Surah 47. Muhammad

Now among those [hapless sinners] are such as [pretend to] listen to thee, [O Muhammad,]¹⁸ and then, as soon as they leave thy presence, speak [with scorn] unto those who have understood [thy message]:¹⁹ "What is it that he has said just now?" It is such as these whose hearts God has sealed because they [always] followed but their own lusts²⁰ -

  - Mohammad Asad

Cf. 6:25 and {10:42-43}.

Lit., "unto those who have been given knowledge", sc., "of the truth" or "of thy message": i.e., the believers. The people spoken of in the above are the hypocrites among the contemporaries of the Prophet as well as all people, at all times, who pretend to approach the Qur'anic message with a show of "reverence" but are in their innermost unwilling to admit that there is any sense in it.

I.e., the "sealing" of their hearts (for an explanation of which see note [7] on 2:7 ) is consequence of their "following but their own lusts".

Some of them indeed listen to you but no sooner do they leave your presence than they ask those endowed with knowledge: "What was it that he said just now?" Such are the men upon whose hearts Allah has set a seal, and who follow their own desires.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

There are some of them who listen to you 'O Prophet', but when they depart from you, they say 'mockingly' to those 'believers' gifted with knowledge, 'What did he just say?' These are the ones whose hearts Allah has sealed and who 'only' follow their desires.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Among them are some who give ear unto thee (Muhammad) till, when they go forth from thy presence, they say unto those who have been given knowledge: What was that he said just now? Those are they whose hearts Allah hath sealed, and they follow their own lusts.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And among them are men who listen to thee but in the end when they go out from thee they say to those who have received Knowledge: "What is it he said just then?" Such are men whose hearts Allah has sealed and who follow their own lusts. ⁴⁸³⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. x. 42, and n. 1434; also vi. 25, 36, and n. 857. The case here referred to is that of the Hypocrites who came to the assemblies of Islam in Madinah and pretended to listen to the Prophet's teaching and preaching. But their heart and mind were not in learning righteousness, but in carping at things they saw and heard. When they got out, they knew nothing of the teaching, but on the contrary asked foolish and ignorant questions, such as might raise doubts.

just as for those who are [willing to be] guided, He increases their [ability to follow His] guidance and causes them to grow in God-consciousness.²¹

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "and gives them their God-consciousness (taqwahum)".

As for those who follow the Right Way, Allah will increase their guidance and bestow on them their righteousness.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

As for those who are 'rightly' guided, He increases them in guidance and blesses them with righteousness.

  - Mustafa Khattab

While as for those who walk aright, He addeth to their guidance, and giveth them their protection (against evil).

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But to those who receive Guidance He increases (the light of) Guidance and bestows on them their Piety and Restraint (from evil). ⁴⁸³⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Spiritual advancement is progressive: each step makes the next ones easier and more complete.

Are, then, they [whose hearts are sealed] waiting for the Last Hour - [waiting] that it come upon them of a sudden? But it has already been foretold!²² And what will their remembrance [of their past sins] avail them, once it has come upon them?²³

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "its indications have already come": a reference to the many Qur'anic predictions of its inevitability, as well as to the evidence, accessible to every unprejudiced mind, of the temporal finality of all creation.

I.e., "of what benefit will be to them, when the Last Hour comes, their dawning awareness of having sinned, and their belated repentance?"

Are they waiting for the Hour of Doom to overtake them all of a sudden? Do they not know that its signs have already come and when it will actually overtake them, what chance will they have to benefit then by this admonition?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Are they only waiting for the Hour to take them by surprise? Yet 'some of' its signs have already come.¹ Once it actually befalls them, will it not be too late to be mindful?

  - Mustafa Khattab

 The coming of Muḥammad (ﷺ) is one of the signs of the Hour.

Await they aught save the Hour, that it should come upon them unawares? And the beginnings thereof have already come. But how, when it hath come upon them, can they take their warning?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Do they then only wait for the Hour that it should come on them of a sudden? But already have come some tokens thereof and when it (actually) is on them how can they benefit then by their admonition? ^{4839 4840}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xliii. 66, and n. 4665.

The sands of time are always running, and when a wrong is done, the time for its punishment is approaching every moment. No one should therefore wait. The time for repentance is Now at any given time. When the punishment comes, it is too late for repentance, and all admonition would be useless. Looking to the particular time when this Sura was revealed, viz., about a year after the Hijrat, already there were Signs that the plans of the Pagans to crush Islam were crumbling to pieces. The Hijrat showed how much good-will there was in Madinah for the holy Prophet of Allah, and how many people from Makkah adhered to him, The battle of Badr showed that they could hold their own against odds of three to one.

Know, then, [O man,] that there is no deity save God, and [while there is yet time,] ask forgiveness for thy sins and for [the sins of] all other believing men and women: for God knows all your comings and goings as well as your abiding [at rest].²⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., "He knows all that you do and all that you fail to do".

