Surah 47. Muhammad

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.

and most certainly We shall try you all, so that We might mark out³⁷ those of you who strive hard [in Our cause] and are patient in adversity: for We shall put to a test [the truth of] all your assertions.³⁸

  - Mohammad Asad

Cf. 3:140 , where the verb 'alama has been rendered in the same way.

Lit., "your announcements" - i.e., all assertions relating to belief. The "test" consists in one's readiness to undergo any sacrifice - and, since most of this surah deals with the problem of a just war (Jihad) in God's cause - even the sacrifice of one's life.

We shall put you to test until We know the valiant and the resolute among you, and test all that is said about you.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

We will certainly test you 'believers' until We prove those of you who 'truly' struggle 'in Allah's cause' and remain steadfast, and reveal how you conduct yourselves.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And verily We shall try you till We know those of you who strive hard (for the cause of Allah) and the steadfast, and till We test your record.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And We shall try you until We test those among you who strive their utmost and persevere in patience; and We shall try your reported (mettle). ^{4855 4856}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xxxiv. 21, and n. 3821. The test and trial is for our own psychological development, to help in the exercise of such choice as has been given to us in our free-will. Cf. also iii. 154, and n. 467.

Akhbar: the things reported of you; reputation for courage and constancy, which has to be brought to the test of facts and experience. In an epigram of Tacitus we are told of a Roman Emperor that he would have been considered in every way to have been worthy of being a ruler if only he had never ruled! So in life people may think us courageous, true, noble, and self-sacrificing; and we may consider ourselves as possessing all such virtues; but it is actual experience that will bring them to the test.

Verily, they who are bent on denying the truth and on barring [others] from the path of God, and [who thus] cut themselves off from the Apostle³⁹ after guidance has been vouchsafed to them, can in no wise harm God; but He will cause all their deeds to come to nought.

  - Mohammad Asad

For the above rendering of shaqqu, see note [16] on 8:13 . The "cutting oneself off" from the Apostle signifies, of course, a rejection of his message, and, in this particular context, a refusal to follow the Qur'anic call to fight in a just cause, i.e., in defence of the Faith or of freedom (see note [167] on 2:190 ).

The unbelievers who obstruct others from the Way of Allah and disputed the Rasool after the guidance has become clear to them shall in no way harm Allah; as a result, he will bring their deeds to nothing.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Indeed, those who disbelieve, hinder 'others' from the Way of Allah, and defy the Messenger after 'true' guidance has become clear to them; they will not harm Allah in the least, but He will render their deeds void.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Lo! those who disbelieve and turn from the way of Allah and oppose the messenger after the guidance hath been manifested unto them, they hurt Allah not a jot, and He will make their actions fruitless.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Those who reject Allah hinder (men) from the Path of Allah and resist the Apostle after Guidance has been clearly shown to them will not injure Allah in the least but He will make their deeds of no effect. ⁴⁸⁵⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. verse 25 above, and verse 34 below: in verse 25 was shown the source of the evil. viz., yielding to the deceptions of Satan; in this verse are shown the proximate consequences of such yielding to evil, viz., failure of all we do; and in verse 34 below are shown the eternal consequences, viz., our deprivation of Allah's Grace and Mercy.

O you who have attained to faith! Pay heed unto God, and pay heed unto the Apostle, and let not your [good] deeds come to nought!

  - Mohammad Asad

O believers! Obey Allah and obey His Rasool, and do not let your deeds come to nothing.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

O believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and do not let your deeds be in vain.

  - Mustafa Khattab

O ye who believe! Obey Allah and obey the messenger, and render not your actions vain.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

O ye who believe! obey Allah and obey the Apostle and make not vain your deeds!

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Verily, as for those who are bent on denying the truth and on barring [others] from the path of God, and then die as deniers of the truth - indeed,God will not grant them forgiveness!

  - Mohammad Asad

Those who disbelieve and obstruct the Way of Allah and die while they were still disbelievers, Allah will never forgive them.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Surely those who disbelieve, hinder 'others' from the Way of Allah, and then die as disbelievers; Allah will never forgive them.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Lo! those who disbelieve and turn from the way of Allah and then die disbelievers, Allah surely will not pardon them.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Those who reject Allah and hinder (men) from the Path of Allah then die rejecting Allah Allah will not forgive them. ⁴⁸⁵⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See last note.

AND SO, [when you fight in a just cause,] do not lose heart and [never] beg for peace: for, seeing that God is with you, you are bound to rise high [in the end];⁴⁰ and never will He let your [good] deeds go to waste.

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., even if the fortunes of war go against them, the consciousness of having fought in the cause of truth and justice is bound to enhance the inner strength of the believers and, thus, to become a source of their future greatness: cf. 3:139 .

Therefore, do not be fainthearted crying for peace, for you will surely gain the upper hand. Allah is on your side and will never let your deeds be wasted.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So do not falter or cry for peace, for you will have the upper hand and Allah is with you. And He will never let your deeds go to waste.

  - Mustafa Khattab

So do not falter and cry out for peace when ye (will be) the uppermost, and Allah is with you, and He will not grudge (the reward of) your actions.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Be not weary and faint-hearted crying for peace. When ye should be Uppermost: for Allah is with you and will never put you in loss for your (good) deeds. ⁴⁸⁵⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

To those who are trying to root out evil, and have authority to do so, the question is not of peace or conflict, but of whether Good or Evil is to prevail. They must remember that Good must ultimately prevail, and Allah's help is with those who, as far as men can, are trying to further the universal Plan. Cf. n. 4847 to verse 22 above.