Loyalty and Obedience

(CONCEPT FROM QUR’AAN)

The Qur’an gives a detailed account of human nature. All the corruption and indecent personality traits of
unbelievers are mentioned as well as the attributes of believers. The attributes of obedient believers oft-returning to
Allah, and into whom Allah breathed His Spirit, are what make up an exalted standard of character.
Surely, such a high standard of moral values pertaining to believers is in sharp contrast to that of unbelievers.
Sincerity and trustworthiness throw into sharp relief the insincere and hypocritical nature of the unbelievers. Likewise,
the generous, brave and modest attitude of believers is very different from the arrogant, ruthless and selfish behaviours
of unbelievers. One feature which clearly distinguishes between these two groups- that is, between believers and
unbelievers - is a sense of loyalty, or its absence. In its real sense, unbelievers can never remain true, solely due to the
fact that they are motivated by self-interest: It often takes them just a matter of moments to turn away from a lifelong
friend or a close relative. Likewise, they easily give up struggling or fighting for something they think as right.
However, the believers assume a totally different attitude. The criteria they apply to their deeds and lives plainly
manifest themselves in the verse. Say: “Truly, my prayer and my devotions, my life and my death, are (all) for Allah, the
Cherisher of the Worlds.” (Al-anam 6:162) Consequently, those who have faith are considerate in their behaviours,
aiming to attend the will of Allah, and remain committed to their people and purpose at any cost. On account of minor
benefits, they never leave the righteous path and they demonstrate an unshakable and unswerving loyalty to believers
and especially to the leader of believers. Allah describes the loyalty shown by the believers in the Qur’an as follows:
َ ‫ِمنَ ْال ُم ْؤ ِمنِينَ ِر َجا ٌل‬
َ َ‫ۖ فَ ِم ْنهُ ْم َم ْن ق‬ ‫ص َدقُوا َما عَاهَدُوا هَّللا َ َعلَ ْي ِه‬
‫ َو َما بَ َّدلُوا تَ ْب ِدياًل‬ ۖ ‫ض ٰى نَحْ بَهُ َو ِم ْنهُ ْم َم ْن يَ ْنت َِظ ُر‬
Minal-Mu’mineena rijaalun-sadaqou maa aahaduLLaaha alayh; fa-minhum-man-qazaa nahbahou wa minhum-many-
yantazir; wa maa baddalou tabdeelaa;
Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah: of them some have been
true to their vows to the very end, and some still await their end: but they have never changed (their
determination) in the least.(Al-Ahzap, 33:23)
Loyalty keeps all believers who fight for their faith directed towards one goal. This attribute, the essential
characteristic of determination, is vital for any community of believers that is steadfast. A believer would fail to keep his
self-respect if even once he demonstrated a minor neglect in his loyalty. Once one loses self-respect completely, one
gradually approaches a point where one loses faith. Subsequently, things deteriorate very quickly and the backslider
starts to behave in just the way an unbeliever or a hypocrite does. This is because unfaithfulness encourages a person
to commit other significant kinds of deception. He first of all transgresses by trying to hide his disloyalty from other
believers. Then he starts telling lies, making a sustained effort to deceive them. After a while, his ‘talent’ for telling lies,
makes him feel that he can really dupe believers and starts to adopt a way of living based on deriving unfair benefits
from them. This indicates a state of mind in which the deceiver feels no love for believers. In this mood, he seeks the
pleasure of people rather than of Allah. That is why he strives after high prestige. He perceives anything likely to
damage this prestige as a serious threat to his being and strives to protect himself by telling more lies. Meanwhile, as
believers begin to detect his lies, he displays more of the traits of a hypocrite. At this point, he tries to exculpate
himself. But this effort turns him entirely into the type of a person who does not hesitate to form alliances with
unbelievers and hypocrites.
The aforementioned sequence of events is striking in the sense that it reveals how certain disloyal kinds of
behaviour, which are assumed to be minor and insignificant, can cause the individual to drift into unbelief. The truthful
believers, on the other hand, steadfastly persevere in righteousness till the day of their death, since they owe their
obedience to nobody but Allah. This fact is noted in the following verse:
‫ َو َم ْن تَ َولَّ ٰى فَ َما أَرْ َس ْلنَاكَ َعلَ ْي ِه ْم َحفِيظًا‬ ۖ َ ‫َم ْن يُ ِط ِع ال َّرسُو َل فَقَ ْد أَطَا َع هَّللا‬
CONCEPT FROM QUR’AAN | Loyalty and Obedience 1
Prepared by MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA
 Many-yuti’ir-Rasoula fa-qad ataa’aLLaah; wa man ta-wallaa famaaa arsal-naaka alay-him hafeezaa.
He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah: But if any turn away, We have not sent you to watch over their
(evil deeds). (An-Nisa, 4:80)
Being truthful is one of the most important subjects that a believer should be sensitive to. While informing us
about hypocrites who are ever ready to escape from their obligations, Allah bids us give our attention to the pledge
they take in the Qur’an about not turning their backs and accordingly states that such people bear a heavy
responsibility.
َ َ‫َولَقَ ْد َكانُوا عَاهَدُوا هَّللا َ ِم ْن قَ ْب ُل اَل ي َُولُّونَ اأْل َ ْدب‬
‫ َو َكانَ َع ْه ُد هَّللا ِ َم ْسئُواًل‬ ۚ ‫ار‬
Wa laqad kaanou aahaduLLaaha min-qablu laa yuwallounal-adbaar; wa kaana ahduLLaahi mas’oulaa.
And yet they had already sworn to Allah not to turn their backs in flight, and a covenant with Allah must
(surely) be answered for. (Al-Ahzap, 33:15)

