Tafseer of The Spoils of War · Al-Anfaal · 8:20
O you who have believed, obey Allah and His Messenger and do not turn from him while you hear [his order].
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.
The explanation of His statement: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلا تَوَلَّوْا عَنْهُ وَأَنْتُمْ تَسْمَعُونَ (O you who believe, obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not turn away from him while you hear) (8:20).
Abū Jaʿfar said: The Exalted, whose praise is proclaimed, says: O you who have held Allah and His Messenger to be truthful — obey Allah and His Messenger, in what He has commanded you and in what He has forbidden you — and do not turn away from him. He says: and do not turn your backs upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ by opposing his command and his prohibition — while you hear, namely his commanding and his forbidding to you, while you believe therein. As:
15852 — Ibn Ḥumayd related to us, he said: Salama related to us, on the authority of Ibn Isḥāq, concerning O you who believe, obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not turn away from him while you hear, that is: do not oppose his command, while you listen to his word and claim that you belong to him.
