Overview - Surah 47: Muhammad (Muhammad )
The Surah talks about the real struggle that will take place between the truth and falsehood. In this struggle the truth will be victorious and the falsehood and its supporters will be utterly defeated. The separation will take place between those who believe and those who will deny the truth.
Sections:
- Those who believe in Prophet Muhammad their sins are removed and their condition will improve. The opponents of the truth will perish.
- Good news for the Believers. The Prophet is asked to pray for the Believers.
- The weak hearted and the blind are not able to see the truth.
- The real success. Do not be intimidated, stand firm and struggle for the cause of Allah.
This Surah is named after our beloved Messenger, Muhammad. His name is mentioned in the following Ayat وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَآمَنُوا بِمَا نُزِّلَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَهُوَ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۙ كَفَّرَ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَأَصْلَحَ بَالَهُمْ "And those who believe and do righteous deeds and believe in what has been sent down upon Muhammad - and it is the truth from their Lord - He will remove from them their misdeeds and amend their condition." (47:2)
The Surah is also known as 'Surah al-Qital' [Fighting].
There are 38 Ayat in this Surah.
Overview
| Total Ayat | 38 |
| Total Words * | 539 |
| Root Words * | 171 |
| Unique Root Words * | 8 |
| Makki / Madani | Madani |
| Chronological Order* | 95th (according to Ibn Abbas) |
| Year of Revelation* | 15th year of Prophethood (2nd Year Hijri) |
| Events during/before this Surah*
Change of Qiblah from Jerusalem to Makkah - Battle of Badr, Migration from Makkah to Madinah - Building of Masjid Nabi in Madinah - Treaty with Jews of Madinah - Marriage of Prophet to Aishah, , 2nd Pledge of Aqabah, 1st Pledge of Aqabah, Death of Abu Talib - Death of Khadijah - Stoning at Ta'if - al-Isra wal Mi'raj - Night Journey, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 3, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 2, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 1, 2nd Migration to Abyssinia, Physical beating and torture of some Muslims - 1st Migration of Muslims to Abyssinia, Public Invitation to Islam - Persecution of Muslims; antagonism - ridicule - derision - accusation - abuse and false propaganda., Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam , Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam , Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam
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| Events during/after still to occur*
Battle of Uhud,,Battle of Ahzab - Expedition of Banu Quraydhah,Treaty of Hudaiybiyah - Letters to Kings and Rulers,,Conquest of Makkah - Battle of Hunain,Hajj led by Abu Bakr - Expedition of Tabuk,Farewell Hajj by Prophet - Death of Prophet - End of Divine Revelation
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| Names of Prophets Mentioned
Muhammad
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| Surah Index
Adversity (patience during) , Angels, Cattle, Charity, Charity (niggardliness) , Death, Death (in God’s cause) , Disbelievers, Disbelievers (God’s promise to) , Fighting, Fighting (do not beg for peace) , Fighting (free slaves after fighting ends) , Hell, Honey, Iblis, Jihad, Judgement (Day) , Knowledge, Knowledge (obligation upon man to obtain and impart) , Milk, Muhammad, Qur’an, Religion (is not play and transient delight) , Resurrection (of soul) , Revelation, Revelation (mentioning war) , Sexes (equality of) , Slaves (freeing) (after war is over), Water, Wine
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Theme 1: Repurcussions for turning away from the Dawah [calling] of Prophet Muhammad [saw].
Theme 2: Its theme is to prepare the believers for war and to give them preliminary instructions in this regard. That is why it has also been entitled al-Qital. It deals with the following topics:
At the outset it is said that of the two groups confronting each other at this time, one has refused to accept the Truth and has become an obstruction for others on the way of God, while the other group has accepted the Truth which had been sent down by God to His servant, Muhammad. Now, God’s final decision is that He has rendered fruitless and vain all the works of the former group and set right the condition and affairs of the latter group.
After this, the Muslims have been given the initial war instructions and they have been reassured of God’s help and guidance: they have been given hope for the best rewards on offering sacrifices in the cause of God and they have been assured that their struggle in the cause of the Truth will not go to waste, but they will be abundantly rewarded both in this world and in the Hereafter.
