Surah Al-Hujuraat (49) — Ayah 1

(Ayah 1) ➊ { يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا:} Razi said: “In this surah, Allah Almighty has taught the believers the lesson of noble character. Their relationship will either be in dealings with Allah Almighty, or with His Messenger, or with the sinful people, or with those believers who are present, or with those believers who are absent, and the beginning of each of these five categories is with {’’ يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا ‘‘}.”

➋ {لَا تُقَدِّمُوْا بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللّٰهِ وَ رَسُوْلِهٖ: ’’ لَا تُقَدِّمُوْا ‘‘} is from the form of tafeel, whose root is {’’قَدَمَ يَقْدُمُ‘‘} (ن), which means “to go ahead of another,” as Allah Almighty said about Pharaoh: «يَقْدُمُ قَوْمَهٗ يَوْمَ الْقِيٰمَةِ » [ ھود : ۹۸ ] “He will be ahead of his people on the Day of Resurrection.” The meaning of {’’ تَقَدَّمَ يَتَقَدَّمُ ‘‘} (tafa’ul) is also “to advance.” According to the form of tafeel, its meaning will be “to make advance,” that is, do not put any word or action ahead of Allah and His Messenger. Sometimes {’’قَدَّمَ‘‘ ’’تَقَدَّمَ‘‘} also comes in the meaning of “he advanced,” as in {’’ كَأَنَّهُ قَدَّمَ نَفْسَهُ ‘‘} “as if he advanced himself.” In this case, the meaning of the verse will be: “Do not advance ahead of Allah and His Messenger.” And here, this is the preferred meaning. From this is also {’’مُقَدِّمَةُ الْجَيْشِ‘‘} (the foremost part of an army). The form of tafeel is also used in the meaning of tafa’ul, as in {’’وَجَّهَ أَيْ تَوَجَّهَ‘‘} and {’’ بَيَّنَ أَيْ تَبَيَّنَ۔‘‘} In the verse, the one who acts or speaks without the permission or command of Allah and His Messenger is likened to the one who leaves others behind and advances ahead of them. (Ibn Ashur)

➌ In { ’’ لَا تُقَدِّمُوْا بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللّٰهِ وَ رَسُوْلِهٖ ‘‘}, the purpose of mentioning Allah and His Messenger together is that to advance ahead of the Messenger is in fact to advance ahead of Allah Almighty, because the Messenger only says and does what is revealed to him from Allah Almighty, as He said: «وَ مَا يَنْطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوٰى (3) اِنْ هُوَ اِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُّوْحٰى » [ النجم: ۳،۴ ] “And he does not speak from his own desire. It is only revelation that is revealed.”

➍ In this verse, the fundamental requirement of believing in Allah and His Messenger is stated: when you accept Allah as your Lord and the Messenger as your guide and leader, then follow them, do not go ahead! Do not make your own decisions, but first see what the command of Allah and His Messenger is. This command is even a step ahead of the command present in Surah Al-Ahzab, where He said: «وَ مَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَّ لَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ اِذَا قَضَى اللّٰهُ وَ رَسُوْلُهٗۤ اَمْرًا اَنْ يَّكُوْنَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ اَمْرِهِمْ وَ مَنْ يَّعْصِ اللّٰهَ وَ رَسُوْلَهٗ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلٰلًا مُّبِيْنًا » [ الأحزاب : ۳۶ ] “And it is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [still] have any choice in their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.” That is, in Surah Al-Ahzab, it is stated that when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, then no believing man or woman has any right to make their own decision, and here it is said that believers should not take the lead by making their own decisions, but should first see what the command of Allah and His Messenger is regarding them. This command is for both the individual and collective matters of Muslims. No person, whether he is a scholar, imam, or spiritual leader, has the right, nor does any group or parliament have the right, to make their own shariah, declare something halal or haram, or declare something as rewardable or sinful. If anyone gives this right to someone, he makes him his lord. See also the commentary of Surah At-Tawbah, verse (31): « اِتَّخَذُوْۤا اَحْبَارَهُمْ وَ رُهْبَانَهُمْ اَرْبَابًا مِّنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ ».

➎ The meaning of not advancing ahead of Allah and His Messenger is that do not go beyond the Book and Sunnah, follow them. Thus, Tabari has narrated with an authentic chain from Ali bin Abi Talhah from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them): [ « لَا تُقَدِّمُوْا بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللّٰهِ وَ رَسُوْلِهٖ » يَقُوْلُ لَا تَقُوْلُوْا خِلاَفَ الْكِتَابِ وَالسُّنَّةِ ] [ طبري : ۳۱۹۲۷ ] that the meaning of this verse is that do not say anything against the Book and Sunnah. Some commentators have mentioned the reason for the revelation of this verse as fasting a day or two before Ramadan, and some have mentioned sacrificing before the Eid al-Adha prayer. The reality is that all such actions are included in the meaning of this verse, but it is not established that this verse was revealed specifically about them.

➏ {وَ اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ سَمِيْعٌ عَلِيْمٌ:’’ اِنَّ ‘‘} is for reasoning, that is, to state the reason for the first matter. That is, fear Allah, because Allah Almighty is the Hearer of every word and the Knower of every deed, whether it is done openly or secretly, whether it has been acted upon or is only intended in the heart. If you advance ahead of Allah and His Messenger, your crime will not be hidden from Him and He will punish you for it.