محمد
Surah Muhammad
Muhammad · Surah 47 · Medinan · 38 verses
1ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَصَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَضَلَّ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ ١Those who disbelieve and turn (men) from the way of Allah, He rendereth their actions vain.InsightElmalılı explains “sadd” as turning away or preventing others; both cause deeds to be lost.2وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ وَءَامَنُواْ بِمَا نُزِّلَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدࣲ وَهُوَ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمۡ كَفَّرَ عَنۡهُمۡ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمۡ وَأَصۡلَحَ بَالَهُمۡ ٢And those who believe and do good works and believe in that which is revealed unto Muhammad - and it is the truth from their Lord - He riddeth them of their ill-deeds and improveth their state.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the faith here is specifically faith in the Book revealed to Muhammad.3ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ٱتَّبَعُواْ ٱلۡبَٰطِلَ وَأَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّبَعُواْ ٱلۡحَقَّ مِن رَّبِّهِمۡۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ أَمۡثَٰلَهُمۡ ٣That is because those who disbelieve follow falsehood and because those who believe follow the truth from their Lord. Thus Allah coineth their similitudes for mankind.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the disbelievers’ confusion and the believers’ soundness have this cause: one fled Allah’s way and followed whim, the other followed the truth from their Lord.4فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَضَرۡبَ ٱلرِّقَابِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَثۡخَنتُمُوهُمۡ فَشُدُّواْ ٱلۡوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنَّۢا بَعۡدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَآءً حَتَّىٰ تَضَعَ ٱلۡحَرۡبُ أَوۡزَارَهَاۚ ذَٰلِكَۖ وَلَوۡ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ لَٱنتَصَرَ مِنۡهُمۡ وَلَٰكِن لِّيَبۡلُوَاْ بَعۡضَكُم بِبَعۡضࣲۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ ٤Now when ye meet in battle those who disbelieve, then it is smiting of the necks until, when ye have routed them, then making fast of bonds; and afterward either grace or ransom till the war lay down its burdens. That (is the ordinance). And if Allah willed He could have punished them (without you) but (thus it is ordained) that He may try some of you by means of others. And those who are slain in the way of Allah, He rendereth not their actions vain.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this verse sets out rulings on battle and captives; when war ends, the way is open to release captives either as a favour or for ransom.5سَيَهۡدِيهِمۡ وَيُصۡلِحُ بَالَهُمۡ ٥He will guide them and improve their state.6وَيُدۡخِلُهُمُ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ عَرَّفَهَا لَهُمۡ ٦And bring them in unto the Garden which He hath made known to them.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Paradise has been made known to them either by being perfumed with fine scents or by being described; this making-known is both in this world and the next.7يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِن تَنصُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ يَنصُرۡكُمۡ وَيُثَبِّتۡ أَقۡدَامَكُمۡ ٧O ye who believe! If ye help Allah, He will help you and will make your foothold firm.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, since Allah is free of need, helping Allah here means keeping His command and serving His religion.8وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَتَعۡسࣰا لَّهُمۡ وَأَضَلَّ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ ٨And those who disbelieve, perdition is for them, and He will make their actions vain.InsightElmalılı explains “ta‘s” as originally slipping and falling on one’s face and never rising, perishing.9ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ كَرِهُواْ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأَحۡبَطَ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ ٩That is because they are averse to that which Allah hath revealed, therefor maketh He their actions fruitless.