سورة محمد
Surah Muhammad
Muhammad
Surah Muhammad is the 47th surah of the Quran. It has 38 verses and is a Medinan surah. Below is the complete Arabic text with an English translation and transliteration, verse by verse.
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَ صَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَضَلَّ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ﴿١﴾
Allatheena kafaroo wasaddoo ʿan sabeeli Allahi adalla aʿmalahum
Those who disbelieve and avert [people] from the way of Allāh - He will waste their deeds.
وَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَ عَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَ ءَامَنُواْ بِمَا نُزِّلَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدࣲ وَ هُوَ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمۡ كَفَّرَ عَنۡهُمۡ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمۡ وَ أَصۡلَحَ بَالَهُمۡ﴿٢﴾
Waallatheena amanoo waʿamiloo alssalihati waamanoo bima nuzzila ʿala muhammadin wahuwa alhaqqu min rabbihim kaffara ʿanhum sayyiatihim waaslaha balahum
And those who believe and do righteous deeds and believe in what has been sent down upon Muḥammad - and it is the truth from their Lord - He will remove from them their misdeeds and amend their condition.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ٱتَّبَعُواْ ٱلۡبَٰطِلَ وَ أَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّبَعُواْ ٱلۡحَقَّ مِن رَّبِّهِمۡ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ أَمۡثَٰلَهُمۡ﴿٣﴾
Thalika bianna allatheena kafaroo ittabaʿoo albatila waanna allatheena amanoo ittabaʿoo alhaqqa min rabbihim kathalika yadribu Allahu lilnnasi amthalahum
That is because those who disbelieve follow falsehood, and those who believe follow the truth from their Lord. Thus does Allāh present to the people their comparisons.
فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَضَرۡبَ ٱلرِّقَابِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَثۡخَنتُمُوهُمۡ فَشُدُّواْ ٱلۡوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنَّۢا بَعۡدُ وَ إِمَّا فِدَآءً حَتَّىٰ تَضَعَ ٱلۡحَرۡبُ أَوۡزَارَهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَ لَوۡ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ لَٱنتَصَرَ مِنۡهُمۡ وَ لَٰكِن لِّيَبۡلُوَاْ بَعۡضَكُم بِبَعۡضࣲ ۗ وَ ٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ﴿٤﴾
Faitha laqeetumu allatheena kafaroo fadarba alrriqabi hatta itha athkhantumoohum fashuddoo alwathaqa faimma mannan baʿdu waimma fidaan hatta tadaʿa alharbu awzaraha thalika walaw yashao Allahu laintasara minhum walakin liyabluwa baʿdakum bibaʿdin waallatheena qutiloo fee sabeeli Allahi falan yudilla aʿmalahum
So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure [their] bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens. That [is the command]. And if Allāh had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allāh - never will He waste their deeds.
سَيَهۡدِيهِمۡ وَ يُصۡلِحُ بَالَهُمۡ﴿٥﴾
Sayahdeehim wayuslihu balahum
He will guide them and amend their condition
وَ يُدۡخِلُهُمُ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ عَرَّفَهَا لَهُمۡ﴿٦﴾
Wayudkhiluhumu aljannata ʿarrafaha lahum
And admit them to Paradise, which He has made known to them.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِن تَنصُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ يَنصُرۡكُمۡ وَ يُثَبِّتۡ أَقۡدَامَكُمۡ﴿٧﴾
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo in tansuroo Allaha yansurkum wayuthabbit aqdamakum
O you who have believed, if you support Allāh, He will support you and plant firmly your feet.
وَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَتَعۡسࣰا لَّهُمۡ وَ أَضَلَّ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ﴿٨﴾
Waallatheena kafaroo fataʿsan lahum waadalla aʿmalahum
But those who disbelieve - for them is misery, and He will waste their deeds.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ كَرِهُواْ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأَحۡبَطَ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ﴿٩﴾
Thalika biannahum karihoo ma anzala Allahu faahbata aʿmalahum
That is because they disliked what Allāh revealed, so He rendered worthless their deeds.
