Tafsir of Muhammad 47:18

Surah Muhammad (47): Verse 18

فَهَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا السَّاعَةَ أَن تَأْتِيَهُم بَغْتَةً فَقَدْ جَاءَ أَشْرَاطُهَا فَأَنَّىٰ لَهُمْ إِذَا جَاءَتْهُمْ ذِكْرَاهُمْ

(18) Then do they await anything except the Hour (the Day of Judgment) to come upon them suddenly? For its signs have already come. So how will there be for them benefit when their reminder (or the reminder comes to them)?"

Tafsir Points:

• "Then do they await anything except the Hour..."
  • This refers to the disbelievers and hypocrites. They await only the Hour because the proofs have been established and the matters clarified, yet they have not believed. Therefore, belief is not expected from them except at the coming of the Hour.
  • This structure is interpreted as an instance of badal ishtimal (a substitute where the substitute is part of the substituted), implying: "They await nothing except the Hour, [meaning] its sudden arrival."
  • It is also read with the conditional structure: "Do they await anything except the Hour to come to them?" (implying a condition), and its consequence is that their admonition will not benefit them, as indicated by the verse: "So how will it benefit them when their reminder comes to them?" (referring to the Day of Judgment).
  • We have previously mentioned that the Resurrection (Qiyamah) is named the Hour (al-Sā'ah) because of the events that occur within it: the Resurrection, the Gathering, and the Reckoning.

• "For its signs have already come..."
  • This phrase has two possible interpretations:
    1. To highlight the extreme obstinacy of the disbelievers: Since the clear proofs have appeared and they still did not believe, the only remaining expectation for belief is at the Hour itself. However, since the signs (ashrāṭ) of the Hour have already manifested, they should have believed by now. Their continued disbelief places them in the depths of corruption and ultimate defiance.
    2. To console the hearts of the believers: Since the preceding verse implies punishment for the disbelievers, and common people often perceive the Hour as distant, this phrase serves as an answer to the implied question, "When is the Hour?" It is as if God is saying, "The Hour is near; its signs have come," similar to the verse: "The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split" (Al-Qamar: 1).
  • The Signs (Al-Ashrāṭ): The commentators state these signs include the splitting of the moon and the mission of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
  • Alternatively, the signs (al-ashrāṭ) could refer to the clear proofs demonstrating the possibility of resurrection, such as the initial creation of man and the creation of the heavens and the earth, as stated in: "Is He who created the heavens and the earth not capable of creating their likeness?" (Yā Sīn: 81). The first interpretation (signs of the Hour) is the primary one.

• "So how will there be for them benefit when their reminder comes to them?"
  • This means that admonition will not benefit them then, as repentance will not be accepted, nor will faith be counted.
  • The meaning is: What will their state be when their reminder comes to them? This reminder could be the statement on that Day: "This is your Day which you used to promise" (Al-Anbiyā’: 103), and "This is the Day of Decision which you used to deny" (Al-Ṣāffāt: 21), causing them only regret.
  • It also aligns with the description of the disbelievers being driven to Hell: "And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates will be opened..." (Al-Zumar: 71).

Verse 19

فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوَاكُمْ

(19) So know that there is no deity except Allah, and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And Allah knows your movement and your resting place.