English Translation and Commentary of the Holy Quran (1951/2002)
by Maulana Muhammad Ali
سُوۡرَۃُ مُحَمَّدٍ مَدَنِیَّۃٌ
Chapter 47
Muhammad
Muhammad
Revealed at Madinah
(4 sections; 38 verses)
Introductory Note by Translator: This chapter is entitled Muhammad, and also Qitāl or War. The first title is due to the fact that this chapter foretells that the condition of those who believe in the Holy Prophet Muhammad will be improved. They were in a very helpless condition at the time of its revelation, having fled from their homes for the safety of their lives, and being threatened by a powerful enemy in their new home. The other title is due to the fact that this chapter shows that the punishment with which the disbelievers were threatened would be brought about by war, in which their ringleaders would perish; others would be made prisoners or vanquished and brought low. War is also a prelude to the spiritual awakening which is to be brought about by Islam a second time.
Opening with the statement that the exertions of those who prevent people from accepting the Truth will be utterly fruitless, the first section goes on to say that this will be accomplished by war. The second section is mainly devoted to the same subject, and further states that Makkah will be subjugated. The third section refers to those who regarded this, the most righteous war in history, as a calamity. The fourth section states that a separation will occur between the truly faithful and the hypocrites.
The revelation of this chapter belongs to a period when war with the Quraish had not yet begun but when circumstances had arisen which showed war to be inevitable. Portions of the chapter may have been revealed during the Holy Prophet’s flight from Makkah, but, as a whole, it must be assigned to the first year of the Flight, and therefore it is to be placed before the battle of Badr. The Ḥā Mīm group of Makkan chapters is here followed by three Madīnah chapters, the 47th, 48th and 49th, which show that all difficulties will be overcome by the help of God, and Islam will triumph in the world.
بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِ
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
Section 1: Opponents will perish in War
رکوع ۱
اَلَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا وَ صَدُّوۡا عَنۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ اَضَلَّ اَعۡمَالَہُمۡ ﴿۱﴾
47:1 Those who disbelieve and turn (men) from Allah’s way, He will destroy their works.a
1a (Commentary on 47:1) Aḍalla-hū is synonymous with ahlaka-hū or aḍā‘a-hū (T, LL), the first meaning he destroyed him or caused him to perish, and the second he wasted it or made it ineffective. The significance is that their endeavours to uproot Truth will be brought to naught. This chapter was revealed at a time when the enemies of Islam were at the height of their power, and had apparently uprooted Islam from Makkah, and were preparing to give it a death-blow at Madīnah.
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ وَ اٰمَنُوۡا بِمَا نُزِّلَ عَلٰی مُحَمَّدٍ وَّ ہُوَ الۡحَقُّ مِنۡ رَّبِّہِمۡ ۙ کَفَّرَ عَنۡہُمۡ سَیِّاٰتِہِمۡ وَ اَصۡلَحَ بَالَہُمۡ ﴿۲﴾
47:2 And those who believe and do good, and believe in that which has been revealed to Muhammad — and it is the Truth from their Lord — He will remove their evil from them and improve their condition.a
2a (Commentary on 47:2) This is another prophecy, a counterpart of the one contained in the previous verse. The Muslims, whose condition, it is announced here, will be bettered, were in a most helpless condition at the time. The majority of them had just fled from their homes, almost penniless, to save their lives and to settle down at Madīnah where, however, they were not left alone, the enemy being determined to crush them by force.
ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوا اتَّبَعُوا الۡبَاطِلَ وَ اَنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوا اتَّبَعُوا الۡحَقَّ مِنۡ رَّبِّہِمۡ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ یَضۡرِبُ اللّٰہُ لِلنَّاسِ اَمۡثَالَہُمۡ ﴿۳﴾
47:3 That is because those who disbelieve follow falsehood, and those who believe follow the Truth from their Lord. Thus does Allah set forth their descriptions for men.a
3a (Commentary on 47:3) Amthāl is the plural of mathal, which means a description, condition, state or case, or a description by way of comparison, i.e., a parable (LL). V. 1 tells us of the condition of those who tried to uproot Truth, stating that their endeavours will be brought to naught, while v. 2 speaks of those who accept the Truth and states that their material as well as moral condition will be bettered. These are the conditions or descriptions referred to in v. 3.