أَفَلَمۡ يَسِيرُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَيَنظُرُواْ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ ۖ دَمَّرَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ۖ وَ لِلۡكَٰفِرِينَ أَمۡثَٰلُهَا﴿١٠﴾
Afalam yaseeroo fee alardi fayanthuroo kayfa kana ʿaqibatu allatheena min qablihim dammara Allahu ʿalayhim walilkafireena amthaluha
Have they not traveled through the land and seen how was the end of those before them? Allāh destroyed [everything] over them, and for the disbelievers is something comparable.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَوۡلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَ أَنَّ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ لَا مَوۡلَىٰ لَهُمۡ﴿١١﴾
Thalika bianna Allaha mawla allatheena amanoo waanna alkafireena la mawla lahum
That is because Allāh is the protector of those who have believed and because the disbelievers have no protector.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُدۡخِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَ عَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ جَنَّٰتࣲ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ ۖ وَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ يَتَمَتَّعُونَ وَ يَأۡكُلُونَ كَمَا تَأۡكُلُ ٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمُ وَ ٱلنَّارُ مَثۡوࣰى لَّهُمۡ﴿١٢﴾
Inna Allaha yudkhilu allatheena amanoo waʿamiloo alssalihati jannatin tajree min tahtiha alanharu waallatheena kafaroo yatamattaʿoona wayakuloona kama takulu alanʿamu waalnnaru mathwan lahum
Indeed, Allāh will admit those who have believed and done righteous deeds to gardens beneath which rivers flow, but those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as grazing livestock eat, and the Fire will be a residence for them.
وَ كَأَيِّن مِّن قَرۡيَةٍ هِيَ أَشَدُّ قُوَّةࣰ مِّن قَرۡيَتِكَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَخۡرَجَتۡكَ أَهۡلَكۡنَٰهُمۡ فَلَا نَاصِرَ لَهُمۡ﴿١٣﴾
Wakaayyin min qaryatin hiya ashaddu quwwatan min qaryatika allatee akhrajatka ahlaknahum fala nasira lahum
And how many a city was stronger than your city [i.e., Makkah] which drove you out? We destroyed them; and there was no helper for them.
أَفَمَن كَانَ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةࣲ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ كَمَن زُيِّنَ لَهُۥ سُوٓءُ عَمَلِهِۦ وَ ٱتَّبَعُوٓاْ أَهۡوَآءَهُم﴿١٤﴾
Afaman kana ʿala bayyinatin min rabbihi kaman zuyyina lahu sooo ʿamalihi waittabaʿoo ahwaahum
So is he who is on clear evidence from his Lord like him to whom the evil of his work has been made attractive and they follow their [own] desires?
مَّثَلُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِي وُعِدَ ٱلۡمُتَّقُونَ ۖ فِيهَآ أَنۡهَٰرࣱ مِّن مَّآءٍ غَيۡرِ ءَاسِنࣲ وَ أَنۡهَٰرࣱ مِّن لَّبَنࣲ لَّمۡ يَتَغَيَّرۡ طَعۡمُهُۥ وَ أَنۡهَٰرࣱ مِّنۡ خَمۡرࣲ لَّذَّةࣲ لِّلشَّٰرِبِينَ وَ أَنۡهَٰرࣱ مِّنۡ عَسَلࣲ مُّصَفࣰّى ۖ وَ لَهُمۡ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ وَ مَغۡفِرَةࣱ مِّن رَّبِّهِمۡ ۖ كَمَنۡ هُوَ خَٰلِدࣱ فِي ٱلنَّارِ وَ سُقُواْ مَآءً حَمِيمࣰا فَقَطَّعَ أَمۡعَآءَهُمۡ﴿١٥﴾
Mathalu aljannati allatee wuʿida almuttaqoona feeha anharun min main ghayri asinin waanharun min labanin lam yataghayyar taʿmuhu waanharun min khamrin laththatin lilshsharibeena waanharun min ʿasalin musaffan walahum feeha min kulli alththamarati wamaghfiratun min rabbihim kaman huwa khalidun fee alnnari wasuqoo maan hameeman faqattaʿa amʿaahum
Is the description of Paradise, which the righteous are promised, wherein are rivers of water unaltered, rivers of milk the taste of which never changes, rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and rivers of purified honey, in which they will have from all [kinds of] fruits and forgiveness from their Lord... [Are its inhabitants] like those who abide eternally in the Fire and are given to drink scalding water that will sever their intestines?
وَ مِنۡهُم مَّن يَسۡتَمِعُ إِلَيۡكَ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا خَرَجُواْ مِنۡ عِندِكَ قَالُواْ لِلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ مَاذَا قَالَ ءَانِفًا ۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمۡ وَ ٱتَّبَعُوٓاْ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡ﴿١٦﴾
Waminhum man yastamiʿu ilayka hatta itha kharajoo min ʿindika qaloo lillatheena ootoo alʿilma matha qala anifan olaika allatheena tabaʿa Allahu ʿala quloobihim waittabaʿoo ahwaahum
And among them, [O Muḥammad], are those who listen to you, until when they depart from you, they say to those who were given knowledge, "What has he said just now?" Those are the ones of whom Allāh has sealed over their hearts and who have followed their [own] desires.
وَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱهۡتَدَوۡاْ زَادَهُمۡ هُدࣰى وَ ءَاتَىٰهُمۡ تَقۡوَىٰهُمۡ﴿١٧﴾
Waallatheena ihtadaw zadahum hudan waatahum taqwahum
And those who are guided - He increases them in guidance and gives them their righteousness.
فَهَلۡ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا ٱلسَّاعَةَ أَن تَأۡتِيَهُم بَغۡتَةࣰ ۖ فَقَدۡ جَآءَ أَشۡرَاطُهَا ۚ فَأَنَّىٰ لَهُمۡ إِذَا جَآءَتۡهُمۡ ذِكۡرَىٰهُمۡ﴿١٨﴾
Fahal yanthuroona illa alssaʿata an tatiyahum baghtatan faqad jaa ashratuha faanna lahum itha jaathum thikrahum
Then do they await except that the Hour should come upon them unexpectedly? But already there have come [some of] its indications. Then how [i.e., what good] to them, when it has come, will be their remembrance?
فَٱعۡلَمۡ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَ ٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِ ۗ وَ ٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمۡ وَ مَثۡوَىٰكُمۡ﴿١٩﴾
Faiʿlam annahu la ilaha illa Allahu waistaghfir lithanbika walilmumineena waalmuminati waAllahu yaʿlamu mutaqallabakum wamathwakum
So know, [O Muḥammad], that there is no deity except Allāh and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And Allāh knows of your movement and your resting place.
وَ يَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَوۡلَا نُزِّلَتۡ سُورَةࣱ ۖ فَإِذَآ أُنزِلَتۡ سُورَةࣱ مُّحۡكَمَةࣱ وَ ذُكِرَ فِيهَا ٱلۡقِتَالُ رَأَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضࣱ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَيۡكَ نَظَرَ ٱلۡمَغۡشِيِّ عَلَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ ۖ فَأَوۡلَىٰ لَهُمۡ﴿٢٠﴾
Wayaqoolu allatheena amanoo lawla nuzzilat sooratun faitha onzilat sooratun muhkamatun wathukira feeha alqitalu raayta allatheena fee quloobihim maradun yanthuroona ilayka nathara almaghshiyyi ʿalayhi mina almawti faawla lahum
Those who believe say, "Why has a sūrah not been sent down?" But when a precise sūrah is revealed and battle is mentioned therein, you see those in whose hearts is disease [i.e., hypocrisy] looking at you with a look of one overcome by death. And more appropriate for them [would have been]
طَاعَةࣱ وَ قَوۡلࣱ مَّعۡرُوفࣱ ۚ فَإِذَا عَزَمَ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ فَلَوۡ صَدَقُواْ ٱللَّهَ لَكَانَ خَيۡرࣰا لَّهُمۡ﴿٢١﴾
Taʿatun waqawlun maʿroofun faitha ʿazama alamru falaw sadaqoo Allaha lakana khayran lahum
Obedience and good words. And when the matter [of fighting] was determined, if they had been true to Allāh, it would have been better for them.
فَهَلۡ عَسَيۡتُمۡ إِن تَوَلَّيۡتُمۡ أَن تُفۡسِدُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَ تُقَطِّعُوٓاْ أَرۡحَامَكُمۡ﴿٢٢﴾
Fahal ʿasaytum in tawallaytum an tufsidoo fee alardi watuqattiʿoo arhamakum
So would you perhaps, if you turned away, cause corruption on earth and sever your [ties of] relationship?
أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فَأَصَمَّهُمۡ وَ أَعۡمَىٰٓ أَبۡصَٰرَهُمۡ﴿٢٣﴾
Olaika allatheena laʿanahumu Allahu faasammahum waaʿma absarahum
Those [who do so] are the ones that Allāh has cursed, so He deafened them and blinded their vision.
