Surah Muhammad ayat 18 Tafsir Quran 47:18

﴿فَهَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا السَّاعَةَ أَن تَأْتِيَهُم بَغْتَةً ۖ فَقَدْ جَاءَ أَشْرَاطُهَا ۚ فَأَنَّىٰ لَهُمْ إِذَا جَاءَتْهُمْ ذِكْرَاهُمْ﴾
[ محمد: 18]

47:18 Then do they await except that the Hour should come upon them unexpectedly? But already there have come [some of] its indications. Then what good to them, when it has come, will be their remembrance?

Do they then await they do not await namely the disbelievers of Mecca anything except that the Hour should come upon them an ta’tiyahum is an inclusive substitution for al-sā‘ata ‘the Hour’; in other words it cannot be other than that it will come upon them … suddenly? For already its portents the signs thereof have come among which are the sending of the Prophet s the splitting of the Moon Q. 541 and the Smoke Q. 4410. So when it the Hour has come upon them for what benefit will their reminder be? their remembering; in other words it will be of no benefit to them.

Do they (The infidel Meccans together with the hypocrites) intend to remain in their state of disbelief until they suddenly face the foreordained Hour? But its shadows have been cast and its preceding signs have come into peoples knowledge; and so where can they turn and what can profit them when it comes upon them

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 ﷺ 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 ﷺ 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 ﷺ 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 ﷺ 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 ﷺ 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 )

(47:18) Are they waiting, then, for anything else than the Last Hour to suddenly come upon them? *29 Already some of its tokens have come. *30 But when it does actually come upon them, where will any time be left for them to take heed?

Then do they await except that the meaning

*29) That is, as far as the explanation andclarification of the truth is concerned; it has been explained fully well by argument and reasoning, the miraculous discourses of the Qur'an, the pure character of the Prophet Muhammad ( upon whom be Allah's peace ) and the revolution in the lives of his Companions.
Now, are these people awaiting that Resurrection itself should take place and then only they will believe? ,
*30) Theportents of Resurrection imply those signs which indicate that its approach is near.
One such important sign is the advent of God's Last Prophet after whom no other prophet will come till Resurrection.
Traditions have been related in Bukhari, Muslim.
Tirmidhi and Musnad Ahmad on the authority of Hadrat Anas, Hadrat Sahl bin Sa'd As-Sa'idi and Hadrat Buraidah, saying that the Holy Prophet raised his index finger and the middle finger and said: " My advent and Resurrection are like these two fingers. " That is, 'Just as there is no other finger between these two fingers, so no other prophet will be raised between the and Resurrection; after me only Resurrection now will occur."
 

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 ﷺ 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 ﷺ 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 ﷺ 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 ﷺ 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 ﷺ 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 )

( Await they aught ) do the disbelievers of Mecca, if they disbelieve in you, await anything ( save the Hour, that it should come upon them unawares ) by surprise? ( And the beginnings thereof ) the signs of the coming of the Hour: the splitting of the moon and the coming of the Prophet ( pbuh ) with the Qur’an which are of its signs ( have already come. But how, when it hath come upon them ) i.e. the Hour, ( can they take their warning ) by repenting?

Do they then await (anything) other than the Hour, that it should come upon them suddenly? But some of its portents (indications and signs) have already come, and when it (actually) is on them, how can they benefit then by their reminder?

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