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the cause of this ruin is their disliking what Allah revealed and not spending their will in service of His religion.10۞أَفَلَمۡ يَسِيرُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَيَنظُرُواْ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۖ دَمَّرَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِمۡۖ وَلِلۡكَٰفِرِينَ أَمۡثَٰلُهَا ١٠Have they not travelled in the land to see the nature of the consequence for those who were before them? Allah wiped them out. And for the disbelievers there will be the like thereof.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is an invitation to learn from the past by studying the remains and ruins of vanished peoples.11ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَوۡلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَأَنَّ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ لَا مَوۡلَىٰ لَهُمۡ ١١That is because Allah is patron of those who believe, and because the disbelievers have no patron.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah is the helper and guardian of the believers; the disbelievers have no helper to ward off His punishment.12إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُدۡخِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ جَنَّـٰتࣲ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ يَتَمَتَّعُونَ وَيَأۡكُلُونَ كَمَا تَأۡكُلُ ٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمُ وَٱلنَّارُ مَثۡوࣰى لَّهُمۡ ١٢Lo! Allah will cause those who believe and do good works to enter Gardens underneath which rivers flow; while those who disbelieve take their comfort in this life and eat even as the cattle eat, and the Fire is their habitation.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this explains the outcome and cause of Allah’s guardianship in the Hereafter; the disbelievers eat without thinking of their end.13وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرۡيَةٍ هِيَ أَشَدُّ قُوَّةࣰ مِّن قَرۡيَتِكَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَخۡرَجَتۡكَ أَهۡلَكۡنَٰهُمۡ فَلَا نَاصِرَ لَهُمۡ ١٣And how many a township stronger than thy township (O Muhammad) which hath cast thee out, have We destroyed, and they had no helper.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this town is Mecca; the idolaters plotted to expel the Prophet and caused his emigration.14أَفَمَن كَانَ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةࣲ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ كَمَن زُيِّنَ لَهُۥ سُوٓءُ عَمَلِهِۦ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓاْ أَهۡوَآءَهُم ١٤Is he who relieth on a clear proof from his Lord like those for whom the evil that they do is beautified while they follow their own lusts.15مَّثَلُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِي وُعِدَ ٱلۡمُتَّقُونَۖ فِيهَآ أَنۡهَٰرࣱ مِّن مَّآءٍ غَيۡرِ ءَاسِنࣲ وَأَنۡهَٰرࣱ مِّن لَّبَنࣲ لَّمۡ يَتَغَيَّرۡ طَعۡمُهُۥ وَأَنۡهَٰرࣱ مِّنۡ خَمۡرࣲ لَّذَّةࣲ لِّلشَّـٰرِبِينَ وَأَنۡهَٰرࣱ مِّنۡ عَسَلࣲ مُّصَفࣰّىۖ وَلَهُمۡ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ وَمَغۡفِرَةࣱ مِّن رَّبِّهِمۡۖ كَمَنۡ هُوَ خَٰلِدࣱ فِي ٱلنَّارِ وَسُقُواْ مَآءً حَمِيمࣰا فَقَطَّعَ أَمۡعَآءَهُمۡ ١٥A similitude of the Garden which those who keep their duty (to Allah) are promised: Therein are rivers of water unpolluted, and rivers of milk whereof the flavour changeth not, and rivers of wine delicious to the drinkers, and rivers of clear-run honey; therein for them is every kind of fruit, with pardon from their Lord. (Are those who enjoy all this) like those who are immortal in the Fire and are given boiling water to drink so that it teareth their bowels.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is an explanation of the rivers said to flow beneath Paradise.16وَمِنۡهُم مَّن يَسۡتَمِعُ إِلَيۡكَ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا خَرَجُواْ مِنۡ عِندِكَ قَالُواْ لِلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ مَاذَا قَالَ ءَانِفًاۚ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمۡ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓاْ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡ ١٦Among 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.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these are the hypocrites: they come to the Messenger’s gathering and hear him, but because they listen without faith or care, they retain nothing.17وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱهۡتَدَوۡاْ زَادَهُمۡ هُدࣰى وَءَاتَىٰهُمۡ تَقۡوَىٰهُمۡ ١٧While as for those who walk aright, He addeth to their guidance, and giveth them their protection (against evil).