Full Obedience to God, Sayyid Qutb

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They swear their most solemn oaths by God that if you (God’s Messenger) should ever bid them to do so, they would most certainly march forth. Say: “Do not swear. Your obedience is well known. God is certainly well aware of all that you do.”

Say: “Obey God, and obey the Messenger.” But if you turn away, he will have to answer only for whatever he has been charged with, and you, for what you have been charged with. If you obey him, you shall be rightly guided. The Messenger is not bound to do more than clearly deliver his message.

God has promised those of you who believe and do good deeds that, of a certainty, He will cause them to accede to power on earth, in the same way as He caused those who lived before them to accede to it; and that, of a certainty, He will firmly establish for them the religion which He has chosen for them; and that, of a certainty, He will cause their erstwhile state of fear to be replaced by a state of security. They will thus worship Me alone and associate with Me no partners whatsoever. Those who, after this, choose to disbelieve are indeed wicked. (Light, Al-Noor: 24: 53-55)

In the verses preceding this passage, the surah contrasted the attitudes of believers and hypocrites. It now resumes its discussion of the latters’ behavior, making clear that only one sort of attitude could be adopted by believers. It then moves on to outline God’s promise to the believers.

“They swear their most solemn oaths by God that if you (God’s Messenger) should ever bid them to do so, they would most certainly march forth. Say: ‘Do not swear. Your obedience is well known. God is certainly well aware of all that you do.’” The hypocrites used to solemnly swear in front of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he needed only to give them his orders and they would readily join him in any expedition against his enemies. They would not hesitate to fight for Islam under his banner. But God was fully aware that they were lying. Hence, He decries their assertions and looks at their oaths with sarcasm: “Do not swear. Your obedience is well known.” This means that there is no need for their oaths, because their obedience is too well known to need any assertion or oath. It is like we may say to a person whom we know to be a habitual liar that he needs not assert to us that he is saying the truth, because we know him to be always truthful.

This sarcastic reply is followed by the assertion: “God is certainly aware of all that you do.” He is certainly in no need of their oaths. He knows that they would not obey any order to go to war, and they would not join the Prophet when he goes on such an expedition.

Therefore, a fresh order is given to them to show true obedience to God and His Messenger, not the sort they are known to show, because that is false. “Say: Obey God, and obey the Messenger.”

“But if you turn away,” resorting to your habitual hypocrisy, then “he will have to answer only for whatever he has been charged with.” His only task for which he is answerable is to deliver God’s message, as he had surely done. “And you, for what you have been charged with.” Your task is to obey him most sincerely. But so far, this was not their attitude.

However, “if you obey him, you shall be rightly guided.” You will be following the right path that leads you to success in both this life and the life to come. “The Messenger is not bound to do more than clearly deliver his message.” He is not responsible for your acceptance or rejection of the faith. If you turn away, he will not be deemed to have fallen short of fulfilling his task. You are the ones who will have to account for that, and you are the ones who run a risk of being punished for your disobedience of the orders given to you by God and His Messenger.

When the attitude of the hypocrites has been discussed and settled, the surah leaves them alone to speak about the obedient believers. It outlines the reward of sincere obedience and proactive faith. The first installment of such reward is given in this life, before human beings are held to account on the Day of Resurrection. “God has promised those of you who believe and do good deeds that, of a certainty, He will cause them to accede to power on earth, in the same way as He caused those who lived before them to accede to it; and that, of a certainty, He will firmly establish for them the religion which He has chosen for them; and that, of a certainty, He will cause their erstwhile state of fear to be replaced by a state of security. They will thus worship Me alone and associate with Me no partners whatsoever. Those who, after this, choose to disbelieve are indeed wicked.”

Such is God’s promise to the believers who do good deeds and follow the guidance of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). They will be given power and be established on earth. Their state of fear will be replaced by a state of reassurance and security. God’s promise will always come true. It is, then, pertinent to ask about the nature of faith and the practical fulfillment of this promise by God.

True faith, which ensures that God’s promise comes true, is great indeed. It influences all human activity and defines its direction. Once faith is well established in a person’s heart, it begins to manifest itself in the form of positive and constructive action undertaken for God’s sake and addressed to Him.

It means full compliance with His orders in all matters, big and small. It transforms a believer’s desires and inclinations so as to make them all in line with the Prophet’s guidance, because such guidance has been given to him by God.