فَاِذَا لَقِیۡتُمُ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا فَضَرۡبَ الرِّقَابِ ؕ حَتّٰۤی اِذَاۤ اَثۡخَنۡتُمُوۡہُمۡ فَشُدُّوا الۡوَثَاقَ ٭ۙ فَاِمَّا مَنًّۢا بَعۡدُ وَ اِمَّا فِدَآءً حَتّٰی تَضَعَ الۡحَرۡبُ اَوۡزَارَہَا ۬ۚ۟ۛ ذٰؔلِکَ ؕۛ وَ لَوۡ یَشَآءُ اللّٰہُ لَانۡتَصَرَ مِنۡہُمۡ وَ لٰکِنۡ لِّیَبۡلُوَا۠ بَعۡضَکُمۡ بِبَعۡضٍ ؕ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ قُتِلُوۡا فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ فَلَنۡ یُّضِلَّ اَعۡمَالَہُمۡ ﴿۴﴾
47:4 So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, smite the necks; then, when you have overcome them, make (them) prisoners, and afterwards (set them free) as a favour or for ransom till the war lay down its burdens.a That (shall be so). And if Allah please, He would certainly exact retribution from them, but that He may try some of you by means of others.b And those who are slain in the way of Allah, He will never allow their deeds to perish.
4a (Commentary on 47:4) The word athkhana occurring in this passage has been fully explained in 8:67a. This passage mentions the only case in which prisoners of war can be taken, and thus condemns the practice of slavery, according to which men could be seized anywhere and sold into slavery. Here we are told that prisoners of war can only be taken after meeting an enemy in regular battle, and even in that case they must be set free, either as a favour or after taking ransom. It was the former of these alternatives that the Holy Prophet adopted in most cases; for instance, in the case of the prisoners of the Banī Muṣṭaliq, in which a hundred families were set at liberty, and in the case of Hawāzin, in which fully six thousand prisoners of war were released merely as an act of favour. Only in the case of the seventy prisoners taken at Badr is there mention of redemption having been taken, but this was when Islam was very weak and the powerful enemy was determined to crush it.
4b (Commentary on 47:4) Intaṣara min-hu signifies he exacted retribution from him (LA), or he exacted his due completely from him (T-LL). The meaning is that, if Allah had pleased, He could have punished the enemies of Islam otherwise than by war, but as He means to punish them by the hands of the Muslims, therefore battles must be fought.
سَیَہۡدِیۡہِمۡ وَ یُصۡلِحُ بَالَہُمۡ ۚ﴿۵﴾
47:5 He will guide them and improve their condition.
وَ یُدۡخِلُہُمُ الۡجَنَّۃَ عَرَّفَہَا لَہُمۡ ﴿۶﴾
47:6 And make them enter the Garden, which He has made known to them.a
6a (Commentary on 47:6) The Garden of the next life is made known to the righteous in this life by making them taste of the spiritual blessings of good deeds in this very life. That a paradise is granted to the righteous in this very life is mentioned frequently in the Holy Quran. It should be noted, however, as stated elsewhere, too, that triumph over those who would annihilate Truth is also spoken of as a garden in this life.
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِنۡ تَنۡصُرُوا اللّٰہَ یَنۡصُرۡکُمۡ وَ یُثَبِّتۡ اَقۡدَامَکُمۡ ﴿۷﴾
47:7 O you who believe, if you help Allah, He will help you and make firm your feet.
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا فَتَعۡسًا لَّہُمۡ وَ اَضَلَّ اَعۡمَالَہُمۡ ﴿۸﴾
47:8 And those who disbelieve, for them is destruction, and He will destroy their works.
ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّہُمۡ کَرِہُوۡا مَاۤ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰہُ فَاَحۡبَطَ اَعۡمَالَہُمۡ ﴿۹﴾
47:9 That is because they hate that which Allah reveals, so He has rendered their deeds fruitless.
اَفَلَمۡ یَسِیۡرُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ فَیَنۡظُرُوۡا کَیۡفَ کَانَ عَاقِبَۃُ الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ ؕ دَمَّرَ اللّٰہُ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ۫ وَ لِلۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ اَمۡثَالُہَا ﴿۱۰﴾
47:10 Have they not travelled in the land and seen what was the end of those before them? Allah destroyed them. And for the disbelievers is the like thereof.
ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّ اللّٰہَ مَوۡلَی الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ اَنَّ الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ لَا مَوۡلٰی لَہُمۡ ﴿٪۱۱﴾
47:11 That is because Allah is the Patron of those who believe, and because the disbelievers have no patron.
