سُوْرَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ
Surah Muhammad (47) — Ayah 4
فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَضَرْبَ ٱلرِّقَابِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّوا۟ ٱلْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّۢا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَآءً حَتَّىٰ تَضَعَ ٱلْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ لَٱنتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَا۟ بَعْضَكُم بِبَعْضٍ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ ﴿4﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
So, when you meet (in fight - Jihâd in Allâh’s Cause) those who disbelieve, smite (their) necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives). Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity (i.e. free them without ransom), or ransom (according to what benefits Islâm), until the war lays down its burden. Thus [you are ordered by Allâh to continue in carrying out Jihâd against the disbelievers till they embrace Islâm and are saved from the punishment in the Hell-fire or at least come under your protection], but if it had been Allâh’s Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight) in order to test some of you with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allâh, He will never let their deeds be lost.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَإِذَا
fa-idhā
So when
لَقِيتُمُ
laqītumu
you meet
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
كَفَرُوا۟
kafarū
disbelieve
فَضَرْبَ
faḍarba
then strike
ٱلرِّقَابِ
l-riqābi
the necks
حَتَّىٰٓ
ḥattā
until
إِذَآ
idhā
when
أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ
athkhantumūhum
you have subdued them
فَشُدُّوا۟
fashuddū
then bind firmly
ٱلْوَثَاقَ
l-wathāqa
the bond
فَإِمَّا
fa-immā
then either
مَنًّۢا
mannan
a favor
بَعْدُ
baʿdu
afterwards
وَإِمَّا
wa-immā
or
فِدَآءً
fidāan
ransom
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
تَضَعَ
taḍaʿa
lays down
ٱلْحَرْبُ
l-ḥarbu
the war
أَوْزَارَهَا ۚ
awzārahā
its burdens
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
وَلَوْ
walaw
And if
يَشَآءُ
yashāu
Allah had willed
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah had willed
لَٱنتَصَرَ
la-intaṣara
surely, He could have taken retribution
مِنْهُمْ
min'hum
from them
وَلَـٰكِن
walākin
but
لِّيَبْلُوَا۟
liyabluwā
to test
بَعْضَكُم
baʿḍakum
some of you
بِبَعْضٍۢ ۗ
bibaʿḍin
with others
وَٱلَّذِينَ
wa-alladhīna
And those who
قُتِلُوا۟
qutilū
are killed
فِى
fī
in
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way of Allah
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(the) way of Allah
فَلَن
falan
then never
يُضِلَّ
yuḍilla
He will cause to be lost
أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ
aʿmālahum
their deeds
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
4. 1. When both groups have been mentioned, now the command is being given to fight against the disbelievers and non-treaty People of the Book. Instead of saying "kill them," the command is given to "strike their necks," as this expression conveys greater severity and harshness towards the disbelievers. (Fath al-Qadeer)
4. 2. That is, after a fierce battle and killing as many of them as possible, those who fall into your hands should be taken as captives and held firmly so that they cannot escape.
4. 3. "Mann" means to release without ransom as a favor, and "fidaa" means to release in exchange for some compensation. Regarding the captives, the choice has been given that whichever option is better for Islam and the Muslims according to the situation, that should be adopted.
4. 4. That is, until the war with the disbelievers ends, or it means that the hostile enemy, after being defeated or making peace, lays down arms, and your battle with them is to continue in which you will kill them as well. Regarding the captives, you have the choice of the two aforementioned options. Some say this verse is abrogated and only killing remains as an option, but the correct view is that this verse is not abrogated; it is definitive, and the leader of the time has all four options: to kill the disbelievers, to take them captive, to release any or all of the captives as a favor, or to release them in exchange for compensation. (Fath al-Qadeer)
4. 5. Or you do likewise, "if‘alū dhālika" or "dhālika ḥukm al-kuffār," meaning 'that is the ruling concerning the disbelievers.'
4. 6. Meaning, by destroying the disbelievers or subjecting them to punishment, that is, you would not even need to fight them.
4. 7. That is, He will not let their reward and recompense go to waste.
4. 2. That is, after a fierce battle and killing as many of them as possible, those who fall into your hands should be taken as captives and held firmly so that they cannot escape.
4. 3. "Mann" means to release without ransom as a favor, and "fidaa" means to release in exchange for some compensation. Regarding the captives, the choice has been given that whichever option is better for Islam and the Muslims according to the situation, that should be adopted.
4. 4. That is, until the war with the disbelievers ends, or it means that the hostile enemy, after being defeated or making peace, lays down arms, and your battle with them is to continue in which you will kill them as well. Regarding the captives, you have the choice of the two aforementioned options. Some say this verse is abrogated and only killing remains as an option, but the correct view is that this verse is not abrogated; it is definitive, and the leader of the time has all four options: to kill the disbelievers, to take them captive, to release any or all of the captives as a favor, or to release them in exchange for compensation. (Fath al-Qadeer)
4. 5. Or you do likewise, "if‘alū dhālika" or "dhālika ḥukm al-kuffār," meaning 'that is the ruling concerning the disbelievers.'
4. 6. Meaning, by destroying the disbelievers or subjecting them to punishment, that is, you would not even need to fight them.
4. 7. That is, He will not let their reward and recompense go to waste.
