# 47. Surah Muhammad, Verse 20 - **Surah:** 47. Surah Muhammad (Muhammad) — سورة محمد - **Verse:** 20 / 38 · **Juz:** 26 · **Mushaf page:** 508 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-muhammad/verse-20 ## Arabic وَيَقُولُ الَّذ۪ينَ اٰمَنُوا لَوْلَا نُزِّلَتْ سُورَةٌۚ فَاِذَٓا اُنْزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ مُحْكَمَةٌ وَذُكِرَ ف۪يهَا الْقِتَالُۙ رَاَيْتَ الَّذ۪ينَ ف۪ي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ يَنْظُرُونَ اِلَيْكَ نَظَرَ الْمَغْشِيِّ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَوْتِۜ فَاَوْلٰى لَهُمْۚ ## Transcription Wayaqoolu allatheena amanoolawla nuzzilat sooratun fa-itha onzilat sooratun muhkamatunwathukira feeha alqitalu raayta allatheenafee quloobihim maradun yanthuroona ilayka natharaalmaghshiyyi AAalayhi mina almawti faawla lahum ## Translations ### Aisha Bewley Those who have iman say, ‘If only a sura could be sent down. ’ But when a straightforward sura is sent down and fighting is mentioned in it, you see those with sickness in their hearts looking at you with the look of someone about to faint from fear of death. More fitting for them ### Progressive Muslims And those who believe Say: "If only a chapter is sent down!" But when a firm chapter is sent down, and fighting is mentioned in it, you see those who have a disease in their hearts look at you, as if death had already come to them. It thus revealed them. ### Shabbir Ahmed Now those who have believed, say, "Why is not an injunction revealed (permitting us to fight in self-defense?)" But now when a decisive injunction has been revealed about fighting, you find the hypocrites looking at you as if they were fainting to death. And yet, the foremost good for them would be - ### Sam Gerrans — The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation And those who heed warning say: “Oh, that a sūrah were but sent down!” Then when an explicit sūrah is sent down, and killing is mentioned therein, thou seest those in whose hearts is disease looking at thee with the look of one overshadowed by death. But better for them are ### The Monotheist Group — The Quran: A Monotheist Translation And those who believe say: "If only a chapter is sent down!" But when a lawgiving chapter is sent down, and fighting is mentioned in it, you see those who have a disease in their hearts look at you, as if death had already come to them. It thus revealed them. ### Rashad Khalifa — The Final Testament Those who believed said: "When will a new sura be revealed?" But when a straightforward sura was revealed, wherein fighting was mentioned, you would see those who harbored doubts in their hearts looking at you, as if death had already come to them. They were thus exposed. ### Mohamed Ahmed - Samira Those who believe say: "How is it no Surah was revealed?" But when a categorical Surah is revealed that mentions war, you should see those who are sceptical staring at you like a man in the swoon of death. Alas the woe for them! ### Sahih International — (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley) Those who believe say, "Why has a surah not been sent down? But when a precise surah is revealed and fighting is mentioned therein, you see those in whose hearts is hypocrisy looking at you with a look of one overcome by death. And more appropriate for them [would have been] ### Muhammad Asad NOW THOSE who have attained to faith say, "Would that a revelation [allowing us to fight] was bestowed from on high!" But now that a revelation clear in and by itself, mentioning war, has been bestowed from on high, thou canst see those in whose hearts is disease look­ing at thee, [O Muhammad,] with the look of one who is about to faint for fear of death! And yet, far better for them would be ### Marmaduke Pickthall And those who believe say: If only a surah were revealed! But when a decisive surah is revealed and war is mentioned therein, thou seest those in whose hearts is a disease looking at thee with the look of men fainting unto death. Therefor woe unto them! ### Abul A'la Maududi — Tafhim commentary The believers used to say: "Why is a surah (that would ordain fighting) not revealed?" But when a definitive surah was revealed wherein fighting was mentioned, you saw that those in whose hearts there was a sickness looked at you as though they were about to faint at the approach of death.