إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَإِذَا كَانُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرٍ جَامِعٍ لَّمْ يَذْهَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَسْتَـْٔذِنُوهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَـْٔذِنُونَكَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱسْتَـْٔذَنُوكَ لِبَعْضِ شَأْنِهِمْ فَأْذَن لِّمَن شِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمُ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 62
Translations
The believers are only those who believe in Allāh and His Messenger and, when they are [meeting] with him for a matter of common interest, do not depart until they have asked his permission. Indeed, those who ask your permission, [O Muḥammad] - those are the ones who believe in Allāh and His Messenger. So when they ask your permission due to something of their affairs, then give permission to whom you will among them and ask forgiveness for them of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Innamal-mu'minuna alladhina amanu billahi wa rasulih, wa idha kanu ma'ahu 'ala amrin jami'in lam yadhhabu hatta yasta'thidhunuh. Inna alladhina yasta'thidhunaka ula'ika alladhina yu'minuna billahi wa rasulih. Fa-idha ista'thadhuka li-ba'di sha'nihim fa'adhan liman shi'ta minhum wastaghfir lahumuallah. Innallaha ghafurun rahimun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah defines true believers as those who have faith in Allah and His Messenger and, when gathered for a collective matter, do not depart without seeking the Prophet's permission. The verse establishes the principle of respect for leadership and communal responsibility in Islamic society. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this teaches proper etiquette and discipline within the Muslim community, where believers recognize the authority and wisdom of their leader while the leader exercises mercy and forgiveness toward those seeking permission.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina during the Islamic calendar's reform period, addressing the community's etiquette during gatherings and military expeditions. The broader context of Surah An-Nur (revealed in the 5th year of Hijrah) deals with moral conduct and social ethics; this particular verse addresses discipline and obedience within the structured community of believers, particularly relevant to military campaigns and important collective matters.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 3268: The Prophet ﷺ said, 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family.' This relates to the mercy and gentleness emphasized in the closing phrase. Also relevant: Sunan Abu Dawud 2608 concerning seeking permission before leaving gatherings.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith manifests not only in belief but in responsible conduct within the community, including respecting collective matters and seeking appropriate permission from leaders; simultaneously, leaders must exercise wisdom and compassion in managing their followers' affairs, balancing discipline with mercy.
Related Ayahs
أَفِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ أَمِ ٱرْتَابُوٓا۟ أَمْ يَخَافُونَ أَن يَحِيفَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَرَسُولُهُۥ ۚ بَلْ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
Is there disease in their hearts? Or have they doubted? Or do they fear that Allāh will be unjust to them, or His Messenger? Rather, it is they who are the wrongdoers [i.e., the unjust].
إِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهُۥ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِكُم مَّا لَيْسَ لَكُم بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ وَتَحْسَبُونَهُۥ هَيِّنًا وَهُوَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ
When you received it with your tongues and said with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge and thought it was insignificant while it was, in the sight of Allāh, tremendous.
يَوْمَ تَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَلْسِنَتُهُمْ وَأَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
On a Day when their tongues, their hands and their feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do.
وَيُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
And Allāh makes clear to you the verses [i.e., His rulings], and Allāh is Knowing and Wise.