Revealed in the early Madinan period, Surah Muhammad focuses on the struggle for survival and the defense of the newly established Islamic state against pagan aggression. It contrasts the deeds of those who reject the truth with those who believe in what was revealed to Muhammad (ﷺ), stating that God will erase the sins of the believers and guide them. The chapter outlines guidelines for warfare, the treatment of captives, and the ultimate triumph of the truth. It contains a striking description of Paradise, detailing rivers of pure water, fresh milk, delicious wine, and clear honey, while warning the hypocrites that their plots are fully known to God.
Transliteration
Allatheena kafaroo wasaddoo AAan sabeeli Allahi adalla aAAmalahum
Translation
Those who disbelieve and repel from the path of God—He nullifies their works
Transliteration
Waallatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati waamanoo bima nuzzila AAala muhammadin wahuwa alhaqqu min rabbihim kaffara AAanhum sayyiatihim waaslaha balahum
Translation
While those who believe, and work righteousness, and believe in what was sent down to Muhammad—and it is the truth from their Lord—He remits their sins, and relieves their concerns
The foundational verse of the chapter explicitly honoring the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ by name: promises that those who embrace faith, live righteously, and follow the revelation sent to Muhammad ﷺ will have their past errors erased and their inner psychological and social state restored to peace.
Transliteration
Thalika bianna allatheena kafaroo ittabaAAoo albatila waanna allatheena amanoo ittabaAAoo alhaqqa min rabbihim kathalika yadribu Allahu lilnnasi amthalahum
Translation
That is because those who disbelieve follow falsehoods, while those who believe follow the truth from their Lord. God thus cites for the people their examples
Transliteration
Faitha laqeetumu allatheena kafaroo fadarba alrriqabi hatta itha athkhantumoohum fashuddoo alwathaqa faimma mannan baAAdu waimma fidaan hatta tadaAAa alharbu awzaraha thalika walaw yashao Allahu laintasara minhum walakin liyabluwa baAAdakum bibaAAdin waallatheena qutiloo fee sabeeli Allahi falan yudilla aAAmalahum
Translation
When you encounter those who disbelieve, strike at their necks. Then, when you have routed them, bind them firmly. Then, either release them by grace, or by ransom, until war lays down its burdens. Had God willed, He could have defeated them Himself, but He thus tests some of you by means of others. As for those who are killed in the way of God, He will not let their deeds go to waste
Establishes humane international laws of warfare and treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs): combat is restricted strictly to active combatants on the battlefield. Once enemies are captured, they must be secured humanely, and when hostilities cease, prisoners must be released either unconditionally as a gracious act of goodwill ('Manna') or through diplomatic prisoner exchange/ransom ('Fida').
Transliteration
Sayahdeehim wayuslihu balahum
Translation
He will guide them, and will improve their state of mind
Transliteration
Wayudkhiluhumu aljannata AAarrafaha lahum
Translation
And will admit them into Paradise, which He has identified for them
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo in tansuroo Allaha yansurkum wayuthabbit aqdamakum
Translation
O you who believe! If you support God, He will support you, and will strengthen your foothold
Transliteration
Waallatheena kafaroo fataAAsan lahum waadalla aAAmalahum
Translation
But as for those who disbelieve, for them is perdition, and He will waste their deeds
Transliteration
Thalika biannahum karihoo ma anzala Allahu faahbata aAAmalahum
Translation
That is because they hated what God revealed, so He nullified their deeds
Transliteration
Afalam yaseeroo fee alardi fayanthuroo kayfa kana AAaqibatu allatheena min qablihim dammara Allahu AAalayhim walilkafireena amthaluha
Translation
Have they not journeyed through the earth and seen the consequences for those before them? God poured destruction upon them, and for the unbelievers is something comparable
Transliteration
Thalika bianna Allaha mawla allatheena amanoo waanna alkafireena la mawla lahum
Translation
That is because God is the Master of those who believe, while the disbelievers have no master
Transliteration
Inna Allaha yudkhilu allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati jannatin tajree min tahtiha alanharu waallatheena kafaroo yatamattaAAoona wayakuloona kama takulu alanAAamu waalnnaru mathwan lahum
Translation
God will admit those who believe and do good deeds into gardens beneath which rivers flow. As for those who disbelieve, they enjoy themselves, and eat as cattle eat, and the Fire will be their dwelling
Transliteration
Wakaayyin min qaryatin hiya ashaddu quwwatan min qaryatika allatee akhrajatka ahlaknahum fala nasira lahum
Translation
How many a town was more powerful than your town which evicted you? We destroyed them, and there was no helper for them
Revealed as the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stood on the hills outside Mecca during the Hijrah, looking back weeping at his beloved hometown as he was driven out by force. God consoled him by promising that oppressive cities far mightier than Mecca were brought down when they persisted in injustice.