Furthermore, about the disbelievers it has been said that they are deprived of God’s support and guidance: none of their plans will succeed in their conflict with the believers, and they will meet a most evil fate both in this world and in the Hereafter. They thought they had achieved a great success by driving the Prophet of God out of Makkah, but in fact by this they had hastened their own doom.
After this, the discourse turns to the hypocrites, who were posing to be sincere Muslims before the command to fight was sent down, but were confounded when this command actually came down, and began to conspire with the disbelievers in order to save themselves from the hazards of war. They have been plainly warned to the effect that no act and deed is acceptable to God of those who adopt hypocrisy with regard to Him and His Prophet. There, the basic issue against which all those who profess the Faith are being tried is whether one is on the side of the Truth or Falsehood, whether one’s sympathies are with Islam and the Muslims or with disbelief and the disbelievers, whether one keeps one’s own self and interests dearer or the Truth which one professes to believe in and follow. One who fails in this test is not at all a believer; his Prayer and his Fasting and his discharging of the financial obligation (Zakah) deserve no reward from God.
Then the Muslims have been exhorted not to lose heart for being small in numbers and ill equipped as against the great strength of the disbelievers: they should not show weakness by offering peace to them, which might still further embolden them against Islam and the Muslims, but they should come out with trust in God and clash with the mighty forces of disbelief. God is with the Muslims: they alone shall triumph; and the might of disbelief will be humbled and vanquished.
In conclusion, the Muslims have been invited to spend their wealth in the cause of God. Although at that time they were economically very weak, the problem that they confronted was the very survival of Islam and the Muslims. The importance and delicacy of the problem demanded that the Muslims should not only risk their lives for safeguarding themselves and their Faith from the dominance of disbelief and for exalting God’s Religion but should also expend their economic resources as far as possible in the preparations for war. Therefore, they were clearly warned to the effect: Anyone who adopted a stingy attitude at the time, would not, in fact, harm God at all, but would result in his own destruction, for God does not stand in need of help from men. If one group of men neglected in offering sacrifices in the cause of His Religion, God would remove them and bring another group in its place.
Allah has not mentioned the name of the Prophet "Muhammad" except 4 times in the Qur'an, with this Surah being one of them. Allah does mention in one more instance, the name 'Ahmad' in Surah as-Saff (61:6) as the Prophet prophecised by Jesus.
Manuscripts / Inscriptions
16th Century
16th Century
5th/11th-6th/12th Century
5th/11th-6th/12th Century
1st Century Hijrah (7th Century CE)
1st Century Hijrah (7th Century CE)
- Surah Muhammad and Surah al-Fath both have the mention of the name of the Prophet Muhammad (47:2) (48:29).
Prophet Muhammad (saW) - The name "Muhammad" derives from the root letters H-M-D meaning "praise". Words which are derived from the root H-M-D appear 63 times in the Qur'an. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) lived for 63 years. http://www.quran-wiki.com/ayatRoots.php?q=H
Total Word Count per Ayat (shows how many words per Ayat) = 8* | ||
| # | Root Word | Frequency in Surah | Frequency in Qur'an |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | أ ل ه | 28 | 2851 |
| 2. | ٱلَّذِى | 26 | 1464 |
| 3. | ع م ل | 12 | 360 |
| 4. | ك ف ر | 11 | 525 |
| 5. | أ م ن | 11 | 879 |
| 6. | إِذَا | 7 | 409 |
| 7. | ق و ل | 6 | 1722 |
| 8. | ع ل م | 6 | 854 |
| 9. | س ب ل | 5 | 176 |
| 10. | ن ز ل | 5 | 293 |
| Root Word | Frequency in Surah |
Frequency in Qur'an |
|---|---|---|
| أ ل ه | 28 | 2851 |
| ٱلَّذِى | 26 | 1464 |
| ع م ل | 12 | 360 |
| ك ف ر | 11 | 525 |
| أ م ن | 11 | 879 |
| إِذَا | 7 | 409 |
| ق و ل | 6 | 1722 |
| ع ل م | 6 | 854 |
| س ب ل | 5 | 176 |
| ن ز ل | 5 | 293 |
The contents of this Surah testify that it was sent down after the Hijrah at Madinah at the time when the fighting had been enjoined, though active fighting had not yet been undertaken.