Section 2: Oppressors shall be brought Low
رکوع ۲
اِنَّ اللّٰہَ یُدۡخِلُ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ جَنّٰتٍ تَجۡرِیۡ مِنۡ تَحۡتِہَا الۡاَنۡہٰرُ ؕ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا یَتَمَتَّعُوۡنَ وَ یَاۡکُلُوۡنَ کَمَا تَاۡکُلُ الۡاَنۡعَامُ وَ النَّارُ مَثۡوًی لَّہُمۡ ﴿۱۲﴾
47:12 Surely Allah will make those who believe and do good enter Gardens wherein flow rivers. And those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as the cattle eat, and the Fire is their abode.
وَ کَاَیِّنۡ مِّنۡ قَرۡیَۃٍ ہِیَ اَشَدُّ قُوَّۃً مِّنۡ قَرۡیَتِکَ الَّتِیۡۤ اَخۡرَجَتۡکَ ۚ اَہۡلَکۡنٰہُمۡ فَلَا نَاصِرَ لَہُمۡ ﴿۱۳﴾
47:13 And how many a town, more powerful than thy town which has driven thee out — We destroyed them, so there was no helper for them.a
13a (Commentary on 47:13) The town which had driven away the Holy Prophet was Makkah, and the overthrow of its power is here foretold in the clearest words. It will be seen that the Makkans were not destroyed when their final overthrow came, nor did the Holy Prophet punish them for their crimes and tyrannies against the Muslims. They were dealt with very mercifully — so mercifully indeed that the history of the world does not present another instance of such merciful treatment of a conquered nation of oppressors. By their destruction was thus meant the overthrow of their power.
اَفَمَنۡ کَانَ عَلٰی بَیِّنَۃٍ مِّنۡ رَّبِّہٖ کَمَنۡ زُیِّنَ لَہٗ سُوۡٓءُ عَمَلِہٖ وَ اتَّبَعُوۡۤا اَہۡوَآءَہُمۡ ﴿۱۴﴾
47:14 Is then he who has a clear argument from his Lord like him to whom his evil conduct is made fair-seeming; and they follow their low desires.
مَثَلُ الۡجَنَّۃِ الَّتِیۡ وُعِدَ الۡمُتَّقُوۡنَ ؕ فِیۡہَاۤ اَنۡہٰرٌ مِّنۡ مَّآءٍ غَیۡرِ اٰسِنٍ ۚ وَ اَنۡہٰرٌ مِّنۡ لَّبَنٍ لَّمۡ یَتَغَیَّرۡ طَعۡمُہٗ ۚ وَ اَنۡہٰرٌ مِّنۡ خَمۡرٍ لَّذَّۃٍ لِّلشّٰرِبِیۡنَ ۬ۚ وَ اَنۡہٰرٌ مِّنۡ عَسَلٍ مُّصَفًّی ؕ وَ لَہُمۡ فِیۡہَا مِنۡ کُلِّ الثَّمَرٰتِ وَ مَغۡفِرَۃٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّہِمۡ ؕ کَمَنۡ ہُوَ خَالِدٌ فِی النَّارِ وَ سُقُوۡا مَآءً حَمِیۡمًا فَقَطَّعَ اَمۡعَآءَہُمۡ ﴿۱۵﴾
47:15 A parable of the Garden which the dutiful are promised: Therein are rivers of water not altering for the worse, and rivers of milk whereof the taste changes not, and rivers of wine delicious to the drinkers, and rivers of honey clarified;a and for them therein are all fruits and protection from their Lord.b (Are these) like those who abide in the Fire and who are made to drink boiling water, so it rends their bowels asunder?
15a (Commentary on 47:15) Note that the description given does not mention the actual blessings of paradise, for they are blessings “which no eye has seen, nor has any ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man to conceive them” (B. 59:8). The blessings mentioned here are plainly called a parable, an example which shows what they are like.
15b (Commentary on 47:15) Here is another instance of the use of the word maghfirat, showing that it does not mean forgiveness of sins, but protection from sin. Among the various blessings of paradise, which its inmates find after admission to paradise, is maghfirat. It is clear that they could be admitted to paradise only after forgiveness of sins, if they had any, and the commission of sins in paradise is inconceivable.