A pledge made to Allah is indeed a heavy responsibility. Hence, Allah commands the believers:
َ‫ۚ إِنَّ َما ِع ْن َد هَّللا ِ هُ َو َخ ْي ٌر لَ ُك ْم إِ ْن ُك ْنتُ ْم تَ ْعلَ ُمون‬  ‫َواَل تَ ْشتَرُوا بِ َع ْه ِد هَّللا ِ ثَ َمنًا قَلِياًل‬
Wa laa tashtarou bi-AhdiLLaahi samanan-qaleelaa; innamaa indaLLaahi huwa khayrul-lakum in-kuntum ta’lamoun.
Nor sell the covenant of Allah for a miserable price: for with Allah is (a prize) far better for you, if you only
knew. (An-Nahl, 16:95)

No doubt, the most significant sign of loyalty is obedience. Obedience is an essential attribute of believers, as
stated in the Qur’an. It is actually the key to earning the mercy of Allah, to attaining Heaven and gaining a victory
against unbelievers.
َ ‫َوأَ ِطيعُوا هَّللا َ َوال َّرس‬
َ‫ُول لَ َعلَّ ُك ْم تُرْ َح ُمون‬
Wa’ate-uLLaaha war-Rasoula la’allakum turhamoun.
And obey Allah and the Messenger, so that you may obtain mercy. (Al-Imran, 3:132)
‫ َو َٰ‌ذلِكَ ْالفَوْ ُز ْال َع ِظي ُم‬ ۚ ‫ت تَجْ ِري ِم ْن تَحْ تِهَا اأْل َ ْنهَا ُر خَالِ ِدينَ فِيهَا‬
ٍ ‫ َو َم ْن ي ُِط ِع هَّللا َ َو َرسُولَهُ يُ ْد ِخ ْلهُ َجنَّا‬ ۚ ِ ‫ك ُحدُو ُد هَّللا‬
َ ‫تِ ْل‬
Tilka HudouduLLaah; wa many-yati’iLLaaha wa Rasoulahou yudkhilhu Jannaatin-tajree min-tahtihal-anhaaru
khaalideena feehaa; wa zaalikal-fawzul-azeem.
Those are limits set by Allah: those who obey Allah and His Messenger will be admitted to Gardens with
rivers flowing beneath, to abide therein forever and that will be the supreme achievement. (An-Nisa, 4:13)
‫ۖ فَإِ ْن تَنَا َز ْعتُ ْم فِي َش ْي ٍء فَ ُر ُّدوهُ إِلَى هَّللا ِ َوال َّرسُو ِل‬ ‫يَا أَيُّهَا الَّ ِذينَ آ َمنُوا أَ ِطيعُوا هَّللا َ َوأَ ِطيعُوا ال َّرسُو َل َوأُولِي اأْل َ ْم ِر ِم ْن ُك ْم‬
َ ِ‫ َٰ‌ذل‬ ۚ ‫إِ ْن ُك ْنتُ ْم تُ ْؤ ِمنُونَ بِاهَّلل ِ َو ْاليَوْ ِم اآْل ِخ ِر‬
‫ك َخ ْي ٌر َوأَحْ َسنُ تَأْ ِويال‬
Yaaa’ayyu-hallazeena aamanouu atee’uLLaaha wa’atee-ur Rasoula wa ulil’amri min-kum. Fa’in tanaaza’tum fee
shay’in-fa-ruddouhu ilaLLaahi war-Rasouli in-kuntum tu’mi-nouna biLLaahi wal-Yawwmil-Aakhir. Zaalika khayrunw-
wa’ahsanu ta’weelaa.
You who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If
you differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you do believe in Allah and
the Last Day. That is best, and most suitable for final determination. (An-Nisa, 4:59)

