47 Muhammad [38 verses]

Medina 95

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُ إِلَيْكَ...

47: 16. And among them are men who listen to thee,

...حَتَّى إِذَا خَرَجُوا مِنْ عِندِكَ قَالُوا لِلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ مَاذَا قَالَ آنِفًا...

but in the end, when they go out from thee, they say to those who have received Knowledge:

"What is it he said just then?"

C4837. Cf. 10:42, and n. 1434; also 6:25, 36, and n. 857.

The case here referred to is that of the Hypocrites who came to the assemblies of Islam in Madinah and pretended to listen to the Prophet's teaching and preaching. But their heart and mind were not in learning righteousness, but in carping at things they saw and heard.

When they got out, they knew nothing of the teaching, but on the contrary asked foolish and ignorant questions, such as might raise doubts.

...أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ طَبَعَ اللَّهُ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ وَاتَّبَعُوا أَهْوَاءهُمْ ﴿١٦﴾

Such are men whose hearts Allah has sealed, and who follow their own lusts.

Asad’s Version:

47:16 Now among those [hapless sinners] are such as [pretend to] listen to thee, [O Muhammad,] 18 and then, as soon as they leave thy presence, speak [with scorn] unto those who have understood [thy message]: 19 "What is it that he has said just now?"

It is such as these whose hearts God has sealed because they [always] followed but their own lusts 20 –

[[ Asad’s note - 20 I.e., the "sealing" of their hearts (for an explanation of which see note 7 on 2:7) is a consequence of their "following but their own lusts". ]]