47. Surah Muhammad [38 verses]

Medina 95


The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:




الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَصَدُّوا عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَضَلَّ أَعْمَالَهُمْ ﴿١﴾

47: 1. Those who reject Allah and hinder (men) from the Path of Allah, their deeds will Allah render astray (From their mark).

C4817. Whatever they do will miss its mark, because Allah is the source of all energy and life. If the wicked try to persecute men or seduce them from the Truth, the result will be the opposite of what they intend.

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَآمَنُوا بِمَا نُزِّلَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَهُوَ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ...

47: 2. But those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, and believe in the (Revelation) sent down to Muhammad - for it is the Truth from their Lord,

...كَفَّرَ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَأَصْلَحَ بَالَهُمْ ﴿٢﴾

He will remove from them their ills and improve their condition.

C4818. Bal means state or condition, whether external, or of the heart and mind. Both meanings apply here.

The more the wicked rage, the better will be the position of the righteous, and Allah will make it easier and easier for the righteous to love and follow the Truth.

ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا اتَّبَعُوا الْبَاطِلَ وَأَنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّبَعُوا الْحَقَّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ...

47: 3. This because those who reject Allah follow vanities, while those who believe follow the Truth from their Lord:

...كَذَلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ أَمْثَالَهُمْ ﴿٣﴾

Thus does Allah set forth for men their lessons by similitudes.

C4819. We learn the greatest moral lessons by parables and similitudes from things that happen in the outer world.

If a man goes after a mirage or a thing that has no real existence, he can never reach his goal, while the man that follows the kindly Light from Allah that leads him on must be happier in mind, sounder in heart, and firmer in life, generally for every moment that he lives.

فَإِذا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَضَرْبَ الرِّقَابِ ...

47: 4. Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; at length,

C4820. When once the fight (Jihad) is entered upon, carry it out with the utmost vigour, and strike home your blows at the most vital points (smite at their necks), both literally and figuratively. You cannot wage war with kid gloves.

... حَتَّى إِذَا أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّوا الْوَثَاقَ...

when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them):

C4821. In the first onset there must necessarily be great loss of life; "after the enemy's numbers are fairly thinned down,, prisoners may be taken". With this passage may be compared 8:67, and n. 1234.

...فَإِمَّا مَنًّا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَاء حَتَّى تَضَعَ الْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا...

thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens.

C4822. When once the enemy is brought under control, generosity (i.e., the release of prisoners without ransom) or ransom is recommended.

...ذَلِكَ ...

Thus (are ye commanded):

... وَلَوْ يَشَاء اللَّهُ لَانتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَكِن لِّيَبْلُوَ بَعْضَكُم بِبَعْضٍ...

but if it had been Allah's Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others.

C4823. The Believers are tested in Faith by the extent to which they are willing to make sacrifices, even to the laying down of their lives; and the enemies are tested as to whether they would repent and let the righteous five in freedom and security.

...وَالَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعْمَالَهُمْ ﴿٤﴾

But those who are slain in the way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost.

C4824. There are two alternative readings,

The meaning under the first reading is wider, and includes that under the second.

I have translated on the basis of the second reading, which is in accordance with the text of the Royal Egyptian edition.

سَيَهْدِيهِمْ وَيُصْلِحُ بَالَهُمْ ﴿٥﴾

47: 5. Soon will He guide them and improve their condition.

C4825. If we read "who are slain" in the last clause but one of verse 4, (see last note), "guide" would mean "guide them in their journey after death".

Improve their conditions: see n. 4818 above.

If after death, their minds and hearts will be more and more settled and rest, and their spiritual satisfaction greater.

وَيُدْخِلُهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ عَرَّفَهَا لَهُمْ ﴿٦﴾

47: 6. And admit them to the Garden which He has announced for them.

C4826. "The Garden which He has made known to them": the state of bliss which is declared in Revelation to be destined for those who serve Allah.


Asad’s Version:



47:1 AS FOR THOSE who are bent on denying the truth and on barring [others] from the path of God - all their [good] deeds will He let go to waste;'


(47:2) whereas those who have attained to faith and do righteous deeds, and have come to believe in what has been bestowed from on high on Muhammad - for it is the truth from their Sustainer - [shall attain to God's grace:] He will efface their [past] bad deeds, and will set their hearts at rest. 2


47:3 This, because they who are bent on denying the truth pursue falsehood, whereas they who have attained to faith pursue [but] the truth [that flows] from their Sustainer. In this way does God set forth unto man the parables of their true state. 3


47:4 NOW WHEN you meet [in war] those who are bent on denying the truth, 4 smite their necks until you overcome them fully, and then tighten their bonds; 5 but thereafter [set them free,] either by an act of grace or against ransom, so that the burden of war may be lifted: 6 thus [shall it be]. And [know that] had God so willed, He could indeed punish them [Himself]; but [He wills you to struggle] so as to test you [all] by means of one another. 7 And as for those who are slain in God's cause, never will He let their deeds go to waste:

(47:5) He will guide them [in the hereafter as well], and will set their hearts at rest,

(47:6) and will admit them to the paradise which He has promised them.


[[Asad’s notes

1 I.e. whatever good deeds they may do will be so completely outweighed by the above-

mentioned sin that they will amount to nothing on the Day of Judgment. (But see also note 9 below) The above verse connects with the last sentence of the preceding surah, "Will, then, any be [really] destroyed save iniquitous folk?"


2 Lit will set aright their hearts" or "their minds", inasmuch as bne of the several meanings of the term bal is the "heart" or "mind" of man (Jawhari)


3 Lit their parables" (amthdlahum). This, according to some of the most outstanding

commentators, relates to the parabolic expressions in the above three verses: the "going to waste" - in consequence of their deliberate "pursuance of falsehood" - of the good deeds of those who deny the truth, as well as the "effacement of the bad deeds" of the true believers in consequence of their "pursuance of the truth" (Baghawi, Zamakhshari, Razi, Baydawi). In a broader perspective, this interpretation takes into account the parabolic nature not only of the above sentence but also of many other

Qur'anic statements relating to men's spiritual conditions and destinies in this world as well as in the life to come. ]]