‫ َولَوْ أَنَّهُ ْم إِ ْذ ظَلَ ُموا أَ ْنفُ َسهُ ْم َجاءُوكَ فَا ْستَ ْغفَرُوا هَّللا َ َوا ْستَ ْغفَ َر لَهُ ُم ال َّرسُو ُل‬ ۚ ِ ‫َو َما أَرْ َس ْلنَا ِم ْن َرسُو ٍل إِاَّل لِيُطَا َع بِإِ ْذ ِن هَّللا‬
‫لَ َو َجدُوا هَّللا َ تَ َّوابًا َر ِحي ًما‬
‫ضيْتَ َويُ َسلِّ ُموا تَ ْسلِي ًما‬ َ َ‫ك فِي َما َش َج َر بَ ْينَهُ ْم ثُ َّم اَل يَ ِجدُوا فِي أَ ْنفُ ِس ِه ْم َح َرجًا ِم َّما ق‬ َ ‫فَاَل َو َربِّكَ اَل ي ُْؤ ِمنُونَ َحتَّ ٰى ي َُح ِّك ُمو‬
Wa maaa’arsalnaa mir-Rasoulin illaa liyutaa’a bi-IzniLLaah. Wa law’annahum iz-zalamouu anfusahum jaaa’ouka
fastag-faruLLaaha was-tagfara lahumur-Rasoulu la-wajaduLLaaha Tawwaa-bar-Raheemaa.
Falaa wa Rabbika laa yu’minouna hattaa yuhakkimou-ka feemaa shajara baynahum thumma laa yajidou feee
anfusihim harajam-mimmaa qa-zayta wa yusallimou tasleemaa.
We sent forth messengers, to be obeyed, by men in accordance with the will of Allah. If they had only,
when they were unjust to themselves, come to you and asked Allah’s forgiveness, and the Messenger had
asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah indeed Forgiving and Most Merciful. But no, by
CONCEPT FROM QUR’AAN | Loyalty and Obedience 2
Prepared by MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA
 the Lord, they can have no real faith, until they make you judge in all disputes between them, and find in
their souls no resistance against Your decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction. (An-Nisa, 4:64-
65)
‫َو َم ْن يُ ِط ِع هَّللا َ َوال َّرسُو َل فَأُولَ ٰـئِكَ َم َع الَّ ِذينَ أَ ْن َع َم هَّللا ُ َعلَ ْي ِه ْم ِمنَ النَّبِيِّينَ َوالصِّ دِّيقِينَ َوال ُّشهَدَا ِء‬
‫ك َرفِيقًا‬َ ِ‫ۚ َو َحسُنَ أُولَ ٰـئ‬  َ‫َوالصَّالِ ِحين‬
Wa many-yuti’iLLaaha war-Rasoula fa-ulaaa’ika ma-allazeena an-amaLLaahu alay-him-minan-Nabiy-yyina was-
Siddee’qeena wash-Shuha-daaa’i was-Saali-heen; wa hasuna ulaaa’ika Rafeeqaa.
All who obey Allah and the messenger shall dwell in the company of those whom Allah has favoured with
His Grace: the prophets who teach the sincere lovers of Truth, the witnesses who testify, and the
Righteous who do good. Ah! what a beautiful companionship! (An-Nisa, 4:69)