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ أَمۡ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقۡفَالُهَآ﴿٢٤﴾
Afala yatadabbaroona alqurana am ʿala quloobin aqfaluha
Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’ān, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱرۡتَدُّواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَدۡبَٰرِهِم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلۡهُدَى ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ سَوَّلَ لَهُمۡ وَ أَمۡلَىٰ لَهُمۡ﴿٢٥﴾
Inna allatheena irtaddoo ʿala adbarihim min baʿdi ma tabayyana lahumu alhuda alshshaytanu sawwala lahum waamla lahum
Indeed, those who reverted back [to disbelief] after guidance had become clear to them - Satan enticed them and prolonged hope for them.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ قَالُواْ لِلَّذِينَ كَرِهُواْ مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ سَنُطِيعُكُمۡ فِي بَعۡضِ ٱلۡأَمۡرِ ۖ وَ ٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ إِسۡرَارَهُمۡ﴿٢٦﴾
Thalika biannahum qaloo lillatheena karihoo ma nazzala Allahu sanuteeʿukum fee baʿdi alamri waAllahu yaʿlamu israrahum
That is because they said to those who disliked what Allāh sent down, "We will obey you in part of the matter." And Allāh knows what they conceal.
فَكَيۡفَ إِذَا تَوَفَّتۡهُمُ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ يَضۡرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمۡ وَ أَدۡبَٰرَهُمۡ﴿٢٧﴾
Fakayfa itha tawaffathumu almalaikatu yadriboona wujoohahum waadbarahum
Then how [will it be] when the angels take them in death, striking their faces and their backs?
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمُ ٱتَّبَعُواْ مَآ أَسۡخَطَ ٱللَّهَ وَ كَرِهُواْ رِضۡوَٰنَهُۥ فَأَحۡبَطَ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ﴿٢٨﴾
Thalika biannahumu ittabaʿoo ma askhata Allaha wakarihoo ridwanahu faahbata aʿmalahum
That is because they followed what angered Allāh and disliked [what earns] His pleasure, so He rendered worthless their deeds.
أَمۡ حَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ أَن لَّن يُخۡرِجَ ٱللَّهُ أَضۡغَٰنَهُمۡ﴿٢٩﴾
Am hasiba allatheena fee quloobihim maradun an lan yukhrija Allahu adghanahum
Or do those in whose hearts is disease think that Allāh would never expose their [feelings of] hatred?
وَ لَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَأَرَيۡنَٰكَهُمۡ فَلَعَرَفۡتَهُم بِسِيمَٰهُمۡ ۚ وَ لَتَعۡرِفَنَّهُمۡ فِي لَحۡنِ ٱلۡقَوۡلِ ۚ وَ ٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ أَعۡمَٰلَكُمۡ﴿٣٠﴾
Walaw nashao laaraynakahum falaʿaraftahum biseemahum walataʿrifannahum fee lahni alqawli waAllahu yaʿlamu aʿmalakum
And if We willed, We could show them to you, and you would know them by their mark; but you will surely know them by the tone of [their] speech. And Allāh knows your deeds.
وَ لَنَبۡلُوَنَّكُمۡ حَتَّىٰ نَعۡلَمَ ٱلۡمُجَٰهِدِينَ مِنكُمۡ وَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ وَ نَبۡلُوَاْ أَخۡبَارَكُمۡ﴿٣١﴾
Walanabluwannakum hatta naʿlama almujahideena minkum waalssabireena wanabluwa akhbarakum
And We will surely test you until We make evident those who strive among you [for the cause of Allāh] and the patient, and We will test your affairs.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَ صَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَ شَآقُّواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ لَن يَضُرُّواْ ٱللَّهَ شَيۡـࣰٔا وَ سَيُحۡبِطُ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ﴿٣٢﴾
Inna allatheena kafaroo wasaddoo ʿan sabeeli Allahi washaqqoo alrrasoola min baʿdi ma tabayyana lahumu alhuda lan yaduroo Allaha shayan wasayuhbitu aʿmalahum
Indeed, those who disbelieved and averted [people] from the path of Allāh and opposed the Messenger after guidance had become clear to them - never will they harm Allāh at all, and He will render worthless their deeds.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَ أَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَ لَا تُبۡطِلُوٓاْ أَعۡمَٰلَكُمۡ﴿٣٣﴾
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo ateeʿoo Allaha waateeʿoo alrrasoola wala tubtiloo aʿmalakum
O you who have believed, obey Allāh and obey the Messenger and do not invalidate your deeds.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَ صَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ مَاتُواْ وَ هُمۡ كُفَّارࣱ فَلَن يَغۡفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمۡ﴿٣٤﴾
Inna allatheena kafaroo wasaddoo ʿan sabeeli Allahi thumma matoo wahum kuffarun falan yaghfira Allahu lahum
Indeed, those who disbelieved and averted [people] from the path of Allāh and then died while they were disbelievers - never will Allāh forgive them.
