Overview (Verses 51 - 54)

The Road to True Success

True believers have a different attitude that reflects their complete respect for God’s judgement. When they are summoned so that God’s Messenger can arbitrate in their disputes, their reaction reflects the profound enlightenment of their hearts: “The response of believers, whenever they are summoned to God and His Messenger in order that he may judge between them, is none other than, ‘We have heard, and we obey.’ It is they that shall be successful.” (Verse 51)

This is an attitude of complete obedience. There is no hesitation, argument or dispute, because it is an obedience based on complete trust that God’s judgement is right and just, and whatever differs with it is based on personal prejudice. Such obedience testifies to complete submission to God, who gives life and conducts it as He wills. It demonstrates full trust that what God chooses for people is infinitely better than what they choose for themselves. God, the Creator, knows His creation better than they know themselves.

“It is they that shall be successful.” (Verse 51) Since God conducts their affairs, organizes their relations and judges between them on the basis of His knowledge and justice, they must be in a far better position than those who rely, in all such matters, on other human beings who are similarly short of knowledge. Besides, the believers are successful because they follow a single straight path that allows no deviation. They are confident of the soundness of their code of living, follow it without hesitation, which means that their energy, talents and skills work in coherence. They suffer no internal division based on conflicting desires. They follow their own path, charted for them by God.

“Those who obey God and His Messenger, stand in awe of God and remain truly God- fearing are the ones who shall certainly triumph.” (Verse 52) The previous verse spoke of obedience and submission when judgement is made. This verse speaks of complete obedience in all matters, implementing every order or prohibition. Such obedience must be coupled with God consciousness and standing in awe of Him. The latter is more pervasive because it entails watching God and feeling His presence at every turn. This makes a person very uneasy about committing anything that God has forbidden, for they are ashamed and fear His punishment.

“Those who obey God and His Messenger, stand in awe of God and remain truly God- fearing are the ones who shall certainly triumph.” (Verse 52) They save themselves in this life and in the life to come. This is what God has promised, and God is always true to His promise. They deserve to triumph, as they have practically taken the necessary measures to ensure such a triumph. Obedience to God and His Messenger requires diligent following of the right way God in His wisdom has defined for mankind. Following this way automatically ensures success in this life and in the life to come. Moreover, standing in awe of God and fearing Him ensure continuity in one’s conduct, helping one to ignore all temptations that lure believers away from their straight path.

Obeying God and His Messenger, coupled with fearing God, provide a high standard of propriety that reflects a person’s enlightenment and strong bond with God. It also reflects the dignity of believers. Obedience to anyone or any authority means humiliation unless it is based on obeying God and His Messenger. No honourable believer will accept such humiliation, for a true believer will never bow his head before anyone other than God Almighty.

Having so contrasted the attitudes of believers and hypocrites, the sūrah now resumes its discussion of the latter’s behaviour, making it clear that only one sort of attitude can 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 [sort of] 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. (Verses 53-54) The hypocrites used to solemnly swear in front of the Prophet that he needed only to give them his orders and they would readily join him on 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.” (Verse 53) 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 as if we say to a person whom we know to be a habitual liar that he need 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 well aware of all that you do.” (Verse 53) He is certainly in no need of their oaths. He knows that they would not obey any order to go to war, and that they would not join the Prophet when he went 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.” (Verse 54)

“But if you turn away,” resorting to your habitual hypocrisy, then “he will have to answer only for whatever he has been charged with.” (Verse 54) His only task for which he is answerable is to deliver God’s message, as he has surely done. “And you, for what you have been charged with.” (Verse 54) Your task is to obey him most sincerely. But so far, you have not done so. However, “if you obey him, you shall be rightly guided.” (Verse 54) 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.” (Verse 54) 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 the risk of being punished for your disobedience of the orders given to you by God and His Messenger.