Tafseer of The Light · An-Noor · 24:53
And they swear by Allah their strongest oaths that if you ordered them, they would go forth [in Allah 's cause]. Say, "Do not swear. [Such] obedience is known. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with that which you do."
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: and these people who turn away from the judgment of Allah and the judgment of His messenger, when they were summoned to it, swore بِاللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَانِهِمْ — that is to say: by the most solemn and most forceful oaths they could swear — لَئِنْ أَمَرْتَهُمْ — "if you command them" — O Muḥammad, to march out for armed combat (qitāl) against your enemy and the enemy of the believers — لَيَخْرُجُنَّ — "they will surely march out." قُلْ لا تُقْسِمُوا — say: do not swear, for what is at issue here is طَاعَةٌ مَعْرُوفَةٌ — "known obedience" on your part, of which it is known that you lie therein.
As al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, on the authority of Mujāhid — concerning His word قُلْ لا تُقْسِمُوا طَاعَةٌ مَعْرُوفَةٌ : he said: "Your obedience to me is known — that you lie." — إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ("Allah is fully aware of what you do"): that is to say: Allah knows all about what you do of obedience to Allah and His messenger, or transgression of the commands of them both, and all the rest of your affairs. Nothing of this is hidden from Him, and He will requite you for all of it.
