Tafsir of Muhammad 47:6

Translation of Mafatih al-Ghayb Excerpt

[Regarding the verse continuation: (6) And He will admit them into Paradise, having made it known to them...]

It is as if Allah Almighty, upon their gathering (Hashr), guides them to the path of Paradise and clothes them along the way with the garments of honor (Khil'at al-Karamah), which is the rectification of their state.

Then, {And He will admit them into Paradise}—this follows the sequence of events.

As for His statement {having made it known to them} ('arrafahā lahum), there are several interpretations:

1. Recognition of Abode: Each person will recognize their station and dwelling place in Paradise. The people of Paradise will be more familiar with their mansions there than the attendees of Friday prayers are with their homes when they disperse across the earth, each going to his own dwelling. Some say an angel appointed over their deeds guides them.
2. Making it Pleasant: It means He made it pleasant for them (tayyabaha). It is said of food that is mu'arraf (pleasant/well-prepared).
3. Defining/Specifying: Al-Zamakhshari suggests it means He defined it for them (haddadahā). The root 'arafa can mean to define, just as arfaqa means to define a dwelling. Its definition is mentioned in the verse: {And Paradise whose width is [as great as] the heavens and the earth} (Al 'Imran: 133).
4. Pointing to the Promised Place: It could mean what is stated in: {And that is the Paradise which you have been made to inherit} (Az-Zukhruf: 72), pointing to it and making it known to them that this is it.
5. Pre-Martyrdom Revelation: Another view is that it means He made it known to them before the killing. The martyr, before his death, is shown his station in Paradise, causing him to long for it.
6. Redundancy for Emphasis: A second view is that since He said {And He will admit them into Paradise}, there is no need for description, as Allah Almighty had already made it known to them ('arrafahā lahum) repeatedly and described it.
7. Fulfilling the Contract: A third view relates it to the concept of announcing a lost item. Since Allah Almighty said: {Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties in exchange for Paradise} (At-Tawbah: 111), it is as if Allah is saying: Whoever takes Paradise and seeks it with his wealth or his life—the one who was killed heard the announcement and gave what was demanded of him in exchange, so he is admitted.

Then, after clarifying the reward and recompense for fighting, He promises them victory in this world as an added incentive to increase their boldness, saying:

! 7 < { O you who have believed, if you support Allah, He will support you and plant your feet firmly. } > 7 !