Commentary on the Koran: Surah 48 (No. Q048)

Pickthall Translation; Bible Quotes are from the English Standard Version unless otherwise noted.

Introduction

Al Fath takes its name from the word Fath or “Victory”. Pickthall holds that it refers not to the conquest of Becca but to the truce of Al Hudeybiyeh, which seemed at the time to be a setback for Al Islam but proved to be in fact their greatest victory.

In the Sixth year of the Hijrah (622 CE) or in 627/628 CE the Prophet set out with some 1400 of the faith from Al Madinah and the country round in the garb of pilgrims, not for war but allegedly to visit the Ka’abah. When they drew near to Becca they were warned that the Qureysh had gathered their allies against them. Their cavalry under Khalid ibn Al Walid occupied the road before them. They detoured through the gullies of the hills and escaped to the valley of Becca and camped at Al Hudeybiyah below the city. The prophet refused to give battle and repeatedly tried to parley with the Qureysh, who had themselves sworn not to permit the Muslims to reach the Ka’abah. The Muslims were all this time in some danger. Because of his clan relationships and influence Othman ibn ‘Affan was sent into the city. He was detained by the Beccans and (according to Ibn Hisham Part II, pp176-178) news that he had been murdered reached the camp of the Muslims.

It was then that the Prophet, who was sitting under a tree, took from his comrades the oath (referred to in verse 18) (cf. Ibn Hisham ibid., p.179; cf. also Pickthall). They vowed they would hold together and fight to the death. Then it became known that news of Othman’s death was false, and the Querysh agreed to a truce under terms favourable to them. The terms allegedly were that the Prophet and his people were to give up the project of visiting the sanctuary for that year, but were to undertake the pilgrimage for the following year when the idolaters undertook to evacuate Becca for three days to allow them to do so.

Pickthall quotes Ibn Khaldum as saying “And there was never a victory greater than this victory; for as Az-Zuhri says, when it was war the people did not meet, but when the truce came and war laid down its burdens and people felt safe one with another, then they met and felt safe one with another, then they met and indulged in conversation and discussion. And no man spoke of Al Islam to another but the latter espoused it, so that they entered Al Islam in those two years (i.e. between Al Hudeybiyah and the breaking of the truce by Qureysh) as many as all those who had entered it before or more” (Ibn Khaldun, Tarikh Supplement to Part II Bulaq 1284 AH following Ibn Hisham cf. Pickthall)).

The truce was broken by the Qureysh as they were losing the peace and had lost a great many converts to Al Islam which was the undoubted aim of the Prophet’s forces visiting Becca, which was an idolatrous shrine. The Surah is dated to this Sixth year of the Hijrah.

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The Signal Victory is given to the Church as the Muhammad as Council of the elect so that they are able to obtain forgiveness of sins both past and future and guide them on the path of righteousness and to the Garden of the First Resurrection of the faith.

48.1. Lo! We have given thee (O Muhammad) a signal victory,

48.2. That Allah may forgive thee of thy sin that which is past and that which is to come, and may perfect His favour unto thee, and may guide thee on a right path,

48.3. And that Allah may help thee with strong help –

48.4. He it is Who sent down peace of reassurance into the hearts of the believers that they might add faith unto their faith. Allah's are the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is ever Knower, Wise –

48.5. That He may bring the believing men and the believing women into Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide, and may remit from them their evil deeds - That, in the sight of Allah, is the supreme triumph –

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Revelation 3:21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. (NIV)

Isaiah 25:8-9 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. ⁹It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

1Corinthians 15:54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

2Timothy 1:10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Deuteronomy 10:14 Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.

Job 12:13 “With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.

Refer to Revelation 20:4-6 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 11 (No. Q011) at ayat 108 and see Commentary on the Koran: Surah 17 (No. Q017) for Hebrews 4:13 at ayat 1 and John 16:13 at ayat 84.

The force of the faith did not face a battle. The truce agreed enabled the spiritual victory which was enabled by truce. We then saw victory over sin, victory over our carnal nature, victory over the evil spiritual forces that seek to undermine us is our aim as we struggle day by day fighting the battles in our mind. Christ overcame the world and we will too with the Almighty on our side. Death being commuted by the forgiveness of our sins and gaining an inheritance in the First Resurrection is a supreme victory for the believer.

48.6. And may punish the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women, and the idolatrous men and the idolatrous women, who think an evil thought concerning Allah. For them is the evil turn of fortune, and Allah is wroth against them and hath cursed them, and hath made ready for them hell, a hapless journey's end.

