وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَىٰ رَسُولِنَا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ 12
Translations
And obey Allāh and obey the Messenger; but if you turn away - then upon Our Messenger is only [the duty of] clear notification.
Transliteration
Wa atee'oo Allaha wa atee'oo ar-Rasool. Fa in tawallaytum fa innama ala Rasoolina al-balaagh al-mubin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands obedience to Allah and His Messenger as inseparable duties, emphasizing that rejection of the message does not negate the Prophet's responsibility to convey it clearly. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the verse establishes that the Prophet's obligation is limited to clear transmission (tabligh), while acceptance or rejection remains with the people's free will. Al-Qurtubi notes this reflects the principle of divine wisdom: those who turn away bear responsibility for their own choice, not the Messenger.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Madinah during a period when the Muslim community faced resistance from various groups including hypocrites and those who rejected faith. The surah addresses themes of mutual loss (taghabun) on the Day of Judgment, and this ayah specifically deals with the response to the divine message in the context of societal division and rejection.
Related Hadiths
The principle is echoed in the hadith: 'The best jihad is a word of truth spoken in front of a tyrannical ruler' (Sunan Ibn Majah), emphasizing the Prophet's duty to convey clearly. Also relevant is: 'Convey from me, even if it is one ayah' (Sahih Bukhari), which underscores the obligation of tabligh (clear communication).
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims are called to sincere obedience to Allah and follow the guidance of the Prophet, while understanding that ultimately each person is responsible for their own choices—we cannot force belief upon others, only convey the message with clarity and sincerity. This teaches both the importance of da'wah (calling to Islam) and acceptance of human free will in the divine plan.