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Prophet’s words increase the sense of piety and means of protection of those who accept guidance.18فَهَلۡ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا ٱلسَّاعَةَ أَن تَأۡتِيَهُم بَغۡتَةࣰۖ فَقَدۡ جَآءَ أَشۡرَاطُهَاۚ فَأَنَّىٰ لَهُمۡ إِذَا جَآءَتۡهُمۡ ذِكۡرَىٰهُمۡ ١٨Await 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.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, they will not believe or listen until the Hour strikes them; yet its signs have already come.19فَٱعۡلَمۡ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمۡ وَمَثۡوَىٰكُمۡ ١٩So know (O Muhammad) that there is no Allah 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.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is knowing well that there is no other object of worship or servanthood; divinity belongs to Allah alone.20وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَوۡلَا نُزِّلَتۡ سُورَةࣱۖ فَإِذَآ أُنزِلَتۡ سُورَةࣱ مُّحۡكَمَةࣱ وَذُكِرَ فِيهَا ٱلۡقِتَالُ رَأَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضࣱ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَيۡكَ نَظَرَ ٱلۡمَغۡشِيِّ عَلَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلۡمَوۡتِۖ فَأَوۡلَىٰ لَهُمۡ ٢٠And 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.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, sincere believers whose state improved daily awaited a command in the face of the disbelievers’ tyranny; those with sickness in their hearts were afraid.21طَاعَةࣱ وَقَوۡلࣱ مَّعۡرُوفࣱۚ فَإِذَا عَزَمَ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ فَلَوۡ صَدَقُواْ ٱللَّهَ لَكَانَ خَيۡرࣰا لَّهُمۡ ٢١Obedience and a civil word. Then, when the matter is determined, if they are loyal to Allah it will be well for them.22فَهَلۡ عَسَيۡتُمۡ إِن تَوَلَّيۡتُمۡ أَن تُفۡسِدُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوٓاْ أَرۡحَامَكُمۡ ٢٢Would ye then, if ye were given the command, work corruption in the land and sever your ties of kinship.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “tawalli” here means either turning away and fleeing, or taking charge and ruling.23أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فَأَصَمَّهُمۡ وَأَعۡمَىٰٓ أَبۡصَٰرَهُمۡ ٢٣Such are they whom Allah curseth so that He deafeneth them and maketh blind their eyes.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these are those who would be disloyal and plunge their land into corruption, severing ties of kinship.24أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ أَمۡ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقۡفَالُهَآ ٢٤Will they then not meditate on the Qur’an, or are there locks on the hearts.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this question establishes their state: they do not reflect on the Qur’an, as if their hearts were locked.25إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱرۡتَدُّواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَدۡبَٰرِهِم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلۡهُدَى ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ سَوَّلَ لَهُمۡ وَأَمۡلَىٰ لَهُمۡ ٢٥Lo! those who turn back after the guidance hath been manifested unto them, Satan hath seduced them, and He giveth them the rein.26ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ قَالُواْ لِلَّذِينَ كَرِهُواْ مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ سَنُطِيعُكُمۡ فِي بَعۡضِ ٱلۡأَمۡرِۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ إِسۡرَارَهُمۡ ٢٦That 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.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the hypocrites said this to the Jews of Qurayzah and an-Nadir, who disliked the revelation of the Qur’an.27فَكَيۡفَ إِذَا تَوَفَّتۡهُمُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَضۡرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمۡ وَأَدۡبَٰرَهُمۡ ٢٧Then how (will it be with them) when the angels gather them, smiting their faces and their backs.28ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمُ ٱتَّبَعُواْ مَآ أَسۡخَطَ ٱللَّهَ وَكَرِهُواْ رِضۡوَٰنَهُۥ فَأَحۡبَطَ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ ٢٨That will be because they followed that which angereth Allah, and hated that which pleaseth Him. Therefor He hath made their actions vain.InsightElmalılı explains “ihbat” as wiping out the reward of a deed: as good deeds cover bad ones, bad deeds can also erase good ones.29أَمۡ حَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ أَن لَّن يُخۡرِجَ ٱللَّهُ أَضۡغَٰنَهُمۡ ٢٩Or do those in whose hearts is a disease deem that Allah will not bring to light their (secret) hates.30وَلَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَأَرَيۡنَٰكَهُمۡ فَلَعَرَفۡتَهُم بِسِيمَٰهُمۡۚ وَلَتَعۡرِفَنَّهُمۡ فِي لَحۡنِ ٱلۡقَوۡلِۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ أَعۡمَٰلَكُمۡ ٣٠And 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.