Isaiah 13:11 I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.

Refer to Revelation 21:8 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 17 (No. Q017) at ayat 10 and Matthew 25:41 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 34 (No. Q034) at ayat 5.

So the truce converted many through the power of the Holy Spirit and the Host of Heaven and Earth.

48.7. Allah's are the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is ever Mighty, Wise.

See Nehemiah 9:6 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 44 (No. Q044) at ayat 9 and Romans 16:27 Commentry on the Koran: Surah 45 (No. Q045) at ayat 2.

Refer to Jude 1:25 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 33 (No. Q033) at ayat 2.

48.8. Lo! We have sent thee (O Muhammad) as a witness and a bearer of good tidings and a warner,

48.9. That ye (mankind) may believe in Allah and His messenger, and may honour Him, and may revere Him, and may glorify Him at early dawn and at the close of day.

48.10. Lo! those who swear allegiance unto thee (Muhammad), swear allegiance only unto Allah. The Hand of Allah is above their hands. So whosoever breaketh his oath, breaketh it only to his soul's hurt; while whosoever keepeth his covenant with Allah, on him will He bestow immense reward.

The Covenant is tied to the Sabbath from Surah 4:154.

So allegiance is sworn to God and through the Council as the Church of God and the Body of Christ.

Mark 16:15-16 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. ¹⁶Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

John 18:37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

John 5:23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

John 13:20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

Psalm 92:2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,

1John 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. ³For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

1Peter 1:4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

48.11. Those of the wandering Arabs who were left behind will tell thee: Our possessions and our households occupied us, so ask forgiveness for us! They speak with their tongues that which is not in their hearts. Say: Who can avail you aught against Allah, if He intend you hurt or intend you profit? Nay, but Allah is ever Aware of what ye do.

See Proverbs 21:30 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 47 (No. Q047) at ayat 1.

Mark 4:19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Isaiah 29:13 And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

Job 9:4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength—who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?

Job 28:24 For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.

48.12. Nay, but ye deemed that the messenger and the believers would never return to their own folk, and that was made fairseeming in your hearts, and ye did think an evil thought, and ye were worthless folk.

48.13. And so for him who believeth not in Allah and His messenger - Lo! We have prepared a flame for disbelievers.

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.

John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only (born) Son of God.

Revelation 20:15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Those who do not believe in God and His laws in this physical life will be consigned to the Second Resurrection. If anyone does not repent during the White Throne Judgment then their destination is the Lake of Fire.

48.14. And Allah's is the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. He forgiveth whom He will, and punisheth whom He will. And Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.

Refer to 1Chronicles 29:11-12 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 30 (No. Q030) at ayat 28.

Romans 9:18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

Daniel 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him,

48.15. Those who were left behind will say, when ye set forth to capture booty: Let us go with you. They fain would change the verdict of Allah. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Ye shall not go with us. Thus hath Allah said beforehand. Then they will say: Ye are envious of us. Nay, but they understand not, save a little.

48.16. Say unto those of the wandering Arabs who were left behind: Ye will be called against a folk of mighty prowess, to fight them until they surrender; and if ye obey, Allah will give you a fair reward; but if ye turn away as ye did turn away before, He will punish you with a painful doom.

48.17. There is no blame for the blind, nor is there blame for the lame, nor is there blame for the sick (that they go not forth to war). And whoso obeyeth Allah and His messenger, He will make him enter Gardens underneath which rivers flow; and whoso turneth back, him will He punish with a painful doom.

God chooses those He wants in His army. The cowards are sent home. They wanted the booty but are not wholly committed to fight for it.

Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Romans 8:30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Luke 9:62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Hebrews 10:38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

The blind, the lame and the sick are excused from going to war.

Luke 10:16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

John 5:23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only (born) Son of God.

The righteous will attain unto the First Resurrection, those who turn back will be consigned to the Second Resurrection to undergo intensive corrective training to assist them to come to repentance. If they choose not to repent they will be consigned to the Second Death and the Lake of Fire.

Here we see the oath sworn under the tree in the valley of Becca and God spared them the battle.

48.18. Allah was well pleased with the believers when they swore allegiance unto thee beneath the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down peace of reassurance on them, and hath rewarded them with a near victory;

48.19. And much booty that they will capture. Allah is ever Mighty, Wise.

Read a similar story in Judges chapter 7 to understand the selection process of being called and drafted into the Army of God. You will see how that army was encouraged to take on the enemy forces and defeat them. All that booty left behind by the fleeing enemy belongs to the victors. In this case it was the doubling of the army of the faith and the ultimate victory over the idolaters at Becca.