وَ مِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ یَّسۡتَمِعُ اِلَیۡکَ ۚ حَتّٰۤی اِذَا خَرَجُوۡا مِنۡ عِنۡدِکَ قَالُوۡا لِلَّذِیۡنَ اُوۡتُوا الۡعِلۡمَ مَاذَا قَالَ اٰنِفًا ۟ اُولٰٓئِکَ الَّذِیۡنَ طَبَعَ اللّٰہُ عَلٰی قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ وَ اتَّبَعُوۡۤا اَہۡوَآءَہُمۡ ﴿۱۶﴾
47:16 And there are those of them who seek to listen to thee, till, when they go forth from thee, they say to those who have been given knowledge: What was it that he said just now? These are they whose hearts Allah has sealed and they follow their low desires.
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اہۡتَدَوۡا زَادَہُمۡ ہُدًی وَّ اٰتٰہُمۡ تَقۡوٰىہُمۡ ﴿۱۷﴾
47:17 And those who follow guidance, He increases them in guidance and grants them their observance of duty.
فَہَلۡ یَنۡظُرُوۡنَ اِلَّا السَّاعَۃَ اَنۡ تَاۡتِیَہُمۡ بَغۡتَۃً ۚ فَقَدۡ جَآءَ اَشۡرَاطُہَا ۚ فَاَنّٰی لَہُمۡ اِذَا جَآءَتۡہُمۡ ذِکۡرٰىہُمۡ ﴿۱۸﴾
47:18 Wait they for aught but the Hour that it should come upon them of a sudden? Now tokens thereof have already come.a But how will they have their reminder, when it comes on them?
18a (Commentary on 47:18) By the Hour is to be understood the hour of their doom, the overthrow of their power, which is clearly spoken of in the previous verses. Tokens of it had already appeared, for they had seen how Islam was daily advancing, and how all their efforts to check its progress had ended in failure.
فَاعۡلَمۡ اَنَّہٗ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ وَ اسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لِذَنۡۢبِکَ وَ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ وَ الۡمُؤۡمِنٰتِ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ یَعۡلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَکُمۡ وَ مَثۡوٰىکُمۡ ﴿٪۱۹﴾
47:19 So know that there is no god but Allah and ask protection for thy sin and for the believing men and the believing women.a And Allah knows your moving about and your staying (in a place).b
19a (Commentary on 47:19) Not only the Prophet but every believer is told here to keep praying to God for being protected from sins, for himself and for all the believers, men as well as women; see also 40:55a, 48:2a.
19b (Commentary on 47:19) Moving about refers to man’s going to and fro for the transaction of his affairs, and staying to taking rest.
Section 3: The Weak-hearted Ones
رکوع ۳
وَ یَقُوۡلُ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَوۡ لَا نُزِّلَتۡ سُوۡرَۃٌ ۚ فَاِذَاۤ اُنۡزِلَتۡ سُوۡرَۃٌ مُّحۡکَمَۃٌ وَّ ذُکِرَ فِیۡہَا الۡقِتَالُ ۙ رَاَیۡتَ الَّذِیۡنَ فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ مَّرَضٌ یَّنۡظُرُوۡنَ اِلَیۡکَ نَظَرَ الۡمَغۡشِیِّ عَلَیۡہِ مِنَ الۡمَوۡتِ ؕ فَاَوۡلٰی لَہُمۡ ﴿ۚ۲۰﴾
47:20 And those who believe say: Why is not a chapter revealed?a But when a decisive chapter is revealed, and fighting is mentioned therein, thou seest those in whose hearts is a disease look to thee with the look of one fainting at death. So woe to them!
20a (Commentary on 47:20) The Muslims had been persecuted beyond all measure; they had been oppressed, slain and turned out of their homes. Hence they naturally desired to be allowed to defend themselves. By a chapter is meant a revelation allowing them to fight.
طَاعَۃٌ وَّ قَوۡلٌ مَّعۡرُوۡفٌ ۟ فَاِذَا عَزَمَ الۡاَمۡرُ ۟ فَلَوۡ صَدَقُوا اللّٰہَ لَکَانَ خَیۡرًا لَّہُمۡ ﴿ۚ۲۱﴾
47:21 Obedience and a gentle word (was proper). Then when the affair is settled, it is better for them if they remain true to Allah.
