Surah An-Noor (24) — Ayah 62

(Ayah 62) ➊ { اِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا بِاللّٰهِ وَ رَسُوْلِهٖ … :} Previously, the command to seek permission before entering homes was given; now, the command to seek permission when leaving is given, especially when people are gathered for an important matter, such as consultation about an affair, or gathered for jihad, or gathered for admonition, or as the Muslims were gathered for digging the trench. On such occasions, the hypocrites would slip away without permission to save themselves, as mentioned in the following verse: «{ قَدْ يَعْلَمُ اللّٰهُ الَّذِيْنَ يَتَسَلَّلُوْنَ مِنْكُمْ لِوَاذًا }» [ النور : ۶۳ ] "Indeed, Allah knows those among you who slip away, taking shelter behind others." And elsewhere it is said: «{ وَ اِذَا مَاۤ اُنْزِلَتْ سُوْرَةٌ نَّظَرَ بَعْضُهُمْ اِلٰى بَعْضٍ هَلْ يَرٰىكُمْ مِّنْ اَحَدٍ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفُوْا صَرَفَ اللّٰهُ قُلُوْبَهُمْ بِاَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُوْنَ }» [ التوبۃ : ۱۲۷ ] "And whenever a surah is revealed, some of them look at others, [as if to say], 'Is anyone watching you?' Then they turn away. Allah has turned their hearts away because they are a people who do not understand." Some scholars have said that instead of explicitly condemning the hypocrites here, the Muslims who seek permission before leaving are praised, saying that only they are the believers, and this is mentioned twice in this verse, once in {’’ اِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا … ‘‘} and again in {’’ اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ يَسْتَاْذِنُوْنَكَ اُولٰٓىِٕكَ الَّذِيْنَ يُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِاللّٰهِ وَ رَسُوْلِهٖ ‘‘}. This shows that those who slip away without permission on such occasions do not have complete faith, or are entirely devoid of faith. However, this is stated indirectly rather than explicitly, as if the hypocrites are not even worthy of being mentioned for condemnation.

➋ { فَاِذَا اسْتَاْذَنُوْكَ لِبَعْضِ شَاْنِهِمْ فَاْذَنْ لِّمَنْ شِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ :} From this, it is understood that permission should not be sought without reason, but only for some important matter of one's own, and also that the leader has the authority to grant permission to whomever he wishes and to refuse whomever he wishes, because he knows best, considering the importance of the gathering, to whom permission can be granted.

➌ {وَ اسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمُ اللّٰهَ :} This indicates that although it is permissible to leave with permission due to an excuse, it is still not preferable, because this is giving precedence to worldly matters over religion. Therefore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was commanded to pray for forgiveness for such people. (Wahidi)

➍ This verse is the foundation of organizational discipline for the benefit of the Ummah, because the Sunnah is that for every gathering (whether small or large) there should be a leader. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ إِذَا كَانَ ثَلَاثَةٌ فِيْ سَفَرٍ فَلْيُؤَمِّرُوْا أَحَدَهُمْ ] [ أبوداوٗد، الجہاد، باب في القوم یسافرون… : ۲۶۰۹، قال الألباني حسن صحیح ] "When three (3) people are on a journey, they should appoint one of them as a leader." This leader will act as the a substitute for the one in authority for those Muslims and will have the status of a representative of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), so it is not permissible to leave his gathering without his permission. Because if everyone is allowed to slip away at will, no gathering will remain intact. Similarly, when the leader calls a meeting for a religious, political, or jihad-related need, it is not permissible to stay behind from the appointed place and time without permission or a valid excuse. (Ibn Ashur)