Quran-47:16 Surah Muhammad English Translation,Transliteration and Tafsir(Tafseer).

وَمِنۡهُم مَّن يَسۡتَمِعُ إِلَيۡكَ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا خَرَجُواْ مِنۡ عِندِكَ قَالُواْ لِلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ مَاذَا قَالَ ءَانِفًاۚ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمۡ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓاْ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡ

Transliteration:( Wa minhum mai yastami'u ilaika hattaaa izaa kharajoo min 'indika qaaloo lil lazeena ootul 'ilma maazaa qaala aanifaa; ulaaa'ikal lazeena taba'al laahu 'alaa quloobihim wattaba'ooo ahwaaa'ahum )

16.And among them are some who listen [42], so you tell them when they go forth from before you saying to the men of learning [43]: "What has he said (44) just now?" These are they upon whose hearts Allah has set a seal (45) and they follow their own evil inclinations (46). (Kanzul Imaan Translation)

(16) And among them, [O Muḥammad], are those who listen to you, until when they depart from you, they say to those who were given knowledge,[1499] "What has he said just now?" Those are the ones of whom Allāh has sealed over their hearts and who have followed their [own] desires. (Saheen International Translation)

Surah Muhammad Ayat 16 Tafsir (Commentry)



  • Tafseer-e-Naeemi (Ahmad Yaar Khan)
  • Ibn Kathir
  • Ala-Madudi
  • Shaheen International

42. This means that some hypocrites attend your sermons and outwardly pretend to be listening attentively to your words, so that people may take them to be sincere believers.

43. Those insincere scholars asking Noble Companions like Abdullah ibn Abbas, Abdullah ibn Masood, etc. (May Allah be pleased with them) do so, so that the people should think that they are making an effort to understand what the is saying.

Their coming into the gathering of Holy Prophet and listening to his blessed talk and asking questions, is a mere show.

44. The question was not for the sake of learning but rather for mocking and contempt.From this we learn that to mock at the words of the Prophet is infidelity and enmity. Or, this question is for refutation i.e. "What has he said by now? Nothing, really". This tells us that to mock at the conversation of the Prophet is an act of infidelity.

45. This is due to their infidelity and enmity. Now, the condition of their heart is such that it is incapable of accepting the truth. This is just like the creation of death by Allah Almighty after a person has eaten poison. Thus, there is no objection against the verse.

46. It should be remembered that the word AHWA (caprices) is used to indicate those types of desires, which against religious teachings. Desire for Truth is indeed a mercy of Allah Almighty.

Ibn-Kathir

16. And among them are some who listen to you till when they go out from you, they say to those who have received knowledge: “What is it that he has said just now “Such are men whose hearts Allah has sealed because they followed their lusts. 17. And as for those who accept guidance, He increases them in guidance and bestows on them their Taqwa. 18. Do they then await except that the Hour should come upon them suddenly But already there have come (some of) its portents; and when it (actually) is on them, how can they benefit then by their reminder 19. So know that La ilaha illallah and ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) believing men and women. And Allah knows well your moving about, and your place of rest.


The Description of the Situation of the Hypocrites and the Command to maintain Tawhid and seek Forgiveness

Allah describes the hypocrites’ stupidity and limited understanding. They used to sit before Allah’s Messenger and listen to his words without understanding anything. Then when they left from his presence,

﴿قَالُواْ لِلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْعِلْمَ﴾

(they say to those who have received knowledge) from the Companions

﴿مَاذَا قَالَ ءَانِفاً﴾

(“What is it that he has said just now”) meaning, at this moment. They did not understand what he said, nor did they care about it. Allah says,

﴿أُوْلَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ طَبَعَ اللَّهُ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ وَاتَّبَعُواْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ﴾

(Such are the men whose hearts Allah has sealed because they followed their lusts.) which means that they had neither sound understanding nor correct intentions. Allah then says,

﴿وَالَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْاْ زَادَهُمْ هُدًى﴾

(And as for those who accept guidance, He increases them in guidance) which means that those who seek guidance, Allah facilitates it for them; He guides them to it, makes them firm on it, and gives them more of it.

﴿وَءَاتَـهُمْ تَقُوَاهُمْ﴾

(and bestows on them their Taqwa. ) meaning, He inspires them to their righteous guidance. Allah then says,

﴿فَهَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلاَّ السَّاعَةَ أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ بَغْتَةً﴾

(Do they then await except that the Hour should come upon them suddenly) meaning, while they are unaware of it.

