سُوْرَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ
Surah Muhammad (47) — Ayah 27
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا تَوَفَّتْهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَـٰرَهُمْ ﴿27﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then how (will it be) when the angels will take their souls at death, smiting their faces and their backs?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَكَيْفَ
fakayfa
Then how
إِذَا
idhā
when
تَوَفَّتْهُمُ
tawaffathumu
take them in death
ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ
l-malāikatu
the Angels
يَضْرِبُونَ
yaḍribūna
striking
وُجُوهَهُمْ
wujūhahum
their faces
وَأَدْبَـٰرَهُمْ
wa-adbārahum
and their backs
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 28,27) ➊ {فَكَيْفَ اِذَا تَوَفَّتْهُمُ الْمَلٰٓىِٕكَةُ … :} That is, in the world, after accepting Islam, they sided with the disbelievers so that in the war between disbelief and Islam, they could gain benefits from both sides, protect themselves from the harms and dangers of war, and keep their faces and backs safe from the blows of arrows and swords. But at the time of death, who will save their faces and backs from the blows of the angels?
➋ { فَاَحْبَطَ اَعْمَالَهُمْ:} That is, all those deeds which they performed as Muslims, such as their prayers, their fasts, zakat, and all acts of worship which outwardly appeared to be good deeds, Allah Almighty destroyed them, because all this would have been accepted only if it was done to please Allah Almighty. When, by betraying and being disloyal to Islam and the Muslims, they set out on a path that displeased Allah Almighty, and pleasing Allah was no longer their preference, then what benefit could their prayers, fasts, charities, and other good deeds bring them?
➋ { فَاَحْبَطَ اَعْمَالَهُمْ:} That is, all those deeds which they performed as Muslims, such as their prayers, their fasts, zakat, and all acts of worship which outwardly appeared to be good deeds, Allah Almighty destroyed them, because all this would have been accepted only if it was done to please Allah Almighty. When, by betraying and being disloyal to Islam and the Muslims, they set out on a path that displeased Allah Almighty, and pleasing Allah was no longer their preference, then what benefit could their prayers, fasts, charities, and other good deeds bring them?