Therefore, you should know that there is no god but Allah; implore Him to forgive your sins and to forgive the believing men and believing women; for Allah knows your activities and your resting places.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So, know 'well, O Prophet,' that there is no god 'worthy of worship' except Allah. And seek forgiveness for your shortcomings¹ and for 'the sins of' the believing men and women. For Allah 'fully' knows your movements and places of rest 'O people'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Like other prophets, Muḥammad (ﷺ) was infallible of sin. The verse here refers to misjudgments, such as the example given in 80:1-10. If the Prophet (ﷺ) himself is urged to seek forgiveness, then the believers are even more in need of praying for Allah’s forgiveness.

So know (O Muhammad) that there is no God save Allah, and ask forgiveness for thy sin and for believing men and believing women. Allah knoweth (both) your place of turmoil and your place of rest.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Know therefore that there is no god but Allah and ask forgiveness for the fault and for the men and women who believe: for Allah knows how ye move about and how ye dwell in your homes. ^{4841 4842}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xl. 55, and n. 4428.

The time and manner of our conducting ourselves at home and when we move about on our business are all material to the judgment of our conduct, and for every nuance in our moral and spiritual progress, we must seek Allah's help and guidance.

NOW THOSE who have attained to faith say, "Would that a revelation [allowing us to fight] were bestowed from on high!"²⁵ But now that a revelation clear in and by itself,²⁶ mentioning war, has been bestowed from on high, thou canst see those in whose hearts is disease looking at thee, [O Muhammad,] with the look of one who is about to faint for fear of death! And yet, far better for them would be

  - Mohammad Asad

I am rendering the term surah here and in the next sentence as "a revelation", for whereas there is no surah as such which deals exclusively with questions of war, there are numerous references to it in various surahs; and this is evidently the meaning of this term in the present context as well as in 9:86 . - There is no doubt that this verse precedes the revelation, in the year 1 H., of 22:39 , which states categorically - and for the first time - that the believers are allowed to wage war whenever "war is wrongfully waged" against them (see in this connection note [57] on 22:39 ).

This is a reference to {22:39-40}. For an explanation of the expression muhkamah ("clear in and by itself"), see note [5] on 3:7 . (As in the preceding sentence, the term surah has been rendered here, exceptionally, as " revelation".)

The believers were asking: "Why is not a Surah revealed allowing us to fight?" But when a decisive Surah carrying the order of allowing them to fight is revealed, you saw those in whose hearts was a disease looking at you like the one under the shadow of death. Woe to them!

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And the believers say, 'If only a sûrah was revealed 'allowing self-defence'!' Yet when a precise sûrah is revealed, in which fighting is 'explicitly' mentioned, you see those with sickness in their hearts staring at you like someone in the throes of death. It would have been better for them

  - Mustafa Khattab

And those who believe say: If only a Surah were revealed! But when a decisive Surah is revealed and war is mentioned therein, thou seest those in whose hearts is a disease looking at thee with the look of men fainting unto death. Therefor woe unto them!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Those who believe say "Why is not a Surah sent down (for us)?" But when a Surah of basic or categorical meaning is revealed and fighting is mentioned therein thou wilt see those in whose hearts is a disease looking at thee with a look of one in swoon at the approach of death: but more fitting for them ^{4843 4844 4845}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The men of faith and loyalty are eager and anxious to get a command to serve the Cause even if it be at the sacrifice of their lives. Not so the Hypocrites, "those in whose hearts is a disease". They are mortally afraid as mentioned below.

Cf. iii. 7, and n. 347. The defence of truth and righteousness at all sacrifice, when a definite and categorical command issues from the ruler of an Islamic state is a fundamental condition of enlistment in the cause of Allah. It is true that Punishment and Judgment belong to Allah alone; but our mettle and fidelity have to be tested, (see verse 4 above), and Allah uses human agency in human affairs.

Cf. ii. 10. The disease is hypocrisy, disloyalty to the Cause, want of courage and of the spirit of self-sacrifice, want of true understanding.

obedience [to God's call] and a word that could win [His] approval:²⁷ for, since the matter has been resolved [by His revelation], it would be but for their own good to remain true to God.

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., an expression of readiness to fight in His cause: which is obviously the meaning of qawl ma'ruf in this context.

On their tongues is the promise of obedience and good talk, so if they would have proved their promise with Allah when the final command was given, it would have been better for them.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

to obey and speak rightly. Then when fighting was ordained, it surely would have been better for them if they were true to Allah.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Obedience and a civil word. Then, when the matter is determined, if they are loyal to Allah it will be well for them.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Were it to obey and say what is just and when a matter is resolved on it were best for them if they were true to Allah. ⁴⁸⁴⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The resolution is not taken except under guidance from Allah. Those, therefore, who fail to implement it by their own effort and sacrifice, are not true to Allah. And such disloyalty or cowardice is not even good for them from a worldly point of view. With what face can they meet their friends after their disgraceful conduct?