فَہَلۡ عَسَیۡتُمۡ اِنۡ تَوَلَّیۡتُمۡ اَنۡ تُفۡسِدُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ تُقَطِّعُوۡۤا اَرۡحَامَکُمۡ ﴿۲۲﴾
47:22 But if you turn away, you are sure to make mischief in the land and cut off the ties of kinship!a
22a (Commentary on 47:22) It is the hypocrites who are addressed in these words. Tawallai-tum may mean either that you turn your backs on the Divine commandment to fight in defence of Truth or that you are put in authority.
اُولٰٓئِکَ الَّذِیۡنَ لَعَنَہُمُ اللّٰہُ فَاَصَمَّہُمۡ وَ اَعۡمٰۤی اَبۡصَارَہُمۡ ﴿۲۳﴾
47:23 Those it is whom Allah has cursed, so He has made them deaf and blinded their eyes.a
23a (Commentary on 47:23) Note that Allah blinds the eyes of and makes deaf those who would not turn to the right way. The next verse makes it clear by saying that they do not reflect on the Quran, as if there were locks on their hearts.
اَفَلَا یَتَدَبَّرُوۡنَ الۡقُرۡاٰنَ اَمۡ عَلٰی قُلُوۡبٍ اَقۡفَالُہَا ﴿۲۴﴾
47:24 Do they not reflect on the Quran? Or, are there locks on the hearts?
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ ارۡتَدُّوۡا عَلٰۤی اَدۡبَارِہِمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَیَّنَ لَہُمُ الۡہُدَی ۙ الشَّیۡطٰنُ سَوَّلَ لَہُمۡ ؕ وَ اَمۡلٰی لَہُمۡ ﴿۲۵﴾
47:25 Surely those who turn back after guidance is manifest to them, the devil embellishes it for them; and lengthens false hopes for them.
ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّہُمۡ قَالُوۡا لِلَّذِیۡنَ کَرِہُوۡا مَا نَزَّلَ اللّٰہُ سَنُطِیۡعُکُمۡ فِیۡ بَعۡضِ الۡاَمۡرِ ۚۖ وَ اللّٰہُ یَعۡلَمُ اِسۡرَارَہُمۡ ﴿۲۶﴾
47:26 That is because they say to those who hate what Allah has revealed: We will obey you in some matters. And Allah knows their secrets.
فَکَیۡفَ اِذَا تَوَفَّتۡہُمُ الۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃُ یَضۡرِبُوۡنَ وُجُوۡہَہُمۡ وَ اَدۡبَارَہُمۡ ﴿۲۷﴾
47:27 But how will it be when the angels cause them to die, smiting their faces and their backs?
ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّہُمُ اتَّبَعُوۡا مَاۤ اَسۡخَطَ اللّٰہَ وَ کَرِہُوۡا رِضۡوَانَہٗ فَاَحۡبَطَ اَعۡمَالَہُمۡ ﴿٪۲۸﴾
47:28 That is because they follow that which displeases Allah and are averse to His pleasure, so He makes their deeds fruitless.
Section 4: An Exhortation
رکوع ۴
اَمۡ حَسِبَ الَّذِیۡنَ فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ مَّرَضٌ اَنۡ لَّنۡ یُّخۡرِجَ اللّٰہُ اَضۡغَانَہُمۡ ﴿۲۹﴾
47:29 Or do those in whose hearts is a disease think that Allah will not bring forth their spite?
وَ لَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَاَرَیۡنٰکَہُمۡ فَلَعَرَفۡتَہُمۡ بِسِیۡمٰہُمۡ ؕ وَ لَتَعۡرِفَنَّہُمۡ فِیۡ لَحۡنِ الۡقَوۡلِ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ یَعۡلَمُ اَعۡمَالَکُمۡ ﴿۳۰﴾
47:30 And if We please, We could show them to thee so that thou shouldst know them by their marks. And certainly thou canst recognize them by the tone of (their) speech. And Allah knows your deeds.
وَ لَنَبۡلُوَنَّکُمۡ حَتّٰی نَعۡلَمَ الۡمُجٰہِدِیۡنَ مِنۡکُمۡ وَ الصّٰبِرِیۡنَ ۙ وَ نَبۡلُوَا۠ اَخۡبَارَکُمۡ ﴿۳۱﴾
47:31 And certainly We shall try you, till We know those among you who strive hard, and the steadfast, and manifest your news.