[1] Pity on them! _Footnotes_ - [1] That is, in view of the conditions through which the Muslims were passing and the attitude that the disbelievers had adopted towards Islam and the Muslims at that time, the believers were generally of the opinion that they should be permitted to fight even before fighting was actually enjoined by Allah. Rather they were asking Allah’s command in this regard impatiently and were asking again and again: Why are we not permitted to fight these wicked people? But the condition of the people who had joined the ranks of the Muslims hypocritically was quite different from that of the believers. They held their lives and their properties as dearer to themselves than Allah and His religion, and were not prepared to risk them at any cost. Therefore, as soon as fighting was enjoined, they were clearly sorted out from the true believers. Until the time when fighting had not been enjoined, the hypocrites and the common believers could not be distinguished one from the other. The hypocrites offered the Prayer just as the true believers did, they observed the Fast just like them, and practiced every article of the faith as made no demand of a sacrifice on them. But when the time came for making the supreme sacrifice of life for the sake of Islam, their hypocrisy was exposed and their veil of false display of the faith was rent asunder. In Surah An-Nisa, their this state has been described thus: Have you marked those to whom it was said: Withhold your hands a while and establish the salat and pay the zakat? Now that the fighting has been enjoined for them, some of them fear the people as they should fear Allah, or even more than that. They say: Our Lord, why have You enjoined fighting for us? Why have You not given us a brief respite? (verse 77) ### Abdel Khalek Himmat — Al- Muntakhab And those who have conformed to Islam say: " If only a Surah (Chapter) be revealed ordaining war against those who deny Allah (or Jihad in His cause)!" yet when a Surah is revealed wherein Allah does not play with metaphor but He comes to the point, then you see those whose hearts melt away in disease and lassitude look toward you with a countenance standing similitude exact of someone who has fallen into a fainting fit in conflict with the encounter with death and it serves them right. ### Bijan Moeinian The believers were used to ask, "Why God does not send a verse to let us fight [to protect ourselves]?" But when a decisive verse about the right to fight was sent down, you saw, those who harbored doubt in their hearts, looking at you as though the shadow of death is hanging over them. ### Al-Hilali & Khan Those who believe say: "Why is not a Sûrah (chapter of the Qur’ân) sent down (for us)? But when a decisive Sûrah (explaining and ordering things) is sent down, and fighting (Jihâd - holy fighting in Allâh’s cause) is mentioned (i.e. ordained) therein, you will see those in whose hearts is a disease (of hypocrisy) looking at you with a look of one fainting to death. But it was better for them (hypocrites, to listen to Allâh and to obey Him). ### Abdullah Yusuf Ali Those who believe say, "Why is not a sura sent down (for us)?" But when a sura of basic or categorical meaning is revealed, and fighting is mentioned therein, thou wilt see those in whose hearts is a disease looking at thee with a look of one in swoon at the approach of death. But more fitting for them- ### Mustafa Khattab — The Clear Quran And the believers say, "If only a sûrah was revealed ˹allowing self-defence˺!" Yet when a precise sûrah is revealed, in which fighting is ˹explicitly˺ mentioned, you