God’s path is to believe in what has been sent down to Muhammad
- Those who have disbelieved and have turned away from the path of God, He has made waste their deeds (47:1). And those who have believed and have done the righteous [deeds], and have believed in what has been sent down upon Muhammad – and it is the truth from their Lord – He has removed from them their evil deeds and has improved their situation (47:2). That is because indeed those who have disbelieved have followed the falsehood, and that indeed those who have believed have followed the truth from their Lord. Thus God sets forth for the people their examples (47:3).
Note: God has made a clear distinction between the disbelievers and the believers citing as examples through what has been sent down to Muhammad that the disbelievers have followed the falsehood to turn away from God’s path while the believers have followed the truth from Him to stay in His path and have done the righteous deeds.
God has given victory to the believers over the disbelievers
- So when you have encountered those who have disbelieved, then the striking of the necks until when you have subdued them, then tighten the bond; then either favor afterwards or ransom until the war lays down its burdens. That [is so]. And if God willed, surely He would have taken vengeance from them; but [it is] that He may test one of them by the other. And those who have been killed in the path of God, then never will He let go waste their deeds (47:4). He will guide them and will improve their situation (47:5). And He will admit them into the Paradise, He has made known it to them (47:6).
Note: God has given victory to the believers over the disbelievers and has admitted them into the Paradise through testing by fighting, even striking them on their necks until to defeat them. Those who have killed in God’s path, He will not make their deeds to go waste as He has guided them and has improved their situation.
God is Protector of the believers but not of the disbelievers.
- O you who have believed, if you support God, He will support you and will make firm your feet (47:7). And those who have disbelieved, then destruction for them, and He has made waste their deeds (47:8). That is because indeed they have hated what God has sent down, so He has made worthless their deeds (47:9). Have they then not traveled in the earth so that they see how was the end of those from before them? God has destroyed upon them, and for the disbelievers is its likeness (47:10). That is because indeed God is Protector of those who have believed, and that indeed the disbelievers – there is no protector for them (47:11).
Note: God has supported the believers who support Him and has made their deeds not to go waste. On the other hand, He has made worthless the deeds of the disbelievers who have hated what He has revealed. Thus, God is Protector for those who have believed and there is no protector for the disbelievers who have been destroyed in the past being an example for the later generations and the end of those can be found traveling across the land.
Both Paradise and Hell are allegorically described in the Quran
- Indeed, God will admit those who have believed and have done the righteous [deeds] gardens, flowing from underneath them the rivers; and those who have disbelieved enjoy and eat like eats the cattle, and the Fire is an abode for them (47:12). And how many a town—it has been stronger in power than your town which has driven you out—We have destroyed them, so there is no helper for them (47:13). Then is whoever has been on a clear proof from his Lord like whoever has been made attractive to him the evil of his deed, while they have followed their desires? (47:14)? A description of the Paradise which has been promised to the righteous: in it have been rivers of water unaltered, and rivers of milk of which the taste has not changed, and rivers of wine delicious to the drinkers, and rivers of purified honey; and for them in it have been all kinds of fruits and forgiveness from their Lord. Is this like whoever is a permanent dweller in the Fire, and they have been given to drink boiling water which has torn their intestines into pieces? (47:15)?
Note: The believers who have done the righteous deeds will enter the Paradise and will abide therein forever whereas the disbelievers who have followed their desires will be in the Fire and will abide therein forever as well while both Paradise and Hell are allegorically described.
The disbelievers expect that the Hour will come to them suddenly
- And among them is whoever listens to you, until when they have departed from you, they have said to those who have been given knowledge, ‘What has he said just now?’ Those are the ones whose hearts God has sealed, and they have followed their desires (47:16). And those who have been guided—He has increased them in guidance and has given them their righteousness (47:17). Do they then wait for anything except the Hour—that it should come upon them all of a sudden? For its signs have already come. Then how will it be for them when their warning has come to them? (47:18).
Note: Those who listen to God’s words but cannot accept them as they follow their desires and God has placed a seal upon their hearts while those who have accepted His guidance, He increases their guidance giving them their righteousness while the Hour will come to the disbelievers suddenly, even though its signs are around us that it is very closer.
Shahaadah for Muhammad and those who believed with him
- So know that there is no god except God, and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and the believing women. And God knows your endeavor and your destination (47:19).
Note: Declaration of our faith (shahaadah) in Arabic is: laa-ilaaha illaa allah meaning there is no god except God, has been corrupted by appending Muhammad’s name to it being a satanic trick.
Sending down surah mentioning fighting in it
- And those who have believed say, ‘Why has a surah not been sent down?’ Then when a precise surah has been sent down and fighting has been mentioned in it, you have seen those in whose hearts is a disease looking at you with a look of one fainting from death; so woe to them! (47:20). Obedience and a right word. Then when the matter has been determined, if they had been truthful to God, it surely would have been better for them (47:21).
Note: Those who had awaited to reveal a sura mentioning fighting in it but when it did happen then there has been a look of fear on them from the death that it is closer exposing those who were hypocrites having a disease in their hearts while it had been better for them to be faithful to God.