The conditions at the time when this Surah was sent down were such that the Muslims were being made the target of persecution and tyranny in Makkah in particular and in Arabia in general, and life had become miserable for them. Although the Muslims had emigrated to the haven of Madinah from every side, the disbelieving Quraysh were not prepared to leave them alone and let them live in peace even there. Thus, the small settlement of Madinah was hemmed in by the enemy, who was bent upon exterminating it completely. The only alternative left with the Muslims were that either they should surrender to the forces of ignorance, giving up their mission of preaching the true Faith, or even following it in their private lives, or should rise to wage a war at the cost of their lives to settle finally and forever whether Islam would stay in Arabia or the creed of ignorance. On this occasion God showed the Muslims the same way of resolution and will, which is the only way for the true believers. He first permitted them to fight in Surah 22: al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage): 39 and then enjoined fighting in Surah 2: al-Baqarah (The Cow): 190. But at that time everyone knew full well what it meant to wage a war in those conditions. There were only a handful of Muslims in Madinah, who could not muster even a thousand soldiers; yet they were being urged to take up the sword and clash against the pagan forces of the whole of Arabia. Then the kind of the weapons needed to equip its soldiers for war could hardly be afforded by the town in which hundreds of emigrants were still homeless and unsettled even by resort to starving its members at a time when it had been boycotted economically by the Arabs on all sides.
- After the previous Surahs threatening the Makkans with punishment, Surah Muhammad is revealed mentioning Battle of Badr which was the first instalment of the punishment. Allah says فَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ دَمَّرَ اللَّـهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَلِلْكَافِرِينَ أَمْثَالُهَا "Have they not traveled through the land and seen how was the end of those before them? Allah destroyed [everything] over them, and for the disbelievers is something comparable." (47:10)
- Allah voids the deeds of the disbelievers.
- The follow Batil [falsehood] (47:3)
- They hate what was revealed by Allah (47:9)
- Showing off and hypocrisy (47:30)
- Cutting of relations is one of the major wrongs and these are cursed by Allah (47:22) (47:23)
- The heart is where tadabbur [reflection] takes place. (47:24)
- The people of Jannah know their homes in Jannah like they know their homes in this world. (47:6)
- In war thoroughly subdue the unbelievers before taking them as prisoners of war.
- If you help the cause of Allah, Allah will help and protect you.
- True believers do not follow their own desires in the matter of religion.
- Allah put the believers to test to know the valiant and the resolute.
- In the case of war Allah is on the side of the true believers.
- Do not be miserly if you are asked to give in the cause of Allah.
Tafsir Zone
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Sayyid Qutb Overview (Verses 16 - 19) In this passage the surah speaks about the hypocrites. In the first instance it depicts their attitude towards the Prophet and the Qur'an, then their attitude to fighting which God requires Muslims to undertake in the service of His cause. Finally, it reveals their attitude towards the Jews and their conspiring with them against Islam and the Muslim community. It should be remembered that hypocrisy first started in Madinah. It did not exist in Makkah, as the situation there made it totally unnecessary. In Makkah, the Muslims suffered persecution and no one needed to appease them. When God facilitated support for Islam with its acceptance by the two tribes of Madinah, the Aws and the Khazraj, the new faith spread into all clans and families. There were Muslims in every home in Madinah. Some, however, hated to see the Prophet and Islam gaining power but dared not make their hostility public. Therefore, they pretended to be Muslim when in reality they were full of hatred for Islam. They were also keen for ill fortune to befall the Prophet and his Companions. Their chief was (Abdullali ibn Ubayy ibn A Jewish community also lived in Madinah. The Jews had a military and economic presence as well as organisational strength at the time the Prophet settled in Madinah. They also hated the Prophet, his faith and his followers. The presence of such Jews offered encouragement to the hypocrites: essentially, the two groups were united in