قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 31
Translations
Say, [O Muḥammad], "If you should love Allāh, then follow me, [so] Allāh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful."
Transliteration
Qul in kuntum tuhibbun-Allahfattabi'uni yuhbibkum-Allah wa yaghfir lakum dhunubakum. Wa-Allah ghafurun raheem.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a conditional promise: if the believers truly love Allah, they must follow the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), for obedience to him is the proof and manifestation of love for Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that mere verbal claims of love without following the Sunnah are hollow; true love is demonstrated through adherence to the Prophet's example. The ayah concludes with the assurance that Allah will reciprocate this love and grant forgiveness for sins.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina within the broader context of Surah Ali 'Imran, which addresses the People of the Book and establishes Islamic principles of faith and practice. This ayah specifically addresses those who profess love for Allah, challenging them to align their actions with their declarations, a recurring theme in Medinan surahs that dealt with the Muslim community's internal and external relations.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'None of you truly believes until I am dearer to him than his own self, his wealth, his children, and all people.' (Sahih Bukhari). Also relevant is: 'Whoever obeys me has obeyed Allah, and whoever disobeys me has disobeyed Allah' (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
True love for Allah is not merely emotional or verbal; it requires concrete obedience to the Prophet's teachings and example in daily life. This ayah invites believers to examine whether their actions genuinely reflect their faith, offering the promise that sincere obedience brings both divine love and forgiveness.