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, some explained this showing as recognition by the heart; but the apparent meaning is that had Allah willed, He would have shown them to the Prophet visibly.31وَلَنَبۡلُوَنَّكُمۡ حَتَّىٰ نَعۡلَمَ ٱلۡمُجَٰهِدِينَ مِنكُمۡ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ وَنَبۡلُوَاْ أَخۡبَارَكُمۡ ٣١And 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.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah will test with difficult duties to bring out those who strive and endure.32إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَصَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَشَآقُّواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ لَن يَضُرُّواْ ٱللَّهَ شَيۡـࣰٔا وَسَيُحۡبِطُ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ ٣٢Lo! 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.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, like Qurayzah, an-Nadir or those who fed the idolaters’ army at Badr, they will not be able to harm Allah’s Prophet at all.33۞يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَلَا تُبۡطِلُوٓاْ أَعۡمَٰلَكُمۡ ٣٣O ye who believe! Obey Allah and obey the messenger, and render not your actions vain.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, one must not ruin deeds as others did, through disbelief, hypocrisy, conceit, showing off and reminding others of favours.34إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَصَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ مَاتُواْ وَهُمۡ كُفَّارࣱ فَلَن يَغۡفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمۡ ٣٤Lo! those who disbelieve and turn from the way of Allah and then die disbelievers, Allah surely will not pardon them.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, though this verse was revealed about those killed at Badr, it covers all who die in disbelief.35فَلَا تَهِنُواْ وَتَدۡعُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱلسَّلۡمِ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلۡأَعۡلَوۡنَ وَٱللَّهُ مَعَكُمۡ وَلَن يَتِرَكُمۡ أَعۡمَٰلَكُمۡ ٣٥So 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.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, since it is known that those dying in disbelief are not forgiven and that disobedience wipes out deeds, no weakness should be shown.36إِنَّمَا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا لَعِبࣱ وَلَهۡوࣱۚ وَإِن تُؤۡمِنُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ يُؤۡتِكُمۡ أُجُورَكُمۡ وَلَا يَسۡـَٔلۡكُمۡ أَمۡوَٰلَكُمۡ ٣٦The life of the world is but a sport and a pastime. And if ye believe and ward off (evil). He will give you your wages, and will not ask of you your wordly wealth.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, when worldly life is not used as a means of gain and protection for the Hereafter, it is nothing but a fleeting, trivial game.37إِن يَسۡـَٔلۡكُمُوهَا فَيُحۡفِكُمۡ تَبۡخَلُواْ وَيُخۡرِجۡ أَضۡغَٰنَكُمۡ ٣٧If He should ask it of you and importune you, ye would hoard it, and He would bring to light your (secret) hates.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah does not ask for all wealth so as to uproot it; if He did, people would be stingy and resentment would surface.38هَـٰٓأَنتُمۡ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ تُدۡعَوۡنَ لِتُنفِقُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَمِنكُم مَّن يَبۡخَلُۖ وَمَن يَبۡخَلۡ فَإِنَّمَا يَبۡخَلُ عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦۚ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلۡغَنِيُّ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلۡفُقَرَآءُۚ وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوۡاْ يَسۡتَبۡدِلۡ قَوۡمًا غَيۡرَكُمۡ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوٓاْ أَمۡثَٰلَكُم ٣٨Lo! ye are those who are called to spend in the way of Allah, yet among you there are some who hoard. And as for him who hoardeth, he hoardeth only from his soul. And Allah is the Rich, and ye are the poor. And if ye turn away He will exchange you for some other folk, and they will not be the likes of you.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this invitation may cover zakah and aid for defence; if you turn away, Allah will replace you with another people.