Sūrah 47 · Medinan

How Sūrah Muhammad was revealed.

Where and when it came down, what it teaches, and the hadith about it — all on one calm page.

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Where revealed Medinan

Revealed in the Madīnan period, after the migration to Madīnah.

Order of revelation #95

Its place in the traditional order in which the sūrahs were revealed.

Length 38 ayahs

4 reading sections in the Muṣḥaf.

The revelation story

How and when it came down.

This Madinan surah is a definitive military and social charter, named for the Prophet (ﷺ) whom it defends. Its primary purpose is to legitimize and command the fight for Truth, establish laws of war, and contrast the spiritual status of the victorious believers with the destructive fate of the disbelievers and hypocrites.

Themes and purpose:

This Madinan surah is a definitive military and social charter, named for the Prophet (ﷺ) whom it defends. Its primary purpose is to legitimize and command the fight for Truth, establish laws of war, and contrast the spiritual status of the victorious believers with the destructive fate of the disbelievers and hypocrites.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Madinan by unanimous agreement.

Context: The surah was revealed during the period of escalating conflict with the polytheists, with some scholars placing its context around the Battle of Badr or Uḥud. It directly addresses the hypocrites’ wavering, and some believers’ hesitation, when a surah commanding fighting was revealed.

Chronology: It is counted as the 96th surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat al-Ḥadīd and before al-Raʿd.

Name: The surah is known by three names, most famously "Sūrat Muḥammad" (The Chapter of Muḥammad), because his (ﷺ) blessed name is mentioned in ayah 2. It is also called "Sūrat al-Qitāl" (The Chapter of Fighting), because it details the command and legitimacy of fighting, and "Sūrat alladhīna kafarū" (The Chapter of Those Who Disbelieved), a phrase which appears seven times in this surah.

Ayah Count: 39 ayahs (Majority) or 40 (Baṣrah).

Surah Overview:

  • Contrast of Deeds: Contrasting the disbelievers, whose deeds Allah annuls, with the believers, whose sins are expiated and state is reformed. [1-2]
  • Command to Fight: The primary theme is the divine command to fight the polytheists and the promise of victory and support to the believers. [4-7, 20]
  • The Hypocrites’ Exposure: Exposing the hypocrites who pretend faith and whose hearts waver when war is mentioned. [20-21, 29]
  • Spiritual Status: Describing the Garden and its eternal blessings, and contrasting them with the Fire prepared for the deniers. [12-16]
  • The Warning of Destruction: Warning the disbelievers that the destruction of their opposing towns is imminent. [13]
  • Warning against Complacency: Commanding the believers not to become weak after victory and not to call for peace out of fear, as they have the upper hand. [35]
  • Refutation of Disbelief: Condemning the polytheists for rejecting the Prophet (ﷺ) and establishing that their worship is futile. [25-28]
  • Final Warning: Warning the believers against stinginess in the path of Allah, as all possessions are temporary. [38]
  • Conclusion: a warning against corruption and cutting ties of kinship if granted authority. [38]

Sūrah background — via the Quran Foundation Content API. Shown as supplied by the provider. We do not edit, summarise or generate it.

Hadith about this sūrah

What the hadith say.

These 5 narrations in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī are connected to specific āyāt of this sūrah — a linkage reviewed by the Quran Foundation. Open any one to read it in full, in Arabic and English.

  1. Relates to āyah22
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4830

    حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ أَبِي مُزَرَّدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْخَلْقَ، فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْهُ قَامَتِ الرَّحِمُ فَأَخَذَتْ بِحَقْوِ الرَّحْمَنِ فَقَالَ لَهَا مَهْ‏.‏ قَالَتْ هَذَا مَقَامُ الْعَائِذِ بِكَ مِنَ الْقَطِيعَةِ‏.‏ قَالَ أَلاَ تَرْضَيْنَ أَنْ أَصِلَ مَنْ وَصَلَكِ وَأَقْطَعَ مَنْ قَطَعَكِ‏.‏ قَالَتْ بَلَى يَا رَبِّ‏.‏ قَالَ فَذَاكِ لَكِ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ اقْرَءُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ ‏﴿‏فهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ أَنْ تُفْسِدُوا فِي الأَرْضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ‏﴾‏

    Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah created His creation, and when He had finished it, the womb, got up and caught hold of Allah whereupon Allah said, "What is the matter?' On that, it said, 'I seek refuge with you from those who sever the ties of Kith and kin.' On that Allah said, 'Will you be satisfied if I bestow My favors on him who keeps your ties, and withhold My favors from him who severs your ties?' On that it said, 'Yes, O my Lord!' Then Allah said, 'That is for you.' " Abu Huraira added: If you wish, you can recite: "Would you then if you were given the authority. do mischief in the land and sever your ties of kinship. (47. 22)

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4831

    حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ حَمْزَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَاتِمٌ، عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَمِّي أَبُو الْحُبَابِ، سَعِيدُ بْنُ يَسَارٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، بِهَذَا، ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم اقْرَءُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ ‏﴿‏فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ‏﴾‏

    Narrated Abu Huraira: (As above, No. 354, but added) Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Recite if you wish: "Would you then." ..(47.22)

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4832

    حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ أَبِي الْمُزَرَّدِ، بِهَذَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ وَاقْرَءُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ ‏﴿‏فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ‏﴾‏

    Narrated Muawiya bin Abi Al-Muzarrad: Allah's Messenger, said, "Recite if you wish: Would you then if you were given the authority." (47.22)

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5987

    حَدَّثَنِي بِشْرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ أَبِي مُزَرِّدٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَمِّي، سَعِيدَ بْنَ يَسَارٍ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ حَتَّى إِذَا فَرَغَ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ، قَالَتِ الرَّحِمُ هَذَا مَقَامُ الْعَائِذِ بِكَ مِنَ الْقَطِيعَةِ‏.‏ قَالَ نَعَمْ أَمَا تَرْضَيْنَ أَنْ أَصِلَ مَنْ وَصَلَكِ‏.‏ وَأَقْطَعَ مَنْ قَطَعَكِ‏.‏ قَالَتْ بَلَى يَا رَبِّ‏.‏ قَالَ فَهْوَ لَكِ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ فَاقْرَءُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ ‏﴿‏فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ أَنْ تُفْسِدُوا فِي الأَرْضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ‏﴾‏‏"‏‏.‏

    Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah created the creations, and when He finished from His creations, Ar-Rahm i.e., womb said, "(O Allah) at this place I seek refuge with You from all those who sever me (i.e. sever the ties of Kith and kin). Allah said, 'Yes, won't you be pleased that I will keep good relations with the one who will keep good relations with you, and I will sever the relation with the one who will sever the relations with you.' It said, 'Yes, O my Lord.' Allah said, 'Then that is for you ' " Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) added. "Read (in the Qur'an) if you wish, the Statement of Allah: 'Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land and sever your ties of kinship?' (47.22)

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7502

    حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ بِلاَلٍ، عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ أَبِي مُزَرِّدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْخَلْقَ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْهُ قَامَتِ الرَّحِمُ فَقَالَ مَهْ‏.‏ قَالَتْ هَذَا مَقَامُ الْعَائِذِ بِكَ مِنَ الْقَطِيعَةِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ أَلاَ تَرْضَيْنَ أَنْ أَصِلَ مَنْ وَصَلَكِ، وَأَقْطَعَ مَنْ قَطَعَكِ قَالَتْ بَلَى يَا رَبِّ‏.‏ قَالَ فَذَلِكِ لَكِ ‏"‏‏.‏ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ ‏﴿‏فَهَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ أَنْ تُفْسِدُوا فِي الأَرْضِ وَتُقَطِّعُوا أَرْحَامَكُمْ‏﴾‏

    Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Allah created the creation, and when He finished from His creation the Rahm (womb) got up, and Allah said (to it). "Stop! What do you want? It said; "At this place I seek refuge with You from all those who sever me (i.e. sever the ties of Kinship.)" Allah said: "Would you be pleased that I will keep good relation with the one who will keep good relation with you, and I will sever the relation with the one who will sever the relation with you. It said: 'Yes, 'O my Lord.' Allah said (to it), 'That is for you.'' And then Abu Huraira recited the Verse:-- "Would you then if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship." (47.22)

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The link between each āyah and these narrations is the Quran Foundation's reviewed reference map. The wording is reproduced verbatim from a public-domain edition of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and is not edited, summarised or generated; every narration also opens at Sunnah.com so it can be checked against another copy.

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