکُلُوۡنَ کَمَا تَاۡکُلُ الۡاَنۡعَامُ وَ النَّارُ مَثۡوًی لَّہُمۡ ﴿۱۲﴾

Surely Allah will make those who believe and do good enter Gardens in which rivers flow. And those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as cattle eat, and the Fire is their abode.

47:13

وَ کَاَیِّنۡ مِّنۡ قَرۡیَۃٍ ہِیَ اَشَدُّ قُوَّۃً مِّنۡ قَرۡیَتِکَ الَّتِیۡۤ اَخۡرَجَتۡکَ ۚ اَہۡلَکۡنٰہُمۡ فَلَا نَاصِرَ لَہُمۡ ﴿۱۳﴾

And how many a town (there were), more powerful than your town which has driven you out — We destroyed them, so there was no helper for them.

Note 47:13

The opponents of Islam in Makkah were not destroyed when their final overthrow came, nor did the Holy Prophet punish them for their crimes against the Muslims. They were dealt with very mercifully — so mercifully that history does not present another instance of such merciful treatment of a conquered nation of oppressors. By their destruction was thus meant the overthrow of their power.

47:14

اَفَمَنۡ کَانَ عَلٰی بَیِّنَۃٍ مِّنۡ رَّبِّہٖ کَمَنۡ زُیِّنَ لَہٗ سُوۡٓءُ عَمَلِہٖ وَ اتَّبَعُوۡۤا اَہۡوَآءَہُمۡ ﴿۱۴﴾

Is then he who has a clear argument from his Lord like him to whom his evil conduct is made to seem good; and they follow their low desires.

47:15

مَثَلُ الۡجَنَّۃِ الَّتِیۡ وُعِدَ الۡمُتَّقُوۡنَ ؕ فِیۡہَاۤ اَنۡہٰرٌ مِّنۡ مَّآءٍ غَیۡرِ اٰسِنٍ ۚ وَ اَنۡہٰرٌ مِّنۡ لَّبَنٍ لَّمۡ یَتَغَیَّرۡ طَعۡمُہٗ ۚ وَ اَنۡہٰرٌ مِّنۡ خَمۡرٍ لَّذَّۃٍ لِّلشّٰرِبِیۡنَ ۬ۚ وَ اَنۡہٰرٌ مِّنۡ عَسَلٍ مُّصَفًّی ؕ وَ لَہُمۡ فِیۡہَا مِنۡ کُلِّ الثَّمَرٰتِ وَ مَغۡفِرَۃٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّہِمۡ ؕ کَمَنۡ ہُوَ خَالِدٌ فِی النَّارِ وَ سُقُوۡا مَآءً حَمِیۡمًا فَقَطَّعَ اَمۡعَآءَہُمۡ ﴿۱۵﴾

A parable of the Garden which the dutiful are promised: In it are rivers of water not altering for the worse, and rivers of milk whose taste does not change, and rivers of wine delicious to the drinkers, and rivers of honey clarified; and they shall have in it all fruits and protection from their Lord. (Are these) like those who abide in the Fire and who are made to drink boiling water, so it tears their bowels apart?

Note 47:15

The description given does not mention the actual blessings of paradise, for they are blessings “which no eye has seen, nor has any ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man to conceive them” (Bukhari, 59:8). The blessings mentioned here are plainly called a parable, an example which shows what they are like.

47:16

وَ مِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ یَّسۡتَمِعُ اِلَیۡکَ ۚ حَتّٰۤی اِذَا خَرَجُوۡا مِنۡ عِنۡدِکَ قَالُوۡا لِلَّذِیۡنَ اُوۡتُوا الۡعِلۡمَ مَاذَا قَالَ اٰنِفًا ۟ اُولٰٓئِکَ الَّذِیۡنَ طَبَعَ اللّٰہُ عَلٰی قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ وَ اتَّبَعُوۡۤا اَہۡوَآءَہُمۡ ﴿۱۶﴾

And some of them seek to listen to you, till, when they go forth from you, they say to those who have been given knowledge: What was it that he said just now? These are they whose hearts Allah has sealed and they follow their low desires.

47:17

وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اہۡتَدَوۡا زَادَہُمۡ ہُدًی وَّ اٰتٰہُمۡ تَقۡوٰىہُمۡ ﴿۱۷﴾

And those who follow guidance, He increases them in guidance and grants them their observance of duty.

