مَّن يُطِعِ ٱلرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ ٱللَّهَ ۖ وَمَن تَوَلَّىٰ فَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا 80
Translations
He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allāh; but those who turn away - We have not sent you over them as a guardian.
Transliteration
Man yuti'ir ar-rasūla faqad atā'a Allāh, wa man tawallā famā arsalnāka 'alayhim hafīẓā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the principle that obedience to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is equivalent to obedience to Allah, as the Prophet conveys divine revelation without alteration. Conversely, those who turn away from the Prophet's guidance are not under his guardianship or compulsion, emphasizing that belief and obedience are matters of free choice. Ibn Kathir notes this demonstrates the Prophet's supreme authority in religious matters as Allah's chosen messenger, while Al-Tabari emphasizes that the Prophet's commands reflect divine will.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa (Chapter 4), a Medinan surah revealed after the Prophet's migration to Madinah. It addresses the Muslim community's relationship with prophetic authority during the establishment of the Islamic state. The broader context concerns obedience to Allah and His Messenger as foundational to community cohesion and proper governance.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim (1835): The Prophet said, 'Whoever obeys me has obeyed Allah, and whoever disobeys me has disobeyed Allah.' Also, Sunan Abu Dawud (4604): 'Hear and obey, even if a slave is appointed over you,' emphasizing the binding nature of following legitimate leadership.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that following the Prophet's teachings is inseparable from worshipping Allah, making it essential to study and implement Sunnah in daily life. It also clarifies that while the Prophet guides, ultimate acceptance rests with individuals, calling Muslims to conscious, willing obedience rather than blind compliance.
Related Ayahs
فَقَـٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُكَلَّفُ إِلَّا نَفْسَكَ ۚ وَحَرِّضِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَكُفَّ بَأْسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ أَشَدُّ بَأْسًا وَأَشَدُّ تَنكِيلًا
So fight, [O Muḥammad], in the cause of Allāh; you are not held responsible except for yourself. And encourage the believers [to join you] that perhaps Allāh will restrain the [military] might of those who disbelieve. And Allāh is greater in might and stronger in [exemplary] punishment.
ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَرَبَّصُونَ بِكُمْ فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمْ فَتْحٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ قَالُوٓا۟ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ وَإِن كَانَ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ نَصِيبٌ قَالُوٓا۟ أَلَمْ نَسْتَحْوِذْ عَلَيْكُمْ وَنَمْنَعْكُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۚ فَٱللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ وَلَن يَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلًا
Those who wait [and watch] you. Then if you gain a victory from Allāh, they say, "Were we not with you?" But if the disbelievers have a success, they say [to them], "Did we not gain the advantage over you, but we protected you from the believers?" Allāh will judge between [all of] you on the Day of Resurrection, and never will Allāh give the disbelievers over the believers a way [to overcome them].
تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
These are the limits [set by] Allāh, and whoever obeys Allāh and His Messenger will be admitted by Him to gardens [in Paradise] under which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein; and that is the great attainment.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَصَدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ قَدْ ضَلُّوا۟ ضَلَـٰلًۢا بَعِيدًا
Indeed, those who disbelieve and avert [people] from the way of Allāh have certainly gone far astray.