﴿فَقَدْ جَآءَ أَشْرَاطُهَا﴾

(But already there have come (some of) its portents;) meaning, the signs of its approach. This is similar to Allah’s saying,

﴿هَـذَا نَذِيرٌ مِّنَ النُّذُرِ الاٍّوْلَى – أَزِفَتِ الاٌّزِفَةُ ﴾

(This is a warner of the warners of old. The approaching Day has drawn near.) (53:56-57) And His saying,

﴿اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ ﴾

(The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split.) (54:1) And His saying,

﴿أَتَى أَمْرُ اللَّهِ فَلاَ تَسْتَعْجِلُوهُ﴾

(The command of Allah is coming, so do not be impatient for it.) (16:1) And His saying,

﴿اقْتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَـبُهُمْ وَهُمْ فِى غَفْلَةٍ مُّعْرِضُونَ ﴾

(The people’s Day of Reckoning has approached while they turn away in heedlessness.) (21:1) Thus, the Messenger’s advent is one of the signs of the Hour, because he is the Finality of the Messengers. With him, Allah has completed the religion and established the evidence against all people in a way that was never done by a previous Prophet. Allah’s Messenger has most clearly informed about the signs and indications of the Hour, as we have discussed elsewhere. Al-Bukhari recorded from Sahl bin Sa`d, may Allah be pleased with him, that he saw Allah’s Messenger bring his index and middle fingers together while he said,

«بُعِثْتُ أَنَا وَالسَّاعَةَ كَهَاتَيْن»

(I have been sent before the Hour as these two (fingers).) Allah continues,

﴿فَأَنَّى لَهُمْ إِذَا جَآءَتْهُمْ ذِكْرَاهُمْ﴾

(and when it (actually) is on them, how can they benefit then by their reminder) meaning, how would remembering benefit the disbelievers when the Hour comes upon them This is similar to Allah’s saying,

﴿يَوْمَئِذٍ يَتَذَكَّرُ الإِنسَـنُ وَأَنَّى لَهُ الذِّكْرَى﴾

(On that Day will the human being remember, but what would that remembrance avail him then) (89:23) And His saying,

﴿وَقَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِهِ وَأَنَّى لَهُمُ التَّنَاوُشُ مِن مَّكَانِ بَعِيدٍ ﴾

(They will say (in the Hereafter): “Now we believe in it!” But how could they claim belief from such a far place) (34:52) Allah then says,

﴿فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلأاللَّهِ﴾

(So know that La ilaha illallah) This is a declaration that there is no true God except Allah. It is not something that is easy for him to command the people to have knowledge of. That is why Allah connected it with,

﴿وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَـتِ﴾

(and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and women.) In the Sahih, it is recorded that Allah’s Messenger used to say,

«اللْهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي خَطِيئَتِي وَجَهْلِي وَإِسْرَافِي فِي أَمْرِي وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي، اللْهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي هَزْلِي وَجِدِّي، وَخَطَئِي وَعَمْدِي، وَكُلُّ ذلِكَ عِنْدِي»

(O Allah, forgive my sin, my ignorance, my immoderation in my affairs, and all that You know better about my (faults) than myself. O Allah, forgive for me my joking, my seriousness, my unintended error, and my deliberate (mistakes) — and I have done of all that.) It is also reported in the Sahih that he used to say at the end of the prayer,

«اللْهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ، وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ، وَمَا أَسْرَفْتُ، وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي، أَنْتَ إِلهِي لَا إِلهَ إِلَّا أَنْت»

(O Allah, forgive for me what I have previously done, what I may commit in future, what I have committed secretly, what I have committed openly, what I have done excessively, and all sins that You know better than me. You are my God. There is no (true) God except You.) It is also recorded in the Sahih that he used to say,

«يَاأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ تُوبُوا إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ، فَإِنِّي أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ فِي الْيَوْمِ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّة»

(O people! Repent to your Lord! Verily, I ask Allah for forgiveness and repent to Him more than seventy times every day.) Allah then says,

﴿وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوَاكُمْ﴾

(And Allah knows well your moving about, and your place of rest.) means, He knows how you behave during the day, and where you settle at night. This is similar to His saying,

﴿وَهُوَ الَّذِى يَتَوَفَّـكُم بِالَّيْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا جَرَحْتُم بِالنَّهَارِ﴾

(It is He Who takes your souls by night and knows all that you do by day.)(6:60) And He says,

﴿وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِي الاٌّرْضِ إِلاَّ عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا كُلٌّ فِى كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴾

(And there is no moving creature on earth but its provision is up to Allah, and He knows its dwelling place and its deposit (before birth and after death) — all is in a clear register.) (11:6)

(47:16) Among them some give ear to you. But no sooner do they leave your presence than they ask those endowed with knowledge: “What is it that he said just now?”[25] Such are those whose hearts Allah has sealed and who pursue their lusts.[26]

Ala-Maududi

(47:16) Among them some give ear to you. But no sooner do they leave your presence than they ask those endowed with knowledge: “What is it that he said just now?”[25] Such are those whose hearts Allah has sealed and who pursue their lusts.[26]


25. This is concerning those disbelievers and hypocrites and unbelieving followers of the former Books, who sat in the assemblies of the Prophet (peace be upon him), listened to his discourses, or the verses of the Quran, but since in their hearts they were averse to the themes presented by him, they would understand nothing in spite of listening to him. Therefore, when they came out, they would ask the Muslims: What was he saying just now?

26. This was the real reason because of which their ears had become deaf to the teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him). They were the slaves of their lusts, and the teachings that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was presenting fell against their lusts. Therefore, if ever they sat in the assemblies of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and listened to him, they would understand nothing.

(16) And among them, [O Muḥammad], are those who listen to you, until when they depart from you, they say to those who were given knowledge,[1499] "What has he said just now?" Those are the ones of whom Allāh has sealed over their hearts and who have followed their [own] desires.

[1499]- From among the Prophet's companions.

Surah Muhammad All Ayat (Verses)

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