سُوْرَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ
Surah Muhammad (47) — Ayah 21
طَاعَةٌ وَقَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ ۚ فَإِذَا عَزَمَ ٱلْأَمْرُ فَلَوْ صَدَقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ ﴿21﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Obedience (to Allâh) and good words (were better for them). And when the matter (preparation for Jihâd ) is resolved on, then if they had been true to Allâh, it would have been better for them.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
طَاعَةٌۭ
ṭāʿatun
(Is) obedience
وَقَوْلٌۭ
waqawlun
and a word
مَّعْرُوفٌۭ ۚ
maʿrūfun
kind
فَإِذَا
fa-idhā
And when
عَزَمَ
ʿazama
(is) determined
ٱلْأَمْرُ
l-amru
the matter
فَلَوْ
falaw
then if
صَدَقُوا۟
ṣadaqū
they had been true
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
(to) Allah
لَكَانَ
lakāna
surely, it would have been
خَيْرًۭا
khayran
better
لَّهُمْ
lahum
for them
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 21) ➊ {طَاعَةٌ وَّ قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوْفٌ:} Its connection is either with the last word of the previous verse, {’’ فَاَوْلٰى لَهُمْ ‘‘}, as mentioned before, and if it is considered a new sentence, then its construction can be in two ways: one is that this is the subject and its predicate {’’ خَيْرٌ لَّهُمْ‘‘} is omitted, meaning that obedience and speaking good is better for them. The second is that this is the omitted subject and {’’أَمْرُنَا‘‘} is its predicate, meaning they say that our task is only to obey and speak good.
➋ {فَاِذَا عَزَمَ الْاَمْرُ فَلَوْ صَدَقُوا اللّٰهَ … :} That is, they say only this, that our task is {’’سَمِعْنَا وَ أَطَعْنَا‘‘}, meaning to obey and speak good, but when the definite and obligatory command for jihad comes, then they turn out to be liars in their statement; if at that time they remain truthful with Allah in their statement, then surely it is better for them.
➋ {فَاِذَا عَزَمَ الْاَمْرُ فَلَوْ صَدَقُوا اللّٰهَ … :} That is, they say only this, that our task is {’’سَمِعْنَا وَ أَطَعْنَا‘‘}, meaning to obey and speak good, but when the definite and obligatory command for jihad comes, then they turn out to be liars in their statement; if at that time they remain truthful with Allah in their statement, then surely it is better for them.
