Chapter 47 - 90
Mohammad (Surah Mohammad)
(38 verses in total, Revealed in Madinah – another title given is Qital or War)
In the name of ALLAH, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
Those who disbelieve and prevent people for Allah’s way, He will bring their works to total failure!1 While those who believe, do good and accept what has been revealed to Mohammad, that being the true message from their Sustainer, God will remove their impurities and improve their condition. This is because those who disbelieve follow falsehood and those who believe follow the truth from their Sustainer. This is how Allah sets examples for people for themselves. (v. 1-3)
If you (believers) meet in battle those who disbelieve, strike them hard and when you overpower them, make them prisoners. Afterward, you can free them as a good gesture or demand ransom until the prospect of war diminishes. This is how it should be. If Allah pleases, He may exact retribution from them or He may make one group a trial for the other. But those who suffer death in their struggle for Allah’s Way, He will not allow their sacrifice and work to be in vain. God will guide them and improve their situation – eventually giving them entrance to the Garden, a promise already made known! (v. 4-6)
O Believers! If you help Allah, He will help you and make your stance firm. For the disbelievers, there is failure, and God will destroy their pursuits. This is because they dislike what Allah reveals – He will render their work to nothing! (v. 7-9)
Have they (disbelievers) not travelled the earth and seen the condition of the previous generations? Allah destroyed them and their fate will be similar! This is because Allah is the Protector of those who believe whereas the disbelievers have no patron. (v. 10-11)
Allah will allow entry into the Garden filled with flowing streams to reward those who believe, whereas those who disbelieve only enjoy themselves, consume as cattle do, and will find the Fire as their eventual residence. (v. 12)
(Have they considered) how many towns, more powerful than the town that drove you (Prophet) out, was destroyed by God and there was none to help them? How can it be that the one who follows clear guidance from God be like the those whose evil conducts seem pleasing to them and stem from vain desires? (v. 13-14)
Here is how to understand the Garden (Jannah) promised to those who acts responsibly (Muttaquin): there are rivers in it without impurities, rivers of milk forever fresh, rivers of wine refreshing to those who drink, rivers of honey pure and clear; there are fruits, provisions and forgiveness from their Sustainer. How can you compare them to those who will live in the Fire and forced to drink boiling water that burns their bowels? These are the ones who come to listen to you and then when they go away from you, they ask those who are secure in their knowledge, “What was it that he (Prophet) just said?” Allah has sealed their hearts and understanding because they would rather follow their vain desires. (v. 15-16)
Those who follow the guidance, God increase them in guidance and give them increased capacity to become more responsible (taqwa)! (v. 17)
Do they wait for anything other than that the Hour will come to them suddenly? But signs of that have already arrived. Therefore, how will it increase their awareness when the Hour does arrive? (Prophet) beware that there is no god but Allah and seek forgiveness and protection for yourself and for the believing men and believing women. Allah knows about your movements and when you stay stationary! (v. 18-19)
Some of the believers say, “Why has not a Surah been revealed?”, but when a definitive Surah is revealed and fighting is urged, you (Prophet) see in their eyes the look of an impending death, because their hearts are not secure in faith. Shame on them! Obedience and proper commitment would have been better and when the matter (of war) is settled, it would be better if they remain true to Allah. But if they turn away, they are sure to make mischief in the land and destroy relationships. These are the ones who incur Allah’s displeasure, and He makes them deaf and blind. Do they not reflect on the Qur’an? Or is it that their hearts have been locked? (v. 20-24)
For those who turn back after guidance has become available to them, the Shaitan embellishes their negligence and inspires them with false hopes. This is their condition as they say to those who despise what Allah had revealed, “We will align with you in some matters.”, while Allah knows their secrets. How will it be when angels come for their death, smiting their faces and their backs? This is because they follow what displeases Allah and remain averse to what pleases Him; therefore, God makes their work come to nothing! (v. 25-28)
Do those who harbor corruption in their hearts think that Allah will not expose their malice? If We (God) deem necessary, We could show you (Prophet) so that you will know them by their marks and you certainly recognize them by the tone of their speech. Allah knows their conduct! God will try you until it becomes known who strive hard, stay persistent and demonstrate proof (of their inner condition)! Those who deny faith, obstruct people from Allah’s way and oppose the Messenger after guidance is made clear, they can do no harm to Allah. Allah will make their effort devoid of success! (v. 29-32)
O Believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger! Do not let your work go to waste. Know that those who deny faith, prohibits people from Allah’s way and die as disbelievers, Allah will deny them forgiveness! Do not lose heart and cry for peace when you have the upper hand - Allah is with you and He will not make your endeavor go to waste! (v. 33-35)
The life of this world is nothing but games and play but if you believe and act responsibly, then God will reward you. God certainly does not seek your wealth – if He did and were to insist on it, you will show you niggardliness and God will expose your malice. You are being inspired to spend in God’s way but there are people among you who remain uninspired! Your niggardliness is anything but against your own soul while Allah is Self-Sufficient, but you are needy. If you do not respond, God will bring another community in your place, and they will not behave like you. (v. 36-38)
1 This verse and Surah was revealed just after the Prophet migrated to Madinah and were yet to set up roots in Madinah – a very vulnerable stage of the community. It is quite revealing how God set up the stage of encouragement for the believers and warns the disbelievers