Under all circumstances, believers should be committed to obedience for all time. Hypocrites, too, can be
obedient, but only when the conditions are not so tough and demanding. However, in times of difficulty and trouble,
only true believers persevere in their obedience. In the Qur’an, Allah informs us that hypocrites living in the time of the
Prophet find the fight for faith to be difficult. However, they join believers in their struggle when they find that it means
“immediate gain and an easy journey”.
َ‫ َٰ‌ذلِ ُك ْم َخ ْي ٌر لَ ُك ْم إِ ْن ُك ْنتُ ْم تَ ْعلَ ُمون‬ ۚ ِ ‫يل هَّللا‬
ِ ِ‫ا ْنفِرُوا ِخفَافًا َوثِقَااًل َو َجا ِهدُوا بِأ َ ْم َوالِ ُك ْم َوأَ ْنفُ ِس ُك ْم فِي َسب‬
‫ َو َسيَحْ لِفُونَ بِاهَّلل ِ لَ ِو ا ْستَطَ ْعنَا لَ َخ َرجْ نَا َم َع ُك ْم‬ ۚ ُ‫َت َعلَ ْي ِه ُم ال ُّشقَّة‬ ْ ‫ك َولَ ٰـ ِك ْن بَ ُعد‬
َ ‫صدًا اَل تَّبَعُو‬ ِ ‫لَوْ َكانَ ع ََرضًا قَ ِريبًا َو َسفَرًا قَا‬
َ‫يُ ْهلِ ُكونَ أَ ْنفُ َسهُ ْم َوهَّللا ُ يَ ْعلَ ُم إِنَّهُ ْم لَ َكا ِذبُون‬
Infirou khifaafanw-wa siqaalanw-wa jaa-hidou bi’amwaa-likum wa anfusikum fee Sabee-liLLaah. Zaalikum khay-rul-
lakum in-kuntum ta’lamoun.
Law kaana arazan-qareebanw-wa safaran-qaasidal-lattaba’ouka wa laakim-ba’uda alay-himush-shuqqah. Wa
sayahli-founa biLLaahi la-wista-ta’naa la-kha-rajnaa ma-akum. Yuhli-kouna anfusa-hum; waLLaahu ya’lamu in-nahum
la-kaaziboun.
Go forth, whether unarmed or well-equipped and strive and struggle, with your goods and your persons,
in the cause of Allah. That is best for you, if you but knew. If there had been immediate gain in sight, and
the journey easy, they would all without doubt have followed you, but the distance was long, and
weighed on them. They would indeed swear by Allah, “If we only could, we should certainly have come
out with you:” They would destroy their own souls; for Allah knows that they are certainly lying. (At-
Tawba, 9:41-42)

One of the main attributes of believers is to maintain their obedience in every situation and under all
circumstances. The Qur’an informs us about the different attitudes of believers and hypocrites.
َ‫ َو َما أُولَ ٰـئِكَ بِ ْال ُم ْؤ ِمنِين‬ ۚ َ‫ق ِم ْنهُ ْم ِم ْن بَ ْع ِد َٰ‌ذلِك‬ٌ ‫َويَقُولُونَ آ َمنَّا بِاهَّلل ِ َوبِال َّرسُو ِل َوأَطَ ْعنَا ثُ َّم يَتَ َولَّ ٰى فَ ِري‬
َ‫ْرضُون‬ ِ ‫ق ِم ْنهُ ْم ُمع‬ ٌ ‫َوإِ َذا ُدعُوا إِلَى هَّللا ِ َو َرسُولِ ِه لِيَحْ ُك َم بَ ْينَهُ ْم إِ َذا فَ ِري‬
َ‫ق يَأْتُوا إِلَ ْي ِه ُم ْذ ِعنِين‬ ُّ ‫َوإِ ْن يَ ُك ْن لَهُ ُم ْال َح‬
ُ
َ‫ بَلْ أولَ ٰـئِكَ هُ ُم الظَّالِ ُمون‬ ۚ ُ‫أَفِي قُلُوبِ ِه ْم َم َرضٌ أَ ِم ارْ تَابُوا أَ ْم يَخَافُونَ أَ ْن يَ ِحيفَ هَّللا ُ َعلَ ْي ِه ْم َو َرسُولُه‬
َ‫ بَلْ أُولَ ٰـئِكَ هُ ُم الظَّالِ ُمون‬ ۚ ُ‫أَفِي قُلُوبِ ِه ْم َم َرضٌ أَ ِم ارْ تَابُوا أَ ْم يَخَافُونَ أَ ْن يَ ِحيفَ هَّللا ُ َعلَ ْي ِه ْم َو َرسُولُه‬
َ‫ش هَّللا َ َويَتَّ ْق ِه فَأُولَ ٰـئِكَ هُ ُم ْالفَائِ ُزون‬
َ ‫َو َم ْن ي ُِط ِع هَّللا َ َو َرسُولَهُ َويَ ْخ‬
۞ َ‫ۚ إِ َّن هَّللا َ خَ بِي ٌر بِ َما تَ ْع َملُون‬ ٌ‫ طَا َعةٌ َم ْعرُوفَة‬ ۖ ‫ۖ قُلْ اَل تُ ْق ِس ُموا‬ ‫َوأَ ْق َس ُموا بِاهَّلل ِ َج ْه َد أَ ْي َمانِ ِه ْم لَئِ ْن أَ َمرْ تَهُ ْم لَيَ ْخ ُرج َُّن‬
‫ َو َما َعلَى‬ ۚ ‫ َوإِ ْن تُ ِطيعُوهُ تَ ْهتَدُوا‬ ۖ ‫ۖ فَإِ ْن ت ََولَّوْ ا فَإِنَّ َما َعلَ ْي ِه َما ُح ِّم َل َو َعلَ ْي ُك ْم َما ُح ِّم ْلتُ ْم‬ ‫ُول‬ َ ‫قُلْ أَ ِطيعُوا هَّللا َ َوأَ ِطيعُوا ال َّرس‬
ُ‫غ ْال ُمبِين‬ ُ ‫ال َّرسُو ِل إِاَّل ْالبَاَل‬
Wa yaqoulouna aamannaa biLLaahi wa bir-Rasouli wa’ata’naa thumma yatawallaa fareequm-minhum-mim-ba’di
zaalik; wa maaa ulaaa’ika bil-Mu’mineen.
Wa’izaa du’ouu ilaLLaahi wa Rasoulihee li-yahkuma baynahum izaa fareequm-minhum-mu’rizoun.
Wa’iny-yakul-lahumul-haqqu ya’touu ilayhi muz’ineen.