Transliteration
Afaman kana AAala bayyinatin min rabbihi kaman zuyyina lahu sooo AAamalihi waittabaAAoo ahwaahum
Translation
Is he who stands upon evidence from his Lord, like someone whose evil deed is made to appear good to him? And they follow their own desires
Transliteration
Mathalu aljannati allatee wuAAida almuttaqoona feeha anharun min main ghayri asinin waanharun min labanin lam yataghayyar taAAmuhu waanharun min khamrin laththatin lilshsharibeena waanharun min AAasalin musaffan walahum feeha min kulli alththamarati wamaghfiratun min rabbihim kaman huwa khalidun fee alnnari wasuqoo maan hameeman faqattaAAa amAAaahum
Translation
The likeness of the Garden promised to the righteous: in it are rivers of pure water, and rivers of milk forever fresh, and rivers of wine delightful to the drinkers, and rivers of strained honey. And therein they will have of every fruit, and forgiveness from their Lord. Like one abiding in the Fire forever, and are given to drink boiling water, that cuts-up their bowels
Describes the four iconic rivers flowing in Paradise: rivers of crystal water that never turns stagnant, rivers of fresh milk that never spoils, rivers of delightful non-intoxicating wine that brings no headaches, and rivers of filtered, pure honey.
Transliteration
Waminhum man yastamiAAu ilayka hatta itha kharajoo min AAindika qaloo lillatheena ootoo alAAilma matha qala anifan olaika allatheena tabaAAa Allahu AAala quloobihim waittabaAAoo ahwaahum
Translation
Among them are those who listen to you, but when they leave your presence, they say to those given knowledge, “What did he say just now?” Those are they whose hearts God has sealed, and they follow their own desires
Transliteration
Waallatheena ihtadaw zadahum hudan waatahum taqwahum
Translation
As for those who are guided, He increases them in guidance, and He has granted them their righteousness
Transliteration
Fahal yanthuroona illa alssaAAata an tatiyahum baghtatan faqad jaa ashratuha faanna lahum itha jaathum thikrahum
Translation
Are they just waiting until the Hour comes to them suddenly? Its tokens have already come. But how will they be reminded when it has come to them
Transliteration
FaiAAlam annahu la ilaha illa Allahu waistaghfir lithanbika walilmumineena waalmuminati waAllahu yaAAlamu mutaqallabakum wamathwakum
Translation
Know that there is no god but God, and ask forgiveness for your sin, and for the believing men and believing women. God knows your movements, and your resting-place
Transliteration
Wayaqoolu allatheena amanoo lawla nuzzilat sooratun faitha onzilat sooratun muhkamatun wathukira feeha alqitalu raayta allatheena fee quloobihim maradun yanthuroona ilayka nathara almaghshiyyi AAalayhi mina almawti faawla lahum
Translation
Those who believe say, “If only a chapter is sent down.” Yet when a decisive chapter is sent down, and fighting is mentioned in it, you see those in whose hearts is sickness looking at you with the look of someone fainting at death. So woe to them
Depicts the cowardly psychological reaction of Medinan hypocrites: whenever a clear chapter of the Quran was revealed authorizing defensive military mobilization to protect vulnerable refugees, their eyes rolled in terror like someone facing immediate death.
Transliteration
TaAAatun waqawlun maAAroofun faitha AAazama alamru falaw sadaqoo Allaha lakana khayran lahum
Translation
Obedience and upright speech. Then, when the matter is settled, being true to God would have been better for them
Transliteration
Fahal AAasaytum in tawallaytum an tufsidoo fee alardi watuqattiAAoo arhamakum
Translation
If you turn away, you are likely to make mischief on earth, and sever your family ties
Severely warns against tribal warfare and domestic cruelty: points out that returning to power-hungry tribalism leads directly to societal corruption and the cruel severing of blood and family relationships ('Qati'at ar-Rahim').
Transliteration
Olaika allatheena laAAanahumu Allahu faasammahum waaAAma absarahum
Translation
Those are they whom God has cursed. He made them deaf, and blinded their sight
Transliteration
Afala yatadabbaroona alqurana am AAala quloobin aqfaluha
Translation
Will they not ponder the Quran? Or are there locks upon their hearts
A direct challenge to critical thought and mindfulness: urges readers to contemplate the Quran's wisdom deeply rather than reciting words mechanically, asking whether stubborn minds have clamped heavy padlocks over their own hearts.