their hatred of Islam and the Muslims. As a result, they conspired and exploited every opportunity to undermine the Muslim community. When the Muslim community experienced difficult circumstances, their opponents made their hostility all the more apparent; and when the Muslims enjoyed good times, they resorted to covert action and wicked conspiracy. Up to the middle of the Prophet's stay in Madinah, these two groups represented a real danger to Islam and the Muslim community. Repeated mention of the hypocrites and their schemes occur in the surahs revealed in Madinah, and in which they come in for clear denunciation. Their contacts with the Jews and cooperation with them is also referred to in such revelations. In the present passage, we have such references to both the hypocrites and the Jews. How Divine Guidance Works Some of them listen to you, but no sooner do they leave your presence than they scornfully say to those endowed with knowledge: 'What is it that he said just now?' Such are the ones whose hearts God has sealed, and who follow their desires. (Verse 16) The phrase, `some of them', may refer to the unbelievers who were the subject of discussion in the first passage of the surah. In this case, the hypocrites are considered as a group of unbelievers, although they conceal their reality. In this sense, the siirah is referring to their true status. On the other hand, the phrase may refer to the Muslims, considering that the hypocrites were integrated with them, pretending to belong to their community. They were indeed treated as Muslims, as Islam requires us to deal with people on the basis of what they profess to be. In either case, however, they are hypocrites as their description in the surah and their deeds indicate. The hypocrites' question, after they had listened to the Prophet, shows how they only pretended to pay attention to what he was saying when their minds were inattentive, preoccupied with other things, or rather were sealed altogether. It also suggests an implicit ridicule. Since they address their question to people endowed with knowledge asking about the meaning of what they heard, they imply that what Muhammad said was incomprehensible. Despite having paid attention to it, they still could not understand its meaning. It further implies ridicule of those knowledgeable people who attended carefully to everything the Prophet said, making an effort to understand it fully and memorize it, as the Prophet's Companions used to do. In this way, using blatant or subtle mockery, these hypocrites asked them to repeat the Prophet's words. In all these possibilities we see wickedness, deep resentment and hatred: "Such are the ones whose hearts God has sealed, and who follow their desires." (Verse 16) Such is the condition of the hypocrites. Those who follow Divine guidance, however, are totally different: As for those who accept Divine guidance, God increases them in guidance and causes them to grow in the quality of God-fearing. (Verse 17) The order of reporting events in this verse calls for reflection. The believers start by accepting guidance, and God rewards them by increasing this guidance so that they do not err. He further gives them an even more profound reward, as He "causes them to grow in the quality of God-fearing." This quality makes a person's heart always apprehensive, feeling that God is watching him, fearing that he might incur God's displeasure whilst hoping to earn His pleasure, and ashamed that God may see him in a situation of which He disapproves. Such a keen sensitivity is the essence of being God-fearing. It is a great prize which God grants to whomever He chooses of His servants when they accept His guidance and strive to earn His pleasure. Guidance, sensitivity and being God-fearing describe a condition that is the opposite of the hypocrisy described in the previous verse. The surah picks up its description of the hypocrites who leave the Prophet's presence having understood nothing of his teachings, which aim to enhance people's fear of God, and remind them of what is certain to come of reckoning and requital: Are they waiting for the Last Hour to come upon them of a sudden? Its portents have already come; but once it has arrived, what benefit will it then be to them if they take heed? (Verse 18) What do these people who sit with the Prophet and later leave, having understood or learnt nothing, wait for? Are they waiting for the Last Hour to come upon them all of a sudden while they are preoccupied with worldly matters? Well, the portents of the Last Hour have already come, as have its signs. The revelation of the last Divine message is the clearest of all