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا وَ صَدُّوۡا عَنۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ وَ شَآقُّوا الرَّسُوۡلَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَیَّنَ لَہُمُ الۡہُدٰی ۙ لَنۡ یَّضُرُّوا اللّٰہَ شَیۡئًا ؕ وَ سَیُحۡبِطُ اَعۡمَالَہُمۡ ﴿۳۲﴾
47:32 Surely those who disbelieve and hinder (men) from Allah’s way and oppose the Messenger after guidance is quite clear to them, cannot harm Allah in any way, and He will make their deeds fruitless.
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اَطِیۡعُوا اللّٰہَ وَ اَطِیۡعُوا الرَّسُوۡلَ وَ لَا تُبۡطِلُوۡۤا اَعۡمَالَکُمۡ ﴿۳۳﴾
47:33 O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and make not your deeds vain.
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا وَ صَدُّوۡا عَنۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ ثُمَّ مَاتُوۡا وَ ہُمۡ کُفَّارٌ فَلَنۡ یَّغۡفِرَ اللّٰہُ لَہُمۡ ﴿۳۴﴾
47:34 Surely those who disbelieve and hinder (men) from Allah’s way, then die disbelievers, Allah will not forgive them.
فَلَا تَہِنُوۡا وَ تَدۡعُوۡۤا اِلَی السَّلۡمِ ٭ۖ وَ اَنۡتُمُ الۡاَعۡلَوۡنَ ٭ۖ وَ اللّٰہُ مَعَکُمۡ وَ لَنۡ یَّتِرَکُمۡ اَعۡمَالَکُمۡ ﴿۳۵﴾
47:35 And be not slack so as to cry for peace — and you are the uppermost — and Allah is with you, and He will not bring your deeds to naught.
اِنَّمَا الۡحَیٰوۃُ الدُّنۡیَا لَعِبٌ وَّ لَہۡوٌ ؕ وَ اِنۡ تُؤۡمِنُوۡا وَ تَتَّقُوۡا یُؤۡتِکُمۡ اُجُوۡرَکُمۡ وَ لَا یَسۡـَٔلۡکُمۡ اَمۡوَالَکُمۡ ﴿۳۶﴾
47:36 The life of this world is but idle sport and play, and, if you believe and keep your duty, He will give you your reward, and He does not ask of you your wealth.
اِنۡ یَّسۡـَٔلۡکُمُوۡہَا فَیُحۡفِکُمۡ تَبۡخَلُوۡا وَ یُخۡرِجۡ اَضۡغَانَکُمۡ ﴿۳۷﴾
47:37 If He should ask you for it and press you, you will be niggardly,a and He will bring forth your malice.
37a (Commentary on 47:37) In the concluding words of v. 36, it is stated that God does not ask of men their wealth, while here they are told that if He should ask them for it, they would be niggardly. The two statements do not contradict each other. V. 38 makes it clear that Allah, being Self-Sufficient, does not stand in need of men’s wealth, so He does not ask of them their wealth for His needs — He has no need at all. Yet it is true that great stress is laid on spending wealth, but that is for man’s own good. This too is made clear in v. 38 — whoever is niggardly, is niggardly against his own soul. You are needy, we are further told. Man stands in need of making sacrifices for the good of his own soul and, if he does not make a sacrifice, he will suffer. There is no advancement in this world without a sacrifice, so if man has an urge for advancement, he must spend his wealth.
ہٰۤاَنۡتُمۡ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ تُدۡعَوۡنَ لِتُنۡفِقُوۡا فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ ۚ فَمِنۡکُمۡ مَّنۡ یَّبۡخَلُ ۚ وَ مَنۡ یَّبۡخَلۡ فَاِنَّمَا یَبۡخَلُ عَنۡ نَّفۡسِہٖ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ الۡغَنِیُّ وَ اَنۡتُمُ الۡفُقَرَآءُ ۚ وَ اِنۡ تَتَوَلَّوۡا یَسۡتَبۡدِلۡ قَوۡمًا غَیۡرَکُمۡ ۙ ثُمَّ لَا یَکُوۡنُوۡۤا اَمۡثَالَکُمۡ ﴿٪۳۸﴾
47:38 Behold! you are those who are called to spend in Allah’s way, but among you are those who are niggardly; and whoever is niggardly, is niggardly against his own soul. And Allah is Self-Sufficient and you are needy. And if you turn back He will bring in your place another people, then they will not be like you.