47:18

فَہَلۡ یَنۡظُرُوۡنَ اِلَّا السَّاعَۃَ اَنۡ تَاۡتِیَہُمۡ بَغۡتَۃً ۚ فَقَدۡ جَآءَ اَشۡرَاطُہَا ۚ فَاَنّٰی لَہُمۡ اِذَا جَآءَتۡہُمۡ ذِکۡرٰىہُمۡ ﴿۱۸﴾

Do they wait only for the Hour, that it should come upon them suddenly? Now tokens of it have already come. But how, when it comes upon them, will their reminder benefit them?

Note 47:18

By the Hour is to be understood the hour of their doom, the overthrow of their power, which is clearly spoken of in the previous verses. Tokens of it had already appeared, for they had seen how Islam was daily advancing, and how all their efforts to check its progress had ended in failure.

47:19

فَاعۡلَمۡ اَنَّہٗ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ وَ اسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لِذَنۡۢبِکَ وَ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ وَ الۡمُؤۡمِنٰتِ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ یَعۡلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَکُمۡ وَ مَثۡوٰىکُمۡ ﴿٪۱۹﴾

So know that there is no god but Allah and ask protection for your sin and for the believing men and the believing women. And Allah knows your moving about and your staying (in a place).

Note 47:19

Not only the Prophet but every believer is told here to keep praying to God for being protected from sins, for himself and for all the believers, men as well as women. See also 40:55, 48:2, and footnotes there.

Section 3 (Verses 47:20–47:28): The Weak-hearted Ones

47:20

وَ یَقُوۡلُ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَوۡ لَا نُزِّلَتۡ سُوۡرَۃٌ ۚ فَاِذَاۤ اُنۡزِلَتۡ سُوۡرَۃٌ مُّحۡکَمَۃٌ وَّ ذُکِرَ فِیۡہَا الۡقِتَالُ ۙ رَاَیۡتَ الَّذِیۡنَ فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ مَّرَضٌ یَّنۡظُرُوۡنَ اِلَیۡکَ نَظَرَ الۡمَغۡشِیِّ عَلَیۡہِ مِنَ الۡمَوۡتِ ؕ فَاَوۡلٰی لَہُمۡ ﴿ۚ۲۰﴾

And those who believe say: Why is not a chapter revealed? But when a decisive chapter is revealed, and fighting is mentioned in it, you see those in whose hearts is a disease look to you with the look of one fainting at death. So woe to them!

Note 47:20

Muslims had been severely persecuted; they had been oppressed, slain and turned out of their homes. Hence they naturally desired to be allowed to defend themselves. By a chapter is meant a revelation allowing them to fight.

47:21

طَاعَۃٌ وَّ قَوۡلٌ مَّعۡرُوۡفٌ ۟ فَاِذَا عَزَمَ الۡاَمۡرُ ۟ فَلَوۡ صَدَقُوا اللّٰہَ لَکَانَ خَیۡرًا لَّہُمۡ ﴿ۚ۲۱﴾

Obedience and a gentle word (was proper). Then when the affair is settled, it is better for them if they remain true to Allah.

47:22

فَہَلۡ عَسَیۡتُمۡ اِنۡ تَوَلَّیۡتُمۡ اَنۡ تُفۡسِدُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ تُقَطِّعُوۡۤا اَرۡحَامَکُمۡ ﴿۲۲﴾

But if you turn away, you are sure to make mischief in the land and cut off the ties of kinship!

Note 47:22

It is the hypocrites who are addressed in these words. Tawallai-tum (“turn away”) may mean either that you turn your backs on the Divine commandment to fight in defence of Truth or that you are put in authority.

47:23

اُولٰٓئِکَ الَّذِیۡنَ لَعَنَہُمُ اللّٰہُ فَاَصَمَّہُمۡ وَ اَعۡمٰۤی اَبۡصَارَہُمۡ ﴿۲۳﴾

Those it is whom Allah has cursed, so He has made them deaf and blinded their eyes.

Note 47:23

Note that Allah blinds the eyes of, and makes deaf, those who would not turn to the right way. The next verse makes it clear by saying that they do not reflect on the Quran, as if there were locks on their hearts.