Surah 24

Surah 24:54

"Say: ‘Obey God and obey the messenger! If you turn away, (there is) only on him what is laid on him, and (only) on you what is laid on you. But if you obey him, you will be (rightly) guided. Nothing (depends) on the messenger except the clear delivery (of the message).’"
Tafsir Ibn Kathir Verses 24:53-54
Show Full Scripture Context (24:53-54) — 2 Verses
Verse 53

۞وَأَقۡسَمُواْ بِٱللَّهِ جَهۡدَ أَيۡمَٰنِهِمۡ لَئِنۡ أَمَرۡتَهُمۡ لَيَخۡرُجُنَّۖ قُل لَّا تُقۡسِمُواْۖ طَاعَةٞ مَّعۡرُوفَةٌۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ

They have sworn by God the most solemn of their oaths: if indeed you command them, they will indeed go forth. Say: ‘Do not swear! Honorable obedience (is sufficient). Surely God is aware of what you do.’

Verse 54

قُلۡ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيۡهِ مَا حُمِّلَ وَعَلَيۡكُم مَّا حُمِّلۡتُمۡۖ وَإِن تُطِيعُوهُ تَهۡتَدُواْۚ وَمَا عَلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ إِلَّا ٱلۡبَلَٰغُ ٱلۡمُبِينُ

Say: ‘Obey God and obey the messenger! If you turn away, (there is) only on him what is laid on him, and (only) on you what is laid on you. But if you obey him, you will be (rightly) guided. Nothing (depends) on the messenger except the clear delivery (of the message).’

Allah says about the hypocrites who had promised the Messenger and sworn that if he were to command them to go out for battle, they would go:

{Say : "Swear you not..."} meaning, do not swear this oath.

{obedience is known.} It was said that the meaning is, your obedience is known, i.e., it is known that your obedience is merely verbal and is not accompanied by action. Every time you swear an oath you lie. This is like the Ayah:

{They swear to you that you may be pleased with them...} 9:96

And Allah says:

{They have made their oaths a screen (for their evil actions).} 58:16

It is part of their nature to tell lies, even in the issues they choose, as Allah says:

{Have you not observed the hypocrites who say to their friends among the people of the Scripture who disbelieve: "If you are expelled, we indeed will go out with you, and we shall never obey any one against you; and if you are attacked, we shall indeed help you." But Allah is Witness that they verily are liars. Surely, if they are expelled, never will they go out with them ; and if they are attacked, they will never help them . And if they do help them, they will turn their backs, and they will not be victorious.} 59:11-12

Then Allah says:

Quoted Scripture
"Say: "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger..."

meaning, follow the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger.

{but if you turn away,} if you ignore what he has brought to you,

{he is only responsible for the duty placed on him}, conveying the Message and fulfilling the trust.

{and you for that placed on you} accepting that, and venerating it and doing as it commanded.

{If you obey him, you shall be on the right guidance.} because he calls to the straight path,

{The path of Allah to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth...} 42:53

{The Messenger's duty is only to convey in a clear way.} This is like the Ayat.

{your duty is only to convey and on Us is the reckoning.} 13:40

{So remind them - you are only one who reminds. You are not a dictator over them.} 88:21-22

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.