فَلَا تَهِنُواْ وَ تَدۡعُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱلسَّلۡمِ وَ أَنتُمُ ٱلۡأَعۡلَوۡنَ وَ ٱللَّهُ مَعَكُمۡ وَ لَن يَتِرَكُمۡ أَعۡمَٰلَكُمۡ﴿٣٥﴾
Fala tahinoo watadʿoo ila alssalmi waantumu alaʿlawna waAllahu maʿakum walan yatirakum aʿmalakum
So do not weaken and call for peace while you are superior; and Allāh is with you and will never deprive you of [the reward of] your deeds.
إِنَّمَا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا لَعِبࣱ وَ لَهۡوࣱ ۚ وَ إِن تُؤۡمِنُواْ وَ تَتَّقُواْ يُؤۡتِكُمۡ أُجُورَكُمۡ وَ لَا يَسۡـَٔلۡكُمۡ أَمۡوَٰلَكُمۡ﴿٣٦﴾
Innama alhayatu alddunya laʿibun walahwun wain tuminoo watattaqoo yutikum ojoorakum wala yasalkum amwalakum
[This] worldly life is only amusement and diversion. And if you believe and fear Allāh, He will give you your rewards and not ask you for your properties.
إِن يَسۡـَٔلۡكُمُوهَا فَيُحۡفِكُمۡ تَبۡخَلُواْ وَ يُخۡرِجۡ أَضۡغَٰنَكُمۡ﴿٣٧﴾
In yasalkumooha fayuhfikum tabkhaloo wayukhrij adghanakum
If He should ask you for them and press you, you would withhold, and He would expose your hatred [i.e., unwillingness].
هَٰٓأَنتُمۡ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ تُدۡعَوۡنَ لِتُنفِقُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَمِنكُم مَّن يَبۡخَلُ ۖ وَ مَن يَبۡخَلۡ فَإِنَّمَا يَبۡخَلُ عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦ ۚ وَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡغَنِيُّ وَ أَنتُمُ ٱلۡفُقَرَآءُ ۚ وَ إِن تَتَوَلَّوۡاْ يَسۡتَبۡدِلۡ قَوۡمًا غَيۡرَكُمۡ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوٓاْ أَمۡثَٰلَكُم﴿٣٨﴾
Haantum haolai tudʿawna litunfiqoo fee sabeeli Allahi faminkum man yabkhalu waman yabkhal fainnama yabkhalu ʿan nafsihi waAllahu alghaniyyu waantumu alfuqarao wain tatawallaw yastabdil qawman ghayrakum thumma la yakoonoo amthalakum
Here you are - those invited to spend in the cause of Allāh - but among you are those who withhold [out of greed]. And whoever withholds only withholds [benefit] from himself; and Allāh is the Free of need, while you are the needy. And if you turn away [i.e., refuse], He will replace you with another people; then they will not be the likes of you.
Translation: Saheeh International · Transliteration
About this surah
Name
The Surah derives its name from the sentence wa amanu bi-ma nuzzila ala Muhammad-in of verse 2, thereby implying that it is the Surah in which the holy name of Muhammad (upon wham be Allah's peace and blessings) has occurred. Besides, it has another well known name "al-Qital " also, which is derived from the sentence wa dhukira fi-hal-qital of verse 20.
Period of Revelation
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. Detailed arguments in support of this view have been given in E. N. 8 below.
Historical Background
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 Quraish 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 for ever whether Islam would stay in Arabia or the creed of ignorance. On this occasion Allah 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 Al Hajj 39 and then enjoined fighting in Al Baqarah 190. But at that time everyone knew fully 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.
Theme and Subject Matter
Such were the conditions when this Surah was revealed. 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 Allah, while the other group has accepted the Truth which had been sent down by Allah to His servant, Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings). Now, Allah'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 they have been reassured of Allah's help and guidance: they have been given hope for the best rewards on offering sacrifices in the cause of Allah 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 Allah's support and guidance: none of their designs 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 Allah 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 Allah 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 zakat deserve no reward from Allah.
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 Allah and clash with the mighty forces of disbelief. Allah 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 Allah. 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 Allah'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 niggardly attitude at the time, would not, in fact, harm Allah at all, but would result in his own destruction, for Allah does not stand in need of help from men. If one group of men shirked offering sacrifices in the cause of His Religion, Allah would remove it and bring another group in its place.
Source: Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Quran