see those with sickness in their hearts staring at you like someone in the throes of death. It would have been better for them ### Taqi Usmani And the believers say, "Why has a (new) Sūrah not been revealed?" Then, once an operative Sūrah is sent down, and fighting (in Allah’s way) is mentioned in it, you notice those who have disease in their hearts, looking to you like one who is faint because of death. So, destruction is very close to them. ### Abdul Haleem Those who believe ask why no sura [about fighting] has been sent down. Yet when a decisive sura [that mentions fighting] is sent down, you can see the sick at heart looking at you [Prophet] and visibly fainting at the prospect of death- better for them ### Arthur John Arberry Those who believe say, 'Why has a sura not been sent down?' Then, when a clear sura is sent down, and therein fighting is mentioned, thou seest those in whose hearts is sickness looking at thee as one who swoons of death; but better for them would be ### E. Henry Palmer Those who misbelieve say, 'Why has not a surah been revealed?' but when a decisive surah is revealed and fighting is mentioned therein, thou mayest see those in whose heart is sickness looking towards thee with the look of one fainting in death. ### Hamid S. Aziz And those who believe say, "Why has not a chapter been revealed?" But when a decisive chapter is revealed, and fighting is mentioned therein, you see those in whose heart is a disease look at you with the look of one fainting because of (fear or approach of) death. Therefore, woe to them! ### Mahmoud Ghali And the ones who have believed say, "Had a s?rah been successively sent down!" Then, when a clear s?rah is sent down, and therein fighting is mentioned, you see the ones in whose hearts is sickness looking at you with the look of one enveloped by the swooning of death; yet worthier of them would be. ### George Sale The true believers say, hath not a sura been revealed commanding war against the infidels? But when a sura without any ambiguity is revealed, and war is mentioned therein, thou mayest see those in whose hearts is an infirmity, look towards thee with the look of one whom death overshadoweth. ### Syed Vickar Ahamed Those who believe say, "Why is a (specific) Sura not sent down (for us)?" But when a Sura of basic or clear meaning is revealed, and fighting is said in it, you will see those (hypocrites) in whose heart is a disease looking at you with a look of one with great fear at the approach of death, but it is better (more fitting) for them— ### Amatul Rahman Omar Those who believe say, `Why is no Sûrah (- Qur'ânic chapter permitting us to go to war) revealed?' But when a (definite) Sûrah of basic and categorical meaning and speaking of war was revealed you find those in whose hearts is a disease (of hypocrisy) looking at you like the looking of a person whose understanding is clouded for (fear of approaching) death. Therefore woe to them! ### Ali Quli Qarai The faithful say, ‘If only a sūrah were sent down!’ But when a definitive sūrah is sent down and war is mentioned in it, you see those in whose hearts is a sickness looking upon you with the look of someone fainting at death. So woe to them! ### Ahmed Hulusi — Türkçe Kur'an Çözümü İman edenler: "(Savaş hükmünü ihtiva eden) bir sure tenzil edilmeliydi?" der. . . Hükümleri açık bir sure inzal edilip de, içinde savaştan söz edildiğinde; kalplerinde hastalık (şirk, nifak) olanları, ölüm korkusuyla baygınlık geçirenin baktığı gibi bakar görürsün! (Oysa) onlar için hayırlı olan budur. ### Ali Bulaç — Kur'an-ı Kerim ve Türkçe Anlamı İman edenler, derler ki: "(Savaş izni için) Bir sure indirilmeli değil miydi?" Fakat, içinde savaş (kıtal) zikri geçen muhkem bir sure indirildiği zaman, kalplerinde hastalık olanların, üzerine ölüm baygınlığı çökmüş olanların bakışı gibi sana baktıklarını gördün. Oysa onlara evla (olan): ### Bayraktar Bayraklı — Yeni Bir Anlayışın Işığında Kur'an Meali İnananlar, "Keşke savaşa izin veren bir