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Prepared by MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA
 Afee quloubihim marazun amirtaabouu am yakhaafouna any-yaheefaLLaahu alayhim wa Rasuluh? Bal ulaaa’ika
humuz-zaalimoun.
Innamaa kaana qawlal-Mu’mineena izaa du’ouu ilaLLaahi wa Rasoulihee liyahkuma baynahum any-yaqoulou
Sami’naa wa ata’naa. Wa ulaaa’ika humul-Mufli-houn.
Wa many-yuti-iLLaaha wa Rasoulahou wa yakhshaLLaaha wa yattaqhi fa-ulaaa’ika humul-Faaa’izoun.
Wa aqsamou biLLaahi jahda aymaanihim la’in amar-tahum layakhrujunn. Qul laa tuqsimou; taa’atum-ma’roufah;
innaLLaaha khabeerum-bimaa ta’maloun.
Qul atee’uLLaaha wa’ateeur-Rasoul; fa’in-tawallaw fa’innamaa alayhi maa hummila wa alaykum-maa hummiltum.
Wa’in tutee’ouhu tahtadou. Wa maa’alar-Rasouli ilal-Balaagul-mubeen.
They say, “We believe in Allah and in the messenger, and we obey.” but even after that, some of them
turn away: they are not (really) believers. When they are summoned to Allah and His messenger, in order
that He may judge between them, behold, some of them decline (to come). But if the right is on their side,
they come to him with all submission. Is there a disease in their hearts? Or do they doubt, or are they in
fear, that Allah and His Messenger will deal unjustly with them? No, indeed, it is they themselves who do
wrong. The answer of the believers, when summoned to Allah and His Messenger, in order that He may
judge between them, is no other than this: they say, “We hear and we obey.” It is such as these who will
attain felicity. It is such as obey Allah and His Messenger, and fear Allah and do right, who will win (in the
end), they swear their strongest oaths by Allah that, if only you would command them, they would leave
(their homes). Say: “Do not swear Obedience is (more) reasonable; truly, Allah is well acquainted with all
that you do.” Say: “Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger: but if you turn away, he is only responsible for
the duty placed on him and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be rightly guided. The
Messenger’s duty is only to preach the clear Message. (Al-Nur, 24:47-54)

Obedience to the messenger should come from deep within the heart and with full commitment. The believers
should acknowledge that the decision of the messenger is righteous and, accordingly, never have any doubts about
their obedience. This is an extremely important issue, since obeying reluctantly is described in the Qur’an as a sign of
disbelief: “But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make you judge in all disputes between them,
and find in their souls no resistance to