[Ask them:] "Would you, perchance, after having turned away [from God's commandment, prefer to revert to your old ways, and] spread corruption on earth, and [once again] cut asunder your ties of kinship?"²⁸

  - Mohammad Asad

The above interpolations are in tune with the explanation of this passage advanced by almost all of the classical commentators, who regard this rhetorical "question" as an allusion to the chaotic conditions of pre-Islamic Arabia, its senseless internecine wars, and the moral darkness from which Islam had freed its followers. Nevertheless, this verse has, like the whole of the passage of which it forms a part, a timeless import as well.

Now what can be expected of you if you are put in authority, other than to do evil in the land and violate the ties of blood.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Now if you 'hypocrites' turn away, perhaps you would then spread corruption throughout the land and sever your 'ties of' kinship!¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 As you did before Islam.

Would ye then, if ye were given the command, work corruption in the land and sever your ties of kinship?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Then is it to be expected of you if ye will do no mischief in the land and break your ties of kith and kin? ⁴⁸⁴⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

It is no use to say, as the Quraish said, that it is not seemly to fight against kith and kin. From one point of view the stand against sin brings "not peace, but a sword". It is a case of either subduing evil or being subdued by evil. If evil gets the upper hand, it is not likely to respect ties of kith and kin. It did not in the case of the holy Prophet and his adherents, and had to be suppressed, to bring about the conditions necessary for peace.

It is such as these whom God rejects, and whom He makes deaf [to the voice of truth], and whose eyes He blinds [to its sight]!²⁹

  - Mohammad Asad

Cf. the reference to God's "sealing" the hearts of stubborn wrongdoers in 2:7 .

Such are those whom Allah has cursed and made them deaf and blinded their sight.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

These are the ones who Allah has condemned, deafening them and blinding their eyes.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Such are they whom Allah curseth so that he deafeneth them and maketh blind their eyes.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Such are the men whom Allah has cursed for He has made them deaf and blinded their sight. ⁴⁸⁴⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cursed: i.e., deprived of His Grace: left them straying, because they deliberately rejected His guidance. The result is that what they hear is as if they had not heard, and what they see is as if they had not seen. They have no desire to understand Allah's Will or Allah's Revelation;-or is it that they have themselves locked and bolted their hearts and minds, so that nothing can penetrate them?

Will they not, then, ponder over this Qur'an? - or are there locks upon their hearts?

  - Mohammad Asad

Will they not ponder upon the Qur'an? Are there locks upon their hearts?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Do they not then reflect on the Quran? Or are there locks upon their hearts?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Will they then not meditate on the Qur'an, or are there locks on the hearts?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Do they not then earnestly seek to understand the Qur'an or are their hearts locked up by them?

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

VERILY, those who turn their backs [on this message] after guidance has been vouchsafed to them, [do it because] Satan has embellished their fancies and filled them with false hopes:

  - Mohammad Asad

Those who turn back to unbelief after the guidance has become clear are seduced by Shaitan who gives them false hopes.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Indeed, those who relapse 'into disbelief' after 'true' guidance has become clear to them, 'it is' Satan 'that' has tempted them, luring them with false hopes.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Lo! those who turn back after the guidance hath been manifested unto them, Satan hath seduced them, and He giveth them the rein.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Those who turn back as apostates after Guidance was clearly shown to them the Evil One has instigated them and buoyed them up with false hopes. ⁴⁸⁴⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Such men are entirely in the hands of Satan. They follow his suggestions, and their hopes are built on his deceptions.

[they do turn their backs on it] inasmuch as³⁰ they are wont to say unto those who abhor all that God has revealed, "We will comply with your views on some points."³¹ But God knows their secret thoughts:

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "this, because . . .", etc.

Lit., "in some [or "parts of"] the matter": i.e., "although we cannot agree with you [atheists] as regards your denial of God, or of resurrection, or of the fact of revelation as such, we do agree with you that Muhammad is an impostor and that the Qur'an is but his invention" (Razi). By "those who turn their backs [on this message] after guidance has been vouchsafed to them" are meant, in the first instance, the hypocrites and half-hearted followers of Islam at the time of the Prophet who refused to fight in defence of the Faith; in a wider sense, however, this definition applies to all people, at all times, who are impressed by the teachings of the Qur'an but nevertheless refuse to accept it as God-inspired and, therefore, morally binding.

That is why they said to those who showed an aversion to what Allah has revealed: "We shall obey you in some matters," and Allah knows their secret talks.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

That is because they said 'privately' to those who 'also' detest what Allah has revealed, 'We will obey you in some matters.'¹ But Allah 'fully' knows what they are hiding.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 i.e., your opposition to the Prophet (ﷺ).