Psalm 5:12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Psalm 29:11 May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!

Psalm 25:3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

Psalm 149:4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.

See Romans 16:27 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 45 (No. Q045) at ayat 2 and Jeremiah 17:10 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 17 (No. Q017) at ayat 1 and Jude 1:25 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 33 (No. Q033) at ayat 2.

48.20. Allah promiseth you much booty that ye will capture, and hath given you this in advance, and hath withheld men's hands from you, that it may be a token for the believers, and that He may guide you on a right path.

48.21. And other (gain), which ye have not been able to achieve, Allah will compass it, Allah is Able to do all things.

Revelation 3:12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never [more] shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.

Revelation 21:7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, Victory over death, translation to immortality, being kings and priests to our God and inherit all things – bounty all the way.

Romans 8:17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

Refer to 2Corinthians 9:8 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 28 (No. Q028) at ayat 57.

48.22. And if those who disbelieve join battle with you they will take to flight, and afterward they will find no protecting friend nor helper.

Luke 9:62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Hebrews 10:38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

48.23. It is the law of Allah which hath taken course aforetime. Thou wilt not find for the law of Allah aught of power to change.

Refer to Matthew 5:17 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 30 (No. Q030) at ayat 30 and Psalm 119:160 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 33 (No. Q033) at ayat 40.

Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

48.24. And He it is Who hath withheld men's hands from you, and hath withheld your hands from them, in the valley of Becca, after He had made you victors over them. Allah is Seer of what ye do.

Psalm 31:23 Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.

Psalm 37:28 For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

See Job 28:24 at ayat 11 above.

48.25. These it was who disbelieved and debarred you from the Inviolable Place of Worship, and debarred the offering from reaching its goal. And if it had not been for believing men and believing women, whom ye know not - lest ye should tread them under foot and thus incur guilt for them unknowingly; that Allah might bring into His mercy whom He will - If (the believers and the disbelievers) had been clearly separated We verily had punished those of them who disbelieved with painful punishment.

Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

See Romans 9:18 at ayat 14 above.

Refer also to Psalm 28:4 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 10 (No. Q010) at ayat 70 and Jeremiah 17:10 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 17 (No. Q017) at ayat 1.

48.26. When those who disbelieve had set up in their hearts zealotry, the zealotry of the Age of Ignorance, then Allah sent down His peace of reassurance upon His messenger and upon the believers and imposed on them the word of self-restraint, for they were worthy of it and meet for it. And Allah is Aware of all things.

Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Psalm 119:165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.

2Timothy 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

See Job 28:24 at ayat 11 above and refer to Romans 1:21-23 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 16 (No. Q016) at ayat 3 and Isaiah 41:10 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 47 (No. Q047) at ayat 19.

48.27. Allah hath fulfilled the vision for His messenger in very truth. Ye shall indeed enter the Inviolable Place of Worship, if Allah will, secure, (having your hair) shaven and cut, not fearing. But He knoweth that which ye know not, and hath given you a near victory beforehand.

See Proverbs 19:21 at ayat 13 and Psalm 37:28 at ayat 24 above.

You shall not shave the hair of your head but you shall poll your hair only (Ezek. 44:20). Shaving is permitted for the face but no one is to trim the corners of their beards.

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

48.28. He it is Who hath sent His messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that He may cause it to prevail over all religion. And Allah sufficeth as a Witness.

Refer to 2Peter 1:21 and 2Timothy 3:16 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 20 (No. Q020) at ayat 6 and also Acts 4:12 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 45 (No. Q045) at ayat 20.

Luke 1:70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Revelation 12:17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Revelation 14:12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

The church council which is the Muhammad is the Messenger of God.

48.29. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves. Thou (O Muhammad) seest them bowing and falling prostrate (in worship), seeking bounty from Allah and (His) acceptance. The mark of them is on their foreheads from the traces of prostration. Such is their likeness in the Torah and their likeness in the Gospel - like as sown corn that sendeth forth its shoot and strengtheneth it and riseth firm upon its stalk, delighting the sowers - that He may enrage the disbelievers with (the sight of) them. Allah hath promised, unto such of them as believe and do good works, forgiveness and immense reward.

Mark 16:15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Luke 10:27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

1John 3:22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

Hebrews 13:21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Matthew 13:23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

1Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Refer to Revelation 20:6 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 11 (No. Q011) at ayat 108.

Thus the people of the Faith, by approach to the Beccans, were able to convert further numbers of them until Becca fell and the Ka’abah fell and was cleared of idols.

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