قُلْ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ 32
Translations
Say, "Obey Allāh and the Messenger. But if you turn away - then indeed, Allāh does not like the disbelievers."
Transliteration
Qul ati'u Allaha wa ar-rasul; fa-in tawallaw fa-inna Allaha la yuhibbu al-kafirun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a direct command from Allah to obey Him and His Messenger as inseparable duties, with a warning that those who turn away from this obligation are considered disbelievers (kafirun) whom Allah does not love. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that obedience to the Messenger is obedience to Allah Himself, as the Prophet conveys divine revelation, making rejection of his guidance equivalent to rejecting Allah's guidance. The ayah establishes the foundational principle that faith is not merely internal belief but requires active obedience to divine commands transmitted through the Messenger.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of the People of the Book and the proper understanding of tawhid (monotheism). It comes after a section addressing disputes among the People of the Scripture and serves as a universal principle applicable to all believers, emphasizing that there is no valid excuse for rejecting the Messenger's authority in matters of religion.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever obeys me, obeys Allah, and whoever disobeys me, disobeys Allah' (Sahih Bukhari, 7137). Additionally, 'None of you believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, his children, and all people' (Sahih Bukhari, 15) demonstrates the inseparability of faith from obedience to the Messenger.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith requires active obedience to both Allah's commands and the Messenger's guidance, as these are interconnected sources of divine direction; those who selectively accept or reject this dual obedience place themselves outside the circle of believers and lose the love and mercy of Allah.