sure indirilmiş olsaydı!" derler. Ama hükmü açık bir sure indirilip de onda savaştan söz edilince, kalplerinde hastalık olanların, ölüm baygınlığı geçiren kimsenin bakışı gibi sana baktıklarını görürsün. Onlara yakışan da budur! ### Diyanet İşleri — Kur'an-ı Kerim Türkçe Meali İnananlar, "Keşke bir sure indirilse!" derler. Fakat hükmü apaçık bir sure indirilip de onda savaştan söz edilince; kalplerinde hastalık olanların, ölüm baygınlığına girmiş kimsenin bakışı gibi sana baktıklarını görürsün. O da onlara pek yakındır. ### Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır — Kur'an-ı Kerim ve Yüce Meali İyman edenler "bir Sure indirilseydi" diyorlar, derken muhkem bir Sure indirilip onda kıtal zikredilince kalblerinde bir maraz bulunanları görüyorsun sana öyle bir bakış bakıyorlar ki; tıpkı ölümden baygınlık gelmiş kimsenin bakışı, o da onlara pek yakındır ### Elmalılı (sadeleştirilmiş) İman edenler: "Bir sure indirilseydi?" diyorlar. Ancak kesin hükümlü bir sure indirilip onda savaş anılınca kalplerinde bir hastalık bulunanların tıpkı ölüm baygınlığında olan kimsenin bakışı misali sana baktıklarını görürsün. O da onlara pek yakındır. ### Gültekin Onan İnananlar derler ki: "(Savaş izni için) Bir süre indirilmeli değil miydi?" Fakat, içinde savaş (kıtal) zikri geçen muhkem bir sure indirildiği zaman, kalplerinde hastalık olanların, üzerine ölüm baygınlığı çökmüş olanların bakışı gibi sana baktıklarını gördün. Oysa onlara evla (olan): ### Hasan Basri Çantay — Kur'an-ı Hakim ve Meal-i Kerim İman edenler "(Cihad hakkında) bir sure indirilmeli değil miydi?" derler (di). Fakat hükmü baakıy bir sure indirilib de içinde muhaarebe zikr olununca kalblerinde maraz bulunanların —ölüm (zamanında) üstlerine baygınlık gelmiş olanların bakışı gibi— sana bakmakda olduklarını gördün. Hay (o korkdukları) başlarına gelesi adamlar! ### İbni Kesir İman etmiş olanlar; bir sure indirilmeli değil miydi? derler. Fakat muhkem bir sure indirilip de orada muharebe zikrolununca; kalblerinde hastalık olanların, ölüm korkusundan bayılmış kimselerin bakışları gibi sana baktıklarını görürsün. Bu, onlar için daha evladır. ### Muhammed Esed — Kur'an Mesajı İmana ermiş olanlar: "(Bize mücadele izni veren) bir vahiy indirilmeli değil miydi?" derler. Ama, şimdi savaştan bahseden açık ve kesin hükümlü bir vahiy indirildiğinde kalpleri hastalıklı olanların, sana (ey Muhammed,) ölüm korkusundan bayılmaktaymış gibi baktıklarını görürsün! Ve fakat onlar için en iyisi, ### Şaban Piriş — Kur'an-ı Kerim Türkçe Anlamı İman edenler: -Bir sure indirilmeli değil mi? diyorlar. Kesin bir sure indirilip, içinde savaş anılınca, kalblerinde hastalık olanların sana, ölüm korkusundan bayılan bir adamın bakışıyla baktıklarını görürsün. Onlara en hayırlısı ### Süleyman Ateş — Kur'an-ı Kerim ve Yüce Meali İnananlar: "(Savaş hakkında) Bir sure indirilmeli değil miydi?" derler. Fakat hükmü açık bir sure indirilip de onda savaştan söz edilince, kalblerinde hastalık bulunanların sana ölümden bayılıp düşen kimsenin bakışı gibi baktıklarını görürsün. Onlara ölüm gerektir. ### Yaşar Nuri Öztürk — Kur'an-ı Kerim Meali İman edenler derler ki: "Bir sure indirilseydi olmaz mıydı?" Fakat hükmü kesinleşmiş bir sure indirilip de içinde savaş da anılınca, kalplerinde maraz olanların, ölüm baygınlığına tutulmuş bir bakışla sana baktıklarını görürsün. Onlara uygun olan da odur. ### Mustafa İslamoğlu — Hayat Kitabı Kur’an İman edenler "(Artık savaşa değinen) bir süre indirilmesi gerekmez mi?" derler. Fakat içinde savaştan söz edilen hüküm koyucu bir süre indirilince de, kalplerinde hastalık olanların sana ölüm korkusundan baygınlık gelmiş kimsenin bakışı gibi baktıklarını görürsün. Ne ki onlar için en hayırlısı, ### Erhan Aktaş (Eski Baskı) — Kerim Kur'an İman edenler, "Bir sure[1] indirilmeli değil miydi" derler. Sonra savaştan söz eden, hükmü kesin bir sure indirilince, kalpleri hastalıklı kimselerin, sana, sanki üzerlerine ölüm hali çökmüş kimseler gibi baygın baygın baktıklarını görürsün. Oysa