Tafsir of Muhammad 47:16

Surah Muhammad (47): Verse 16

16. And among them are those who listen to you, until when they go out from you, they say to those who were given knowledge, "What has he just said?"

When Allah the Almighty mentioned the state of the disbeliever, He then mentioned the state of the hypocrite, indicating that the hypocrite is one of the disbelievers.

The phrase "And among them" (ومنهم) can refer back to "the people" (الناس), as in the verse in Surah Al-Baqarah: "And among the people are those who say, 'We believe in Allah...'" (2:8), which followed the mention of the disbelievers.

It could also refer back to the people of Mecca, because their mention preceded this in the verse: "Indeed, your Lord is stronger in might than your town which expelled you. We destroyed them..." (47:13).

Another possibility is that it refers to the meaning of the preceding verse: "Is he who will abide eternally in the Fire like one who is given to drink boiling water?" (47:15), meaning: Among those who will abide eternally in the Fire are a people who listen to you.

Regarding the phrase "until when they go out from you" (حتى إذا خرجوا من عندك), based on our previous discussion, the verb "listen" (يستمع) is taken in its plural sense (referring to the group), while "until" (حتى) is taken literally based on the singular form. We have previously established the details concerning this.

Some commentators interpret "until" (حتى) here as indicating conjunction (عطف). Under this interpretation, conjunction using hatta is appropriate only if the conjoined element is a part of the element it is conjoined to, either superior or inferior to it, like saying, "The people honored me, even the king," or "The pilgrims arrived, even the pedestrians." In general, the element preceding hatta must be related in meaning to the element following it, which is not required for the conjunction waw (and). For example, one can say, "The pilgrims arrived, and I did not know," but not with hatta.

Knowing this, the relevance here is that the phrase "until when they go out from you" implies an additional meaning to their listening, as if to say: they listen with intense, excellent listening. This is because they listen, and when they leave, they ask others (the scholars) to repeat what was said, similar to how a diligent student seeks clarification.

If you ask: According to this interpretation, this would be a description of praise for them, yet they are mentioned in a context of condemnation. We reply: This is distinguished by what follows, which is one of two things:

1. That their intense listening is done mockingly. Like an intelligent person saying to a dull person, "Repeat your words so I can understand," while believing internally that he is listening perfectly. Everyone knows that this person is mocking and gains no benefit.
2. That they do not understand, even though they listen and ask for repetition.

The second possibility is supported by Allah's saying: "Thus does Allah seal the hearts of the disbelievers" (7:101). The first possibility is supported by His saying: "And when they meet those who believe, they say, 'We have believed,' but when they are alone with their devils, they say, 'Indeed, we are with you; indeed, we are only mocking'" (2:14). The second possibility is also supported by: "The Bedouins say, 'We have believed.' Say, 'You have not believed; but say [instead], 'We have submitted,' for belief has not yet entered your hearts'" (49:14).

Regarding the word "just now" (آنفا), some commentators say it means "the hour" (الساعة), from which the word isti'nāf (resumption/beginning anew) is derived. Based on this, it is more appropriate to say that they ask, "What did he say just now?" meaning they ask for the speech to be repeated from the beginning, just as someone asking for a repetition says, "Repeat your words from the start so nothing escapes me."

Then Allah the Almighty said:

"Those are the ones whose hearts Allah has sealed, and they have followed their desires."

Meaning, they abandoned following the truth, either due to a lack of understanding or a lack of listening for benefit, and instead followed its opposite.

Then Allah the Almighty said:

"And those who are guided - He increases them in guidance and gives them their piety."