509 Page Notes

47 Surah Muhammad (continued)

Page 509 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 509 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Surah Muhammad (Chapter 47), verses 20–29, addresses the distinction between the true believers and those whose hearts contain doubt or hypocrisy. These verses serve as a critique of those who hear the divine message but fail to act upon it, particularly concerning their hesitation toward J_had (struggle in the cause of Allah) and their spiritual condition.

Key Themes of Verses 20–29

• The Request for a Surah (Verse 20): This verse addresses those who had been asking for a surah that would explicitly command fighting. When a "decisive surah" (one containing clear commands for battle) was revealed, those in whose hearts there was a disease (hypocrisy) are described as looking at the Prophet ﷺ with the look of one fainting from death.

• Obedience and Fair Speech (Verses 21–23): The Quran emphasizes that obedience and speaking well are better for the believers. It warns that those who turn away may cause corruption on earth and sever their ties of kinship. These people are described as those whom Allah has cursed, deafening their ears and blinding their eyes.

• Pondering the Quran (Verse 24): This is a critical verse often cited by scholars: "Then do they not reflect upon the Quran, or are there locks upon their hearts?" It serves as a stern rebuke to those who fail to engage deeply with the meanings of the revelation.

• The Apostates and Hypocrites (Verses 25–29): The passage warns those who return to disbelief after guidance, noting that Satan has tempted them and prolonged their hope. It further addresses those who conspired with the enemies of Islam, stating that Allah is aware of their secret conversations.

Hadith and Scholarly Perspective

While specific asbab al-nuzul (occasions of revelation) for these verses are often discussed in classical Tafsir (exegesis) works—typically linking them to the behavior of the hypocrites in Medina during the lead-up to military engagements—the themes are deeply embedded in the Prophetic tradition:

1. Reflection on the Quran (Verse 24) The command to "reflect upon the Quran" is a foundational principle in the Sunnah. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged his companions not to merely recite the words but to contemplate their meaning. The concept of "locks upon the hearts" is interpreted as a spiritual barrier caused by persistent sin or pride, which prevents the light of guidance from penetrating the heart (Reynolds, 2021).

2. The State of the Heart The imagery of the "disease in the heart" (verse 20) is a recurring motif in the Hadith literature. The Prophet ﷺ famously noted that there is a piece of flesh in the body; if it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt—and that piece is the heart (Sahih al-Bukhari). This aligns with the Quranic warning that those who turn away from truth undergo a spiritual deterioration that manifests as physical cowardice or moral decay.

3. Character and Social Conduct The verses regarding the severing of kinship ties (verse 22) are reinforced by numerous Hadiths where the Prophet ﷺ strictly forbade the severing of family bonds, emphasizing that such actions lead to exclusion from Divine mercy. The condemnation of those who "turn away" serves as an admonition to maintain steadfastness and unity within the Muslim community.

Summary

Scholars emphasize that verses 20–29 are not merely historical accounts of the hypocrites in Medina; they are a timeless diagnostic tool for the believer. They highlight the importance of active engagement with the Quranic text, the necessity of spiritual sincerity, and the danger of allowing hypocrisy or worldly desires to "lock" one's heart against the truth (Reynolds, 2021).

References

• Reynolds, G. S. (2021). “The Human Was Created Out of Haste.” On Prophecy and the Problem of Human Nature in the Qur’an. Religions, 12(8), 589. 

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Surah Muhammad (Chapter 47), verses 20 through 29, heavily addresses the psychological divide between true believers and hypocrites (Munafiqun), especially when the command for fighting (Jihad) was revealed. It also strongly emphasizes internal sincerity, the severe consequences of breaking family ties, and the necessity of pondering the Quran.

Several prominent Hadiths and traditions directly elucidate or trace their origins to these specific verses.

1. Verses 22–23: Severing Ties of Kinship (Silat ar-Rahim)

"So would you perhaps, if you turned away, spread corruption on earth, and sever your ties of kinship? Such are the ones whom Allah has cursed..." (Quran 47:22-23)

The Prophet Muhammad explicitly connected these verses to the sacredness of family bonds and the divine wrath that accompanies severing them.

• The Hadith of the Womb (Ar-Rahim): Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
  "Allah created the creation, and when He finished, the womb (Ar-Rahim) stood up and caught hold of the lower garment of the Most Merciful. Allah said, 'What is the matter?' It said, 'At this place, I seek refuge with You from all those who sever me (ties of kinship).' Allah said, 'Would you be pleased that I will keep good relations with the one who keeps good relations with you, and sever relations with the one who severs relations with you?' It said, 'Yes, O my Lord!' Allah said, 'Then that is yours.'"
  Abu Hurairah then added explicitly: "Recite if you wish: 'So would you perhaps, if you turned away, spread corruption on earth, and sever your ties of kinship?' (47:22)."

  • Source: Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 4830), Sahih Muslim (Hadith 2554).

2. Verse 24: Reflecting on the Quran and "Locks on Hearts"

"Will they not then reflect upon the Quran, or are there locks upon their hearts?" (Quran 47:24)

This verse serves as a foundational command for Tadabbur (deep reflection on the Quran). The Sunnah establishes that the Prophet's companions took this warning very seriously, contrasting it with those who merely memorize words without internalizing them.

• The Description of the Khawarij (Hypocritical Zealots): The Sunnah frequently uses the concept of the Quran "not passing the throat" to describe hypocritical or misguided people whose hearts are locked to its true meaning. The Prophet ﷺ said:
  "There will emerge a people from my nation who will recite the Quran, but it will not go past their throats (i.e., it will not reach their hearts)..."

  • Source: Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 5057), Sahih Muslim (Hadith 1066).

• The Youth from Yamamah: In traditional Tafsir literature (such as Ibn Kathir), it is noted that when this verse was recited in front of the companions, a young man from Yamamah cried out, "Indeed, there are locks upon them, until Allah unlocks them!" Umar ibn al-Khattab was so pleased by the young man's understanding and reflection that he kept him close.

3. Verse 29: Exposing the Secrets of the Hypocrites

"Or do those in whose hearts is a disease think that Allah will not expose their ill-wills?" (Quran 47:29)

This verse warns the hypocrites that their internal hatred for Islam will eventually be manifested externally.

• The Tone of Speech (Lahn al-Qawl): Directly connected to verse 29 and 30 ("but you will know them by the tone of their speech"), the Sunnah records how the companions developed an intuitive understanding of hypocrisy based on how people spoke about Islam and the Prophet ﷺ.
  Uthman bin Affan (the third Caliph) famously stated an aphorism directly tied to the concept of this verse:
  "Never does a person conceal a secret except that Allah exposes it through the slips of their tongue and the expressions of their face."

  • Source: Recorded in Tafsir Ibn Kathir under Surah Muhammad.

• The Prophet's Secret List: Because Allah promised to expose the hypocrites, He eventually gave the Prophet ﷺ a specific list of their names. The Prophet passed this list solely to his companion Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (who was known as the "Keeper of the Secret of the Messenger of Allah"). Umar ibn al-Khattab would famously monitor Hudhayfah; if a Muslim passed away and Hudhayfah did not attend the funeral prayer, Umar knew the deceased was a hypocrite exposed by Allah.

  • Source: Sahih al-Bukhari (Chapters on the Virtues of the Companions).