As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary
Today’s selection is from Surah 47, Muhammad, verses 1-19. In these verses, Allah voids the deeds of the disbelievers. In case war were declared, thoroughly subdue the unbelievers before taking prisoners of war. If you help the cause of Allah, Allah will help and protect you. Believers do not follow their own desires exclusively. Hypocrites are those on whose heart God has set a seal.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.Those who disbelieve and obstruct Allah’s Way, He will render their deeds fruitless.[1] As for those who believe and do good deeds and believe in what is revealed to Muhammad – the truth from their Lord – He will remove from them their evils and improve their condition.[2] This is because the unbelievers follow falsehood, while the believers follow the truth from their Lord. Thus, Allah cites their similitude for mankind.[3] 47:[1-3]
Therefore, when you meet the unbelievers in the battlefield smite their necks and, when you have thoroughly subdued them, then take prisoners of war and bind them firmly. After the war lays down its burdens, then you have the choice whether you show them favor or accept ransom. Thus are you commanded. If Allah wanted, He Himself could have punished them; but He adopted this way so that He may test some of you by means of others. As for those who are slain in the cause of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost.[4] Soon He will guide them, improve their condition[5] and admit them to the paradise which He has announced for them.[6] 47:[4-6]
O believers! If you help the cause of Allah, He will help you and establish your feet firmly.[7] As for the unbelievers, they shall be consigned to perdition, and He will bring their deeds to nothing.[8] That is because they hate the revelations of Allah; therefore, He rendered their deeds fruitless.[9] Have they not traveled through the land and seen what was the end of those who have gone before them? Allah destroyed them utterly and a similar fate awaits these unbelievers.[10] This is because Allah is the Protector of the believers while the unbelievers have no protector.[11] 47:[7-11]
Surely Allah will admit those who believe and do good deeds to gardens beneath which rivers flow. While those who are unbelievers, they are to enjoy only this life and eat as cattle eat; but in the hereafter, the fire shall be their abode.[12] How many cities which were mightier than your city which has driven you out, have We destroyed for their disbelief, and there was none to save them?[13] Can he who follows the clear guidance from his Lord be compared to him who is led by his own desires and whose foul deeds seem fair to him?[14] 47:[12-14]
Here is the parable of the paradise which the righteous have been promised: it has rivers the water of which will never be stagnant, rivers of milk whose taste never changes, rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and rivers of honey pure and clear. In it they will have all kinds of fruits, as well as forgiveness from their Lord. Can such people be compared to those who shall dwell in hell forever, and they will be given scalding water which will cut their intestines into pieces?[15] 47:[15]
Some of them indeed listen to you but no sooner do they leave your presence than they ask those endowed with knowledge: “What was it that he said just now?” Such are the men upon whose hearts Allah has set a seal, and who follow their own desires.[16] As for those who follow the Right Way, Allah will increase their guidance and bestow on them their righteousness.[17] Are they waiting for the Hour of Doom to overtake them all of a sudden? Do they not know that its signs have already come and when it will actually overtake them, what chance will they have to benefit by this admonition?[18] Therefore, you should know that there is no god but Allah; implore Him to forgive your sins and to forgive the believing men and believing women; for Allah knows your activities and your resting places.[19] 47:[16-19]
Ameen.
This concludes today’s episode of the 17 Verses Podcast. I hope that this selection has helped increase your understanding of the holy Qur’an just a little bit.
Thank you and be well.