Surah Muhammad 47:19
سُورَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ · Medinan · Verse 19 of 38
فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوَىٰكُمْ
Translation
So [Prophet], bear in mind that there is no god but God, and ask forgiveness for your sins and for the sins of believing men and women. God knows whenever any of you move, and whenever any of you stay still.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This powerful verse, addressed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), is an instruction from Allah that beautifully intertwines fundamental belief with practical devotion, anchored by Allah's all-encompassing knowledge.
Firmness in Knowledge
The command begins with "فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ" (So know that there is no deity except Allah). For the Prophet, who already possessed this core knowledge, the word "اعلم" (know) doesn't mean to acquire knowledge for the first time. Instead, as scholars like al-Razi and Ibn Ashur explain, it means to be steadfast, firm, and unwavering in this knowledge. It's a call to continue to act upon and live by the profound truth of Allah's Oneness, much like telling someone who is seated to "stay seated," implying continuity. This emphasizes that true knowledge isn't just intellectual understanding, but a constant, living conviction that shapes all actions. Ibn Ashur further highlights that this command for "knowledge before action" (as cited by Ibn 'Uyaynah and Imam al-Bukhari) stresses the foundational role of firm belief.
Seeking Forgiveness
Following the declaration of Allah's Oneness comes the instruction: "وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنبِكَ" (and ask forgiveness for your sin). The mention of "sin" (ذنب) in relation to the Prophet, who is divinely protected from major sins, has been pondered deeply. Scholars like al-Razi, al-Jalalayn, and Ibn Ashur clarify that this isn't about committing wrongdoing in the conventional sense. Rather, it signifies the Prophet's profound humility and constant striving for closeness to Allah. It could refer to minor slips of heedlessness (غفلات), or a "leaving of what is better" (ترك الأفضل), meaning choosing a good path when an even more excellent one was available. It also serves as a model for his entire community, teaching them the importance of regular repentance and seeking Allah's forgiveness. Ibn Ashur points out the use of the Arabic particle "لِـ" (li) in "لذنبك" specifies the object of forgiveness, while the same particle in "وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ" (and for the believing men and believing women) implies asking forgiveness *for the benefit of* or *on behalf of* the believers. The explicit mention of "المؤمنات" (believing women) alongside "المؤمنين" (believing men) is also a point of specific care and emphasis, as Ibn Ashur notes, underscoring that both genders are equally included in this divine command and the Prophet's supplication.
Allah's Comprehensive Knowledge
The verse concludes with "وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوَاكُمْ" (And Allah knows your movements and your resting places). This phrase assures the Prophet and believers that Allah is fully aware of every aspect of their existence. "مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ" (mutaqallabakum) refers to all their activities, movements, and efforts in life – their daily comings and goings, their work, and their visible actions. "مَثْوَاكُمْ" (mathwakum) refers to their resting places, their homes, their sleep, and ultimately their final abode in the hereafter, whether in the grave or their ultimate destination. As Ibn Ashur explains, the specific choice of these two words, "mutaqallab" (movement) and "mathwa" (resting place), is a linguistic pairing to encompass all states: activity and rest, this life and the next. Al-Razi further emphasizes that Allah knows all states, in this world and the hereafter, day and night. This comprehensive knowledge is a powerful reminder that nothing is hidden from Allah, reinforcing the earlier commands to be firm in belief and constant in seeking forgiveness, knowing that every effort is seen and recorded.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Muhammad 47:19 is discussed in 7 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Muhammad 47:19 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.