The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 5) — Page 21
CHAPTER 47 MUHAMMAD (Revealed after Hijrah) Title, Date of Revelation and Context The Surah takes its title from its third verse. It is also known as J (war) because it devotes a large portion of its text to the subject of war-its causes, ethics and consequences. The fact that the Sūrah deals mainly with the fighting which took place after the Holy Prophet had Migrated to Medina and that it makes repeated mention of the hypocrites with whom the Muslims came in contact at that place, lends powerful support to the view held by Baidāwī, Zamakhsharī, Suyūṭī, and others that the Surah was revealed after the Hijrah a large part of it having been revealed probably before the Battle of Badr, in the early days of the life at Medina. Towards the end of the previous Sūrah, it was unambiguously and emphatically stated that opposition to the Divine Message, however powerful, organized, and persistent, can never succeed and that Truth must prevail. The subject assumes a certain definiteness in this Sūrah, and disbelievers are told that in conformity with the unalterable divine law that Truth must ultimately triumph over falsehood, the Holy Prophet and his followers, though in a weak state in the beginning and though their cause seemingly hopeless, will, after overcoming all difficulties and impediments, succeed in the long run, their weakness progressively giving place to strength. Subject Matter of the Sürah The Surah opens with the challenging statement that all the efforts of disbelievers to retard and arrest the progress of Islam will come to naught and the condition of the Prophet's followers will improve day by day. It then proceeds to say that since disbelievers have drawn the sword against the Prophet they shall perish by the sword. After holding out to Muslims a definite promise of success against their enemies, it briefly lays down important rules of war, as for instance, prisoners can be taken only after regular fighting in which the enemy is decisively beaten (v. 5), but after the war is over, they are to be set free either as an act of favour, or, after taking proper ransom. Thus the Surah, in a little verse, strikes effectively at the evil practice of slavery. It is further stated that falsehood, though in a position of strength and power against Truth in the beginning, eventually must suffer defeat. This is a lesson writ large on the pages of history, and the evil fate of peoples nearer home such as ‘Ād, Thamūd, Midian and the people of Lot should open the eyes of the Meccans. Next, the Surah says a few words of comfort and good 2917