Al-Anfaal (The Spoils of War)

20. “O' you who have Faith! Obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not turn away from him while you hear (him).”

21. “And be not like those who say: ‘We heard’, but they do not hear (indeed).”

In the Qur’an thoroughly, the commandment of the obedience from the Messenger of Allah (S) has occurred next to the obedience from Allah. In eleven occurrences the term /’ati‘un/ (do obey) has been mentioned after the Qur’anic phrase:

“Be in awe of Allah”.

In this verse, although both the obedience from Allah and the obedience from the Messenger are referred to, the objective is the disobedience from the Messenger, (not from Allah), especially in the Battle of Badr and his commands concerning the military affairs.

Therefore, for the continuation of the order of the truth, people should always be recommended to be obedient unto the Divine leader. The verse says:

“O’ you who have Faith! Obey Allah and His Messenger…”

It should also be known that leaving the obedience from the Prophet (S) is the disobedience from Allah. The verse continues saying:

“…and do not turn away from him while you hear (him).”

In this obedience, the obedience from the Divine leader, truthfulness is the necessary condition, and only the act of ‘hearing’ is not enough. The verse says:

“And be not like those who say: ‘We heard’, but they do not hear (indeed).”