God has cursed those who spread corruption in the earth
- So have you been — if you have turned away — that you would spread corruption in the earth and cut off your ties of kinship? (47:22)? Those are the ones whom God has cursed, so He has made them deaf and has blinded their vision (47:23).
Note: If people have been given any authority, they would spread corruption in the earth and cut their ties from their kinship, and God would curse these people and He would make them deaf and blind.
Satan has enticed those who have turned back from the Quran
- Then do they not study the Quran, or are there locks upon hearts? (47:24). Indeed, those who have turned back on their heels after the guidance has become clear to them—Satan has enticed them and has extended hope for them (47:25). That is because they have said to those who have hated what God has sent down, “We will obey you in part of the matter.” And God knows their secrets (47:26). Then how will it be when the angels have taken them in death, striking their faces and their backs?(47:27)?
Note: Those who have studied the Quran but have turned back and have hated what God has revealed is a satanic trick, and their consequence is the death by the angels striking their faces and their backs.
Consequence of what they have followed has angered God
- That is because they have followed what has angered God and have hated His pleasure, so He has made worthless their deeds (47:28). Or have those in whose hearts is a disease thought that God will not bring forth their hatreds? (47:29). And if We had willed, We could have shown them to you, so you would surely have recognized them by their marks; and you will surely recognize them by the tone of the speech. And God knows your deeds (47:30). And We will surely test you until We make evident those who strive among you and the steadfast ones, and We will test your records (47:31).
Note: Turning back from the Quran has angered God, and He has made worthless their deeds while they may think that He will not bring forth a disease what is in their hearts. They have been known by their marks and voices as has been tested until to be evident those who strive and the steadfast ones.
God makes worthless deeds of those who have turned away from God’s path
- Indeed, those who have disbelieved and have turned away from God’s path and have opposed the messenger after the guidance has become clear to them—they will never harm God in anything, and He will make worthless their deeds (47:32). O you who have believed, obey God and obey the messenger, and do not make worthless your deeds (47:33). Indeed, those who have disbelieved and have turned away from the path of God, then have died while they are disbelievers—then God will never forgive them (47:34). So do not weaken and call for peace while you are the superior ones, and God is with you, and He will never deprive you of your deeds (47:35).
Note: Those who have disbelieved and turned away from God’s path and have opposed the messenger after the clear guidance comes to them, God has made worthless their deeds and He will not forgive them when died as the disbelievers while He will not deprive the believers of their deeds.
The life of the world is like a play and an amusement
- The The life of the world is only a play and an amusement; and if you believe and fear God, He will give you your rewards, and He will not ask you for your wealth (47:36). If He should ask you for it and press you, you would be stingy, and He would bring forth your malice (47:37). Here you are —those of you who are called to spend in God’s path — yet among you is whoever withholds. And whoever withholds, he only withholds from himself. And God is the Rich, while you are the poor. And if you turn away, He will replace you with a people other than you; then they will not be like you (47:38).
Note: Whoever can reflect to the worldly life being interim and the Hereafter is everlasting may help him to believe and fear God and spend for himself in His path to succeed in the Hereafter. There are people who may not turn to God but there are people who will turn to Him.
Summary
- God has made a clear distinction between the disbelievers and the believers citing as examples.
- The believers who have done the righteous deeds will enter the Paradise abiding therein forever.
- The disbelievers who have followed their desires will be in the Fire abiding therein forever as well.
- He has tested the believers through fighting and has given victory to them over the disbelievers.
- God has given allegorical description of both Paradise and Hell as our recompense in the Hereafter.
- He increases guidance of those who accept it, and places seal upon those who follow their desires.
- The Hour will come to the disbelievers suddenly, even its signs around us that it is very closer.
- Shahadah, laa-ilaaha illaa allah is confirmed for Muhammad and those who believed with him.
- A revelation of sura about fighting caused a look of fear from the death of those who expected it.
- God has cursed those who would spread corruption in earth and have cut ties from their kinship.
- The Satan has enticed and has extended hope for those who have turned back from the Quran.
- Those who have hated what God has revealed, has angered God, their death caused by the angels striking their faces and their backs, while He will not forgive those who have died as disbelievers.
- He has made worthless their deeds while they thought He will not bring forth what is in their hearts.
- Those who have disbelieved and opposed the messenger, has been made worthless their deeds.
- Those who have believed and obeyed God and the messenger will not be deprived of their deeds.
- The life in the world is interim while the life in the Hereafter is everlasting, which may help people to believe and fear God that they can do the righteous deeds based on what He has revealed.
- Those who spend in God’s path spend for themselves as God does not need anything from people.
- There are a people who may not turn to God while there are other people who will turn to Him.
In conclusion, Surah Muhammad named according to the word in the 2nd verse of the surah confirming the revelation of the Quran through Muhammad mentioning him by name that what has been revealed through him is the basis for the believers to do the righteous deeds, not he or his words. While those who have turned back from it, their death by the angels striking on their faces and backs, and God will not forgive those who have died as disbelievers. Thus, this surah is a blessing for us to succeed in the Hereafter making a clear difference between the truth from God and the falsehood being their desires.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (11/13/2020).