That is because they say unto those who hate what Allah hath revealed: We will obey you in some matters; and Allah knoweth their secret talk.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

This because they said to those who hate what Allah has revealed "We will obey you in part of (this) matter"; but Allah knows their (inner) secrets. ⁴⁸⁵⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They have become so impervious to facts and truths, because, without the courage to oppose Allah's Cause openly, they secretly intrigue with Allah's enemies, and say that they will follow them part of the way, and by remaining partly in the other camp, they will be far more useful as spies and half-hearted doubters than by going over altogether. If they think that this game will be successful, they are mistaken. All the inner secrets and motives of their hearts are known to Allah. Cf. lix. 11.

hence, how [will they fare] when the angels gather them in death, striking their faces and their backs?³²

  - Mohammad Asad

See note [55] on 8:50 .

Then what will they do when the angels carry off their souls, smiting their faces and their backs?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Then how 'horrible' will it be when the angels take their souls, beating their faces and backs!

  - Mustafa Khattab

Then how (will it be with them) when the angels gather them, smiting their faces and their backs!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But how (will it be) when the angels take their souls at death and smite their faces and their backs? ^{4851 4852}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

It is all very well for them to practise hypocrisy in this life. How will they feel at death, when they find that the angels know all, and touch the very spots they had taken such care to conceal?

Their faces and their backs: there is a subtle metaphor. The face is what looks to the front, the side you present to the outer world; the back is what is not shown, what is hidden from the world. The hypocrites will be hit at both points. Or, the face is what they boast of, what they are proud of; the back is the skeleton in the cupboard, the things they dare not utter, but which yet haunt them. The hypocrites are hit on every side. Cf. viii. 50.

This, because they were wont to pursue what God condemns, and to hate [whatever would meet with] His goodly acceptance:³³ and so He has caused all their [good] deeds to come to nought.

  - Mohammad Asad

See first clause of verse {3} of this surah, which speaks of the "pursuit of falsehood". In the present instance, "that which would meet with His goodly acceptance" is the believer's readiness to sacrifice, if necessary, his life in the defence of the Faith.

That will happen because they followed the way that called for the wrath of Allah and hated to adopt the way of His pleasure, therefore He made all their deeds void.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

This is because they follow whatever displeases Allah and hate whatever pleases Him, so He has rendered their deeds void.

  - Mustafa Khattab

That will be because they followed that which angereth Allah, and hated that which pleaseth Him. Therefor He hath made their actions vain.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

This because they followed that which called forth the Wrath of Allah and they hated Allah's good pleasure; so He made their deeds of no effect.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Or do they in whose hearts is disease think, perchance, that God would never bring their moral failings to light?³⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

The noun dighn (of which adghan is the plural) denotes, primarily, "rancour" or "hate"; in its wider sense it signifies a person's "disposition", "inclination" or "leaning", especially in its negative aspects (Jawhari): hence, a "moral defect" or "failing".

Do those in whose hearts is a disease think that Allah will not reveal their malice?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Or do those with sickness in their hearts think that Allah will not 'be able to' expose their malice?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Or do those in whose hearts is a disease deem that Allah will not bring to light their (secret) hates?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Or do those in whose hearts is a disease think that Allah will not bring to light all their rancor? ⁴⁸⁵³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. verse 20 above, and n. 4845. Being diseased at the very core of their being, they do not understand the simplest facts of spiritual life.

Now had We so willed, We could have shown them clearly to thee, so that thou wouldst know them for sure as by a visible mark:³⁵ but [even so,] thou wilt most certainly reconnize them by the tone of their voice.³⁶ And God knows all that you do, [O men;]

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "by their marks": implying, elliptically, that God does not grant to anyone a clear insight, as by a visible mark, into another human being's heart or mind.

Lit., "the tone (lahn) of speech": indicating that a true believer recognizes hypocrisy even without a "visible mark" (sima).

Had We so pleased, We could have pointed them out to you and you would have recognized them promptly by their faces. But you will surely know them by the tone of their speech. Allah knows all of your actions.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Had We willed, We could have truly shown them to you 'O Prophet', and you would have certainly recognized them by their appearance. But you will surely recognize them by their tone of speech. And Allah 'fully' knows your doings 'O people'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And if We would, We could show them unto thee (Muhammad) so that thou shouldst know them surely by their marks. And thou shalt know them by the burden of their talk. And Allah knoweth your deeds. .

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Had We so willed We could have shown them up to thee and thou shouldst have known them by their marks: but surely thou wilt know them by the tone of their speech! And Allah knows All that ye do. ⁴⁸⁵⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Evil is not always necessarily branded in this life with a distinguishing mark or brand. But the discerning ones know. Evil is betrayed by its speech and behaviour.