سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْفَالِ
Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 20
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَا تَوَلَّوْا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَنتُمْ تَسْمَعُونَ ﴿20﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O you who believe! Obey Allâh and His Messenger, and turn not away from him (i.e. Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) while you are hearing.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O you
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
who
ءَامَنُوٓا۟
āmanū
believe
أَطِيعُوا۟
aṭīʿū
Obey
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
وَرَسُولَهُۥ
warasūlahu
and His Messenger
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تَوَلَّوْا۟
tawallaw
turn away
عَنْهُ
ʿanhu
from him
وَأَنتُمْ
wa-antum
while you
تَسْمَعُونَ
tasmaʿūna
hear
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 20) ➊ {يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْۤا اَطِيْعُوا اللّٰهَ وَ رَسُوْلَهٗ … : } After warning the disbelievers, now the Muslims are being instructed that when you come to know the command of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in any matter, then do not listen to anyone against it, rather obey it. First, the obedience to Allah is mentioned as a preface, because obedience to the Messenger is also obedience to Allah. At the beginning of the Surah, in order to end the dispute regarding the spoils of war, the declaration of «{ قُلِ الْاَنْفَالُ لِلّٰهِ وَ الرَّسُوْلِ}» was made and obedience to the Messenger was made a condition of faith. Then, in between, His favors were mentioned, and now the previous discourse is again concluded with the instruction of obedience.
➋ { وَ اَنْتُمْ تَسْمَعُوْنَ:} This does not mean that when you are listening, you should not turn away from it at that time, but at other times you may turn away. Rather, it means that you are always hearing the commands of Allah in the form of the Qur’an and Hadith. If you have not heard, or do not have knowledge, then there may be an excuse, but after hearing the command, not acting upon it does not befit the believers. The person who himself does not act upon the command after hearing it, how will he accept it if the command reaches him through someone else?
➋ { وَ اَنْتُمْ تَسْمَعُوْنَ:} This does not mean that when you are listening, you should not turn away from it at that time, but at other times you may turn away. Rather, it means that you are always hearing the commands of Allah in the form of the Qur’an and Hadith. If you have not heard, or do not have knowledge, then there may be an excuse, but after hearing the command, not acting upon it does not befit the believers. The person who himself does not act upon the command after hearing it, how will he accept it if the command reaches him through someone else?
