Tafseer of The Light · An-Noor · 24:51
The only statement of the [true] believers when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them is that they say, "We hear and we obey." And those are the successful.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
Allah the Exalted says: when they were summoned to the judgement of Allah and the judgement of His Messenger so that he might judge between them and their adversaries, the believers ought only to have said أَنْ يَقُولُوا سَمِعْنَا — "we have heard what has been said to us" — وَأَطَعْنَا — "and we obey the one who has called us to that." The form كَانَ in this place does not aim at conveying information about something that took place in the past and is thereby concluded; rather, it is a rebuke from Allah toward those on account of whom this verse was sent down, as well as an instruction for others coming after them.
His word وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ ("they are the successful"): Allah the Exalted says: those who, when they are summoned to Allah and His Messenger so that he may judge between them and their adversaries, say سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا — they are the successful. That is to say: they are the ones who attain their goals and see their wishes fulfilled by acting thus — those who abide eternally in the gardens (janna) of Allah.