Transliteration
Inna allatheena irtaddoo AAala adbarihim min baAAdi ma tabayyana lahumu alhuda alshshaytanu sawwala lahum waamla lahum
Translation
Those who reverted after the guidance became clear to them—Satan has enticed them, and has given them latitude
Transliteration
Thalika biannahum qaloo lillatheena karihoo ma nazzala Allahu sanuteeAAukum fee baAAdi alamri waAllahu yaAAlamu israrahum
Translation
That is because they said to those who hated what God has revealed, “We will obey you in certain matters.” But God knows their secret thoughts
Transliteration
Fakayfa itha tawaffathumu almalaikatu yadriboona wujoohahum waadbarahum
Translation
How about when the angels take them at death, beating their faces and their backs
Transliteration
Thalika biannahumu ittabaAAoo ma askhata Allaha wakarihoo ridwanahu faahbata aAAmalahum
Translation
That is because they pursued what displeases God, and they disliked His approval, so He nullified their works
Transliteration
Am hasiba allatheena fee quloobihim maradun an lan yukhrija Allahu adghanahum
Translation
Do those in whose hearts is sickness think that God will not expose their malice
Transliteration
Walaw nashao laaraynakahum falaAAaraftahum biseemahum walataAArifannahum fee lahni alqawli waAllahu yaAAlamu aAAmalakum
Translation
Had We willed, We could have shown them to you, and you would have recognized them by their marks. Yet you will recognize them by their tone of speech. And God knows your actions
Explains how insincere hypocrites betray themselves: while they attempt to conceal their malice behind polite smiles, their true disdain inevitably leaks out through the cynical tone, slips of the tongue, and passive-aggressive patterns of their speech ('Lahni al-Qawl').
Transliteration
Walanabluwannakum hatta naAAlama almujahideena minkum waalssabireena wanabluwa akhbarakum
Translation
We will certainly test you, until We know those among you who strive, and those who are steadfast, and We will test your reactions
Transliteration
Inna allatheena kafaroo wasaddoo AAan sabeeli Allahi washaqqoo alrrasoola min baAAdi ma tabayyana lahumu alhuda lan yaduroo Allaha shayan wasayuhbitu aAAmalahum
Translation
Those who disbelieve, and hinder from the path of God, and oppose the Messenger after guidance has become clear to them—they will not hurt God in the least, but He will nullify their deeds
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo ateeAAoo Allaha waateeAAoo alrrasoola wala tubtiloo aAAmalakum
Translation
O you who believe! obey God, and obey the Messenger, and do not let your deeds go to waste
Transliteration
Inna allatheena kafaroo wasaddoo AAan sabeeli Allahi thumma matoo wahum kuffarun falan yaghfira Allahu lahum
Translation
Those who disbelieve, and hinder from God’s path, and then die as disbelievers—God will not forgive them
Transliteration
Fala tahinoo watadAAoo ila alssalmi waantumu alaAAlawna waAllahu maAAakum walan yatirakum aAAmalakum
Translation
So do not waver and call for peace while you have the upper hand. God is with you, and He will not waste your efforts
Transliteration
Innama alhayatu alddunya laAAibun walahwun wain tuminoo watattaqoo yutikum ojoorakum wala yasalkum amwalakum
Translation
The life of this word is nothing but play and pastime. But if you have faith and lead a righteous life, He will grant you your rewards, and He will not ask you for your possessions
Transliteration
In yasalkumooha fayuhfikum tabkhaloo wayukhrij adghanakum
Translation
Were He to ask you for it, and press you, you would become tightfisted, and He would expose your unwillingness
Transliteration
Haantum haolai tudAAawna litunfiqoo fee sabeeli Allahi faminkum man yabkhalu waman yabkhal fainnama yabkhalu AAan nafsihi waAllahu alghaniyyu waantumu alfuqarao wain tatawallaw yastabdil qawman ghayrakum thumma la yakoonoo amthalakum
Translation
Here you are, being called to spend in the cause of God. Among you are those who withhold; but whoever withholds is withholding against his own soul. God is the Rich, while you are the needy. And if you turn away, He will replace you with another people, and they will not be like you
The principle of divine replacement ('Istibdal'): warns that if the current generation becomes stingy or turns away from supporting justice, God will simply replace them with another civilization that will carry the banner of truth faithfully. Prophetic traditions note this pointed to non-Arab peoples, including Persians, Central Asians, and others, who championed Islamic sciences and civilization in subsequent centuries.