these portents. It announces that it is the last warning before the appointed time for the Last Hour. The Prophet is quoted as saying: "I was sent with my message, nothing separates me from the Last Hour more than what separates my two fingers." [Related by al-Sulthari and Muslim.] If time appears to have extended long since the Prophet's time, we should remember that God's days are different from our days. According to God's reckoning, its first signs have already come. No reasonable person should allow it to come upon him all of a sudden, when he can no longer attend to a duty: "Once it has arrived, what benefit will it then be to them if they take heed?" This serves as a strong reminder to those who are oblivious. The surah then addresses the Prophet and the well-guided people who follow him telling them to follow a different course based on true knowledge, remembrance of God and seeking His forgiveness and feeling that He watches over them and knows everything about them. They will then be on their guard as they await the Last Hour: Know, then, that there is no deity other than God, and pray to Him to forgive you your sins, and to forgive all believing men and women. God knows all your comings and goings, as well as your abiding at rest. (Verse 19) This directive points first of all to the need to always remember the first truth which the Prophet and those who follow him uphold: " Know, then, that there is no deity other than God." Once this truth is firmly established in man's conscience, other directives are given: "And pray to Him to forgive you your sins." This is said to the Prophet whom God has already forgiven his past and future sins, because it is the duty of every believer who is aware that his efforts fall short of fulfilling his duty, no matter how hard he tries. In this way, every believer feels that his prayer for forgiveness serves as an aspect of glorifying God and thanking Him for His forgiveness. Moreover, it is a lesson to the Prophet's Companions and followers who know his high position with his Lord, yet see that he is instructed to remember God and to pray to Him for forgiveness for himself and all believers, men and women. They know that God always answers the Prophet's prayers. They then feel that God has bestowed on them a great blessing by sending them this noble Prophet and instructing him to pray to Him to forgive them. Thus, they are sure that He will forgive them their sins. The final point in this directive is that "God knows all your comings and goings, as well as your abiding at rest." (Verse 19) Thus a believer feels both reassurance and fear at the same time. He is reassured that he is under God's care wherever he is, and he is in fear because God knows every feeling and thought he may have, and is aware of his every secret. This is all part of education that keeps a believer always on the look out, keen to remain always on the right track. |
Ibn Kathir (English)
Sayyid Qutb
Sha'rawi
Al Jalalain
الطبري - جامع البيان
ابن كثير - تفسير القرآن العظيم
القرطبي - الجامع لأحكام
البغوي - معالم التنزيل
ابن أبي حاتم الرازي - تفسير القرآن
ابن عاشور - التحرير والتنوير
ابن القيم - تفسير ابن قيّم
السيوطي - الدر المنثور
الشنقيطي - أضواء البيان
ابن الجوزي - زاد المسير
الآلوسي - روح المعاني
ابن عطية - المحرر الوجيز
الرازي - مفاتيح الغيب
أبو السعود - إرشاد العقل السليم
الزمخشري - الكشاف
البقاعي - نظم الدرر
الهداية إلى بلوغ النهاية — مكي ابن أبي طالب
القاسمي - محاسن التأويل
الماوردي - النكت والعيون
السعدي - تيسير الكريم الرحمن
عبد الرحمن الثعالبي - الجواهر الحسان
السمرقندي - بحر العلوم
أبو إسحاق الثعلبي - الكشف والبيان
الشوكاني - فتح القدير
النيسابوري - التفسير البسيط
أبو حيان - البحر المحيط
البيضاوي - أنوار التنزيل
النسفي - مدارك التنزيل
ابن جُزَيّ - التسهيل لعلوم التنزيل
علي الواحدي النيسابوري - الوجيز
السيوطي - تفسير الجلالين
المختصر في التفسير — مركز تفسير
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- Surah 47. Muhammad - Saad al Ghamidi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nb1mRj8P24&index=47&list=PLhM2xiAUdw2cAqW_o3zZkbhJNw0bnaBZN
- Surah 47. Muhammad Mahmoud Khalil Al Hussary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dwbiwRZkbM&index=47&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfMFWX22VZWOKpzjr-vH_BM
- Surah 47. Muhammad Muhammad Al Luhaydan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv7-u1K-Hag&index=47&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfKAYuQLRNAZomoezhfhRZe
- Idris Akbar Surah Muhammad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgB-8rnSPAw
- Surah 47. Muhammad muhammad Minshawi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5YfFO-jPi8&index=47&list=PLxpAkjlGauHdUcO_uc-8F8J2NUQRDZjPG
