Surah An-Nisa 4:47
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ · Medinan · Verse 47 of 176
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِمَا نَزَّلْنَا مُصَدِّقًۭا لِّمَا مَعَكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّطْمِسَ وُجُوهًۭا فَنَرُدَّهَا عَلَىٰٓ أَدْبَارِهَآ أَوْ نَلْعَنَهُمْ كَمَا لَعَنَّآ أَصْحَٰبَ ٱلسَّبْتِ ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ مَفْعُولًا
Translation
People of the Book, believe in what We have sent down to confirm what you already have before We wipe out [your sense of ] direction, turning you back, or reject you, as We rejected those who broke the Sabbath: God’s will is always done.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Qur'anic Worlds
An Invitation and a Stark Warning
This powerful verse opens with a direct address from Allah to the Jewish communities of Medina, "O People of the Book" (يا أيها الذين أوتوا الكتاب). At a pivotal time in the nascent Muslim community, Allah calls upon them to "believe in what We have sent down" (آمنوا بما نزلنا), referring to the Quran. The significance here, as scholars like al-Razi explain, is that the Quran confirms what they already possessed in their own scriptures, the Torah, which contained prophecies about Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Their rejection, therefore, wasn't from ignorance but from obstinacy. This was the "World of Revelation" unfolding directly before them.
A World of Physical Transformation
The invitation is immediately followed by a severe warning of a transformative punishment: "before We blot out faces and turn them to their backs" (من قبل أن نطمس وجوهًا فنردها على أدبارها). This vivid imagery speaks of Allah's absolute power over creation. Scholars have understood this in various ways. Some, like Ibn Abbas and Qatada, interpreted it literally: their facial features would be completely effaced and possibly even turned backward, forcing them to walk in reverse. Others, such as Mujahid and Hasan, saw it metaphorically, meaning Allah would blind them to guidance and return them to the path of misguidance and disbelief. Still others, like Ibn Zayd, suggested it referred to their expulsion from their homes. Regardless of the exact interpretation, this threat highlights Allah's ability to dramatically alter physical reality or spiritual state as a consequence of persistent disobedience. The gravity of this warning profoundly impacted early listeners, with figures like Abdullah ibn Salam and Ka'b al-Ahbar embracing Islam partly out of fear of this very verse, as mentioned by al-Baghawi and Ibn Kathir.
Echoes from Past Nations
The verse continues with another warning: "or curse them as We cursed the people of the Sabbath" (أو نلعنهم كما لعنا أصحاب السبت). This directly connects the contemporary Jewish community to the "Worlds of Past Nations." It refers to a historical event where a previous Jewish community was severely punished for their transgression of the Sabbath laws, famously by being transformed into apes and pigs. This serves as a potent reminder that Allah's justice is consistent; those who defy His clear commands, even those who received earlier revelations, face severe consequences. It underlines the message that heedlessness to divine directives has historical precedents of dire outcomes.
Allah's Unwavering Command
The verse concludes with the emphatic statement, "And Allah's command is always fulfilled" (وكان أمر الله مفعولًا). This asserts the absolute certainty of Allah's will. Al-Tabari clarifies that whatever Allah decrees, comes into being. This isn't merely a threat but a declaration of divine power and the inevitability of His judgment. It serves to reinforce the gravity of the call to belief and the warning against rejection for the People of the Book in their specific "World of Revelation" and for all who reflect on the consequences faced by "Past Nations."
Sources: al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), al-Baghawi (Maalim al-Tanzil), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), al-Tabari (Jami al-Bayan), Ibn Kathir
Connections
This powerful verse opens with a direct, urgent call from Allah to "O People of the Book" (يا أيها الذين أوتوا الكتاب), specifically addressing the Jewish communities of the Prophet's time. It commands them to "believe in what We have sent down" (آمنوا بما نزلنا), referring to the Quran, which notably comes "confirming what is already with you" (مصدقًا لما معكم). This sets a crucial connection, emphasizing that the Quran does not contradict their scriptures but rather affirms their original message.
The Immediate Invitation
The verse's place in Surah An-Nisa (The Women) is significant. As al-Sabuni explains, it follows descriptions of disbelievers and their fate, now pivoting to highlight the disbelief and obstinacy of the Jews. Al-Wasit (Tantawi) provides a reason for its revelation: when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) urged Jewish leaders to believe, they denied knowing his truth despite their own scriptures confirming it. The Quran reminds them of their prior knowledge, urging them to embrace the new revelation that harmonizes with their own.
The Stark Warning
Following this invitation, the verse presents a severe warning: "before We obliterate faces and turn them backward" (من قبل أن نطمس وجوها فنردها على أدبارها), "or curse them as We cursed the companions of the Sabbath" (أو نلعنهم كما لعنا أصحاب السبت). The phrase "obliterate faces" carries deep meaning. Scholars like al-Wasit (Tantawi) explain two main interpretations:
1. Literal transformation: A physical disfigurement, where facial features are wiped away or even turned to the back of the head. This reflects a profound humiliation and loss of identity.
2. Spiritual or metaphorical transformation: Meaning a hardening of hearts, a turning away from guidance, or a loss of leadership and status, causing them to regress into utter misguidance. This highlights how their rejection of truth could lead to spiritual blindness.
Echoes of Past Disobedience
The alternative punishment, "curse them as We cursed the companions of the Sabbath," draws a powerful connection to a well-known event in Jewish history. As al-Shinqiti clarifies, this refers to Allah's punishment of a group of Jews who violated the Sabbath by cunningly finding ways to fish on the holy day. For their transgression, Allah transformed them into apes, as mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:65) and Al-A'raf (7:166). The word *la'ana* (curse) means to be driven far from Allah's mercy, and this physical transformation was a severe form of that expulsion. This historical parallel serves as a stark reminder that Allah's justice is consistent and that those who reject truth and engage in trickery will face dire consequences.
Allah's Unchanging Decree
The verse concludes with the emphatic statement, "And Allah's command is always done" (وكان أمر الله مفعولًا). Al-Biqa'i explains that this means Allah's judgment, decree, and will are absolute and will inevitably come to pass. This final phrase underlines the certainty of the divine threats, leaving no doubt that if the People of the Book persist in their rejection, one of these severe punishments will befall them. The verse, therefore, is a profound call to reflection, linking present choices to historical lessons and eternal consequences.
Sources: al-Biqa'i (Nazm al-Durar), al-Shinqiti (Adwa al-Bayan), al-Wasit (Tantawi), al-Sabuni (Safwat al-Tafasir)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah An-Nisa 4:47 is discussed in 4 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah An-Nisa 4:47 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.