سُوْرَةُ النُّوْرِ
Surah An-Noor (24) — Ayah 54
قُلْ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْهِ مَا حُمِّلَ وَعَلَيْكُم مَّا حُمِّلْتُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُطِيعُوهُ تَهْتَدُوا۟ ۚ وَمَا عَلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ إِلَّا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ ﴿54﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Say: "Obey Allâh and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away, he (Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) is only responsible for the duty placed on him (i.e. to convey Allâh’s Message) and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on the right guidance. The Messenger’s duty is only to convey (the message) in a clear way (i.e. to preach in a plain way)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قُلْ
qul
Say
أَطِيعُوا۟
aṭīʿū
Obey
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
وَأَطِيعُوا۟
wa-aṭīʿū
and obey
ٱلرَّسُولَ ۖ
l-rasūla
the Messenger
فَإِن
fa-in
but if
تَوَلَّوْا۟
tawallaw
you turn away
فَإِنَّمَا
fa-innamā
then only
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
upon him
مَا
mā
(is) what
حُمِّلَ
ḥummila
(is) placed on him
وَعَلَيْكُم
waʿalaykum
and on you
مَّا
mā
(is) what
حُمِّلْتُمْ ۖ
ḥummil'tum
(is) placed on you
وَإِن
wa-in
And if
تُطِيعُوهُ
tuṭīʿūhu
you obey him
تَهْتَدُوا۟ ۚ
tahtadū
you will be guided
وَمَا
wamā
And not
عَلَى
ʿalā
(is) on
ٱلرَّسُولِ
l-rasūli
the Messenger
إِلَّا
illā
except
ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ
l-balāghu
the conveyance
ٱلْمُبِينُ
l-mubīnu
[the] clear
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 54) ➊ { قُلْ اَطِيْعُوا اللّٰهَ وَ اَطِيْعُوا الرَّسُوْلَ:} That is, not only Allah’s command but also the command of the Messenger should be obeyed. It does not need to be explained that after the death of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), obeying him means following his Sunnah.
➋ {فَاِنْ تَوَلَّوْا : ’’ تَوَلَّوْا ‘‘} In the original, it is {’’تَتَوَلَّوْا‘‘}, which is the present tense, second person form, meaning “if you turn away.” This is not the past tense, third person form, which would mean “if they turn away,” because ahead they are being addressed: «{ فَاِنَّمَا عَلَيْهِ مَا حُمِّلَ وَ عَلَيْكُمْ مَّا حُمِّلْتُمْ }» That is, if you disobey in any way, it will not harm the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) at all. His responsibility was only to convey Allah’s message to you, so he has conveyed this message. Now it is your responsibility to act upon it; if you turn away from it, then consider your own end.
➌ { وَ اِنْ تُطِيْعُوْهُ تَهْتَدُوْا :} That is, if you obey the Messenger, you will be guided; if you obey anyone else, you will not be guided. Ibn Atiyyah has quoted the saying of some of the Salaf here, which is the best explanation of this verse. He writes: “Whoever makes the Sunnah his leader in his words and actions will speak with wisdom and insight, and whoever makes his desires his leader in his words and actions will speak of innovation.” [ المحرر الوجیز ]
➍ { وَ مَا عَلَى الرَّسُوْلِ اِلَّا الْبَلٰغُ الْمُبِيْنُ :} That is, if you are not guided, the blame will not be on the Messenger but on you.
➋ {فَاِنْ تَوَلَّوْا : ’’ تَوَلَّوْا ‘‘} In the original, it is {’’تَتَوَلَّوْا‘‘}, which is the present tense, second person form, meaning “if you turn away.” This is not the past tense, third person form, which would mean “if they turn away,” because ahead they are being addressed: «{ فَاِنَّمَا عَلَيْهِ مَا حُمِّلَ وَ عَلَيْكُمْ مَّا حُمِّلْتُمْ }» That is, if you disobey in any way, it will not harm the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) at all. His responsibility was only to convey Allah’s message to you, so he has conveyed this message. Now it is your responsibility to act upon it; if you turn away from it, then consider your own end.
➌ { وَ اِنْ تُطِيْعُوْهُ تَهْتَدُوْا :} That is, if you obey the Messenger, you will be guided; if you obey anyone else, you will not be guided. Ibn Atiyyah has quoted the saying of some of the Salaf here, which is the best explanation of this verse. He writes: “Whoever makes the Sunnah his leader in his words and actions will speak with wisdom and insight, and whoever makes his desires his leader in his words and actions will speak of innovation.” [ المحرر الوجیز ]
➍ { وَ مَا عَلَى الرَّسُوْلِ اِلَّا الْبَلٰغُ الْمُبِيْنُ :} That is, if you are not guided, the blame will not be on the Messenger but on you.
