Tafsir of Muhammad 47:19

Translation of Mafatih al-Ghayb (Surah Muhammad, Verses 19-20)

Verse 19: {So know that there is no god except Allah...}

To explain the connection [between the previous verse, {The signs thereof have already come}], there are several perspectives:

1. First: Since the Almighty said, {The signs thereof have already come} (Muhammad: 18), He then said, {So know that there is no god except Allah}. This implies that the Hour will not come except by Allah’s decree, just as He says, {The Overwhelming Event is approaching. There is none who can reveal it except Allah} (Al-Haqqah: 2-3).

2. Second: Since {The signs thereof have already come} and they are imminent, it is as if someone asked, "When is this?" He replied, {So know that there is no god except Allah}. Therefore, do not preoccupy yourself with it; instead, busy yourself with seeking forgiveness for your sins. Be prepared to meet it at any time. This is consistent with His saying, {And ask forgiveness for your sin} (Muhammad: 19).

3. Third: {So know that there is no god except Allah} benefits you. If it is argued that the Prophet (peace be upon him) already knew this, what is the meaning of the command? We offer two responses:
   • One: Affirm what you are already upon—your knowledge—like someone telling a seated person who intends to stand up: "Sit," meaning, "Do not stand up again."
   • Two: The address is to the Prophet (PBUH), but the meaning is directed toward his people. The pronoun in ‘annahu’ (that He is) refers to the situation/matter. The context is that when the Prophet (PBUH) called the people to faith, and they did not believe, nothing remained to compel their faith except the manifestation of the command for resurrection and return. This saddened the Prophet (PBUH). So, his heart was consoled, and it was said: "You are perfect in yourself and a perfecter of others. If your people do not attain perfection through you, then Allah has not willed good for them. You are acting upon your knowledge—knowing that Allah is One—and you seek forgiveness. By the grace of Allah, you are perfected and you perfect the believing men and believing women, and you seek forgiveness for them. Thus, you have attained both descriptions. So, remain steadfast upon what you are doing, and let not their disbelief grieve you."

Regarding His saying, {And ask forgiveness for your sin}, it admits of two interpretations:

• One: The address is to him (the Prophet), but the intended meaning is the believers. This is unlikely because the believing men and women are mentioned separately.
• Some people said: {for your sin} means the sin of your household, and {for the believing men and believing women} means those who are not your household.
• A third view: The intended meaning is the Prophet, and the sin is leaving the Afḍal (the most excellent action), which, relative to him, is considered a sin—though far be it from him!
• A fourth, excellent, derived view: The intended meaning is the Tawfīq (divine enablement) for performing good deeds and avoiding bad deeds. The reasoning is that seeking forgiveness (Istighfār) is seeking concealment (Ghufrān). Concealment is covering up ugliness. Whoever is protected (Ma‘ṣūm) has had the ugliness of desires concealed from him. Seeking forgiveness means, "Do not expose us." This exposure might be prevented by infallibility (‘Iṣmah) so that the sin does not occur, as was the case with the Prophet (PBUH). Or, it might be by concealing it after it has occurred, as is the case for the believing men and women.

In this verse, there is a subtlety: The Prophet (PBUH) has three states: a state with Allah, a state with himself, and a state with others.

• As for his state with Allah alone...
• As for your state with yourself, seek forgiveness for your sin and ask Allah for infallibility.
• As for your state with the believers, seek forgiveness for them and ask Allah for their forgiveness.

{Allah knows your movement in this world and your final destination} means your state in this world and the Hereafter, and your state by night and by day.

Verse 20: {And those who believe say, "Why has a Sūrah not been sent down?" But when a clear Sūrah is sent down and fighting is mentioned therein, you see those in whose hearts is disease looking at you with the look of one overwhelmed by death. So, woe to them!}