Tafsir of Muhammad 47:21

Surah Muhammad (47): Verse 21

{طاعة وقول معروف} (Obedience and kind word.)

This is a new statement, where the predicate is omitted. The meaning is: [Such a state is] better for them (i.e., more excellent and ideal).

One might object: "The noun 'obedience' (طاعة) is indefinite and thus cannot begin a sentence." We reply: It is qualified, as indicated by the subsequent phrase {وقول معروف} (and kind word), which is also qualified. It is as if the Almighty meant: Sincere obedience and a kind word are better.

Alternatively, the meaning could be that they said: {طاعة وقول معروف} (Obedience and kind word). This implies that their statement regarding the command was: "Our response is obedience and a kind word." This is supported by the recitation of Abu [al-Hasan al-Basri], who recited it as: {يقولون * طاعة وقول معروف} (They say: Obedience and kind word).

{فإذا عزم الامر فلو صدقوا الله لكان خيرا لهم} (But if they had been true to Allah, it would have been better for them.)

The response to the conditional clause is omitted. It means: When the matter is decided (i.e., the command is issued), they disobey and fall short. This aligns with the recitation of Abu, as if to say: In the beginning of the matter, they said, "We hear and obey," but at the end of the matter, they disobeyed and broke their promise.

Al-Zamakhshari interpreted the attribution of azm (decisiveness/firmness) to the amr (matter/command) as a metaphor for the owner of the command (i.e., the commander). He means: When the commander decides [on action]...

Another possibility is that it is a metaphor, similar to our saying, "The matter has come and gone," where the "matter" is initially anticipated but not yet realized. When it becomes evident and those who dislike it are powerless to stop it, it is considered realized, hence the use of {عزم} (it became firm/decided). Both interpretations are close.

Regarding {فلو صدقوا} (If they had been true), there are two interpretations based on our previous discussion about the meaning of {طاعة}:

1. If we take {طاعة} to mean what they said (i.e., they uttered the word 'obedience'), then the meaning is: If they had been true in that statement and obeyed, it would have been better for them.
2. If we take {طاعة وقول معروف} to mean that this state itself is better for them, then the meaning is: If they had been true in their faith and their following of the Messenger, it would have been better for them.

{فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ أَنْ تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَتَقَطَّعُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ} (Then is it to be expected that if you turned away, you would spread corruption in the land and sever your ties of kinship?)