Muhammad is the forty-seventh surah — 38 verses revealed in Medina.1 It is one of the few places in the Quran where the Prophet ﷺ is named, in its second verse: "those who believe and do righteous deeds and believe in what has been sent down upon Muhammad — and it is the truth from their Lord."2 It is also known as al-Qital, "Fighting," for it belongs to the years when Medina was at war with Mecca.
What it is about
The surah divides people by what they follow: "those who disbelieve follow falsehood, and those who believe follow the truth from their Lord." It gives the community rules for fighting an enemy that had driven them from their homes, encourages them with the promise of God's support and of Paradise, and exposes the hypocrites in their midst who professed faith but shrank from its demands.
Key themes
Rules of battle and captives. "So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure [their] bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens."3 The verse addresses the battlefield and names two courses for those taken captive — release as a favor, or release for ransom. Commentators have differed over whether it confines the treatment of captives to these two options or whether the ruler retained others under later rulings.
Support God, and He supports you. "O you who have believed, if you support Allah, He will support you and plant firmly your feet."4
The rivers of Paradise. "Rivers of water unaltered, rivers of milk the taste of which never changes, rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and rivers of purified honey."5
Know, and seek forgiveness. "So know, [O Muhammad], that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women."6
Hypocrites exposed. When a surah mentioning battle is revealed, the hypocrites look at the Prophet ﷺ "with a look of one overcome by death." The surah asks: "would you perhaps, if you turned away, cause corruption on earth and sever your [ties of] relationship?... Then do they not reflect upon the Quran, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?"7
Resolve and generosity. "So do not weaken and call for peace while you are superior." Worldly life is "only amusement and diversion," and the believers are called to spend in God's cause: "whoever withholds only withholds [benefit] from himself."8
Why it matters
Muhammad is one of the Quran's principal texts on the conduct of war, and its verse on captives — release as a favor or for ransom — has been central to Islamic legal discussion of prisoners. It also contains the command to know "that there is no deity except Allah," and one of the Quran's sharpest calls to reflect on revelation rather than hear it with locked hearts. To read Muhammad in Arabic with translations and recitation, open it on Quran.com.