onlar için uygun olanı; _Footnotes_ - [1] Savaşa izin veren. ### Ali Rıza Safa — Kur'an-ı Kerim Gerçek İnananlar; "Bir sure indirilse olmaz mıydı?" derler. Fakat savaştan söz eden açık ve kesin yargılı bir sure indirildiğinde, yüreklerinde sayrılık olanların, ölüm korkusundan baygınlık geçirir gibi sana baktıklarını görürsün. Oysa onlar için en iyisi şudur: ### Süleymaniye Vakfı (Eski Baskı) — Süleymaniye Vakfı Meali İnanıp güvenenler: "Keşke bir sure indirilse" derler ama hüküm bildiren (muhkem) bir sure indirilir ve içinde savaşma emri olursa içlerinde hastalık olanların ölüm baygınlığına girmiş gibi baktıklarını görürsün.Onlara yakışan da budur.[1] _Footnotes_ - [1] Bu ayet, bu surenin Bedir savaşından önce indirildiğinin delilidir. ### Mehmet Okuyan — Kur’an Meal-Tefsir İman etmiş olanlar "Keşke savaş hakkında bir sure indirilmiş olsaydı!" derler. Ama hükmü apaçık bir sure indirilip de onda savaştan söz edilince, kalplerinde hastalık bulunanların ölüm baygınlığı geçiren kimsenin bakışı gibi sana baktıklarını görürsün. Onlara yakışan da budur! ### Erhan Aktaş (10. Baskı) — Kerim Kur'an İman edenler, "Bir sure[1] indirilmeli değil miydi" derler. Sonra savaştan söz eden, hükmü kesin bir sure indirilince, kalpleri hastalıklı kimselerin, sana, sanki üzerlerine ölüm hali çökmüş kimseler gibi baygın baygın baktıklarını görürsün. Oysa onlar için uygun olanı; _Footnotes_ - [1] Savaşa izin veren. ### Erhan Aktaş — Kerim Kur'an İman Edenler, "Bir sure[1] indirilmeli değil miydi" derler. Sonra savaştan söz eden, hükmü kesin bir sure indirilince, kalpleri hastalıklı kimselerin, sana, sanki üzerlerine ölüm hali çökmüş kimseler gibi baygın baygın baktıklarını görürsün. Oysa onlar için uygun olanı; _Footnotes_ - [1] Savaşa izin veren. ### Süleymaniye Vakfı — Süleymaniye Vakfı Meali İnanıp güvenenler: "Keşke bir sure indirilse!" derler. Hüküm içeren bir sure indirilip de içinde savaştan söz edilince kalplerinde hastalık olanların, ölüm baygınlığına girmiş birinin bakışı gibi sana baktıklarını görürsün[1]. Oysa onlara uygun olan, _Footnotes_ - [1] [Tevbe 9/64,](https://quran.so/9/64) [86,](https://quran.so/9/86) [124](https://quran.so/9/124)-[125,](https://quran.so/9/125) [127.](https://quran.so/9/127) ## Words | # | word | meaning | root | |---|---|---|---| | 1 | وَيَقُولُ — wayaqūlu | And say | قول — Kaf-Vav-Lam | | 2 | ٱلَّذِينَ — alladhīna | those who | — | | 3 | ءَامَنُوا۟ — āmanū | believe | امن — Elif-Mim-Nun | | 4 | لَوْلَا — lawlā | Why not | — | | 5 | نُزِّلَتْ — nuzzilat | has been revealed | نزل — Nun-Za-Lam | | 6 | سُورَةٌۭ ۖ — sūratun | a Surah | سور — Sin-Vav-Ra | | 7 | فَإِذَآ — fa-idhā | But when | — | | 8 | أُنزِلَتْ — unzilat | is revealed | نزل — Nun-Za-Lam | | 9 | سُورَةٌۭ — sūratun | a Surah | سور — Sin-Vav-Ra | | 10 | مُّحْكَمَةٌۭ — muḥ'kamatun | precise | حكم — Ha-Kef-Mim | | 11 | وَذُكِرَ — wadhukira | and is mentioned | ذكر — Zal-Kef-Ra | | 12 | فِيهَا — fīhā | in it | — | | 13 | ٱلْقِتَالُ ۙ — l-qitālu | the fighting | قتل — Kaf-Te-Lam | | 14 | رَأَيْتَ — ra-ayta | you see | راي — Ra-Elif-Ye | | 15 | ٱلَّذِينَ — alladhīna | those who | — | | 16 | فِى — fī | in | — | | 17 | قُلُوبِهِم — qulūbihim | their hearts | قلب — Kaf-Lam-Be | | 18 | مَّرَضٌۭ — maraḍun | (is) a disease | مرض — Mim-Ra-Dad | | 19 | يَنظُرُونَ — yanẓurūna | looking | نظر — Nun-Zay-Ra | | 20 | إِلَيْكَ — ilayka | at you | — | | 21 | نَظَرَ — naẓara | a look | نظر — Nun-Zay-Ra | | 22 | ٱلْمَغْشِىِّ — l-maghshiyi | (of) one fainting | غشو — Gayn-Şin-Vav | | 23 | عَلَيْهِ — ʿalayhi | (of) one fainting | — | | 24 | مِنَ — mina | from | — | | 25 | ٱلْمَوْتِ ۖ — l-mawti | the death | موت — Mim-Vav-Te | | 26 | فَأَوْلَىٰ — fa-awlā | But more appropriate | ولي — Vav-Lam-Ye | | 27 | لَهُمْ — lahum | for them | — | --- Previous: https://quran.so/surah-muhammad/verse-19.md · Next: https://quran.so/surah-muhammad/verse-21.md Retrieved: 2026-08-16 Quran.so — https://quran.so — CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — When quoting, name the translator.