Tafseer of Muhammad · Muhammad · 47:26
That is because they said to those who disliked what Allah sent down, "We will obey you in part of the matter." And Allah knows what they conceal.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The statement concerning the exegesis of His saying, the Exalted: That is because they said to those who hated what Allah had sent down: We will obey you in part of the matter. And Allah knows their secret counsel. (47:26)
Allah, exalted be His mention, says: Allah has granted these hypocrites respite and left them to themselves, while Satan adorned their affairs for them, so that He did not bring them to guidance — and that is because they said to those who hated what Allah had sent down — namely the command to wage war (qitāl) against the polytheists who ascribe partners to Him, this being [said] by the hypocrites — they said: We will obey you in part of the matter , that is, in that which is contrary to the command of Allah, blessed and exalted is He, and to the command of His Messenger — peace and blessings be upon him.
As Bishr related to us, he said: Yazīd related to us, he said: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda That is because they said to those who hated what Allah had sent down: We will obey you in part of the matter : these are those hypocrites. And Allah knows their secret counsel — Allah, exalted be His mention, says: and Allah knows the secret counsel of these two parties who support one another among the people of hypocrisy (nifāq), in opposition to the command of Allah and the command of His Messenger, when they conspire secretly among themselves in disbelief in Allah and disobedience to the Messenger; that does not remain hidden from Him, nor does any other of all matters.
The Qurʾān reciters differed over its reading. Most of the reciters of Medina and Basra read it asrāra-hum with a fatḥa on the alif of "asrāra-hum," as a plural of "sirr" (secret). And most of the reciters of Kufa read it isrāra-hum with a kasra on the alif, taking it to be a verbal noun (maṣdar) from "asrartu isrāran" (I kept something secret, the keeping secret).
And the correct judgment concerning this, in our view, is that these are two well-known readings, both correct in meaning; with whichever of the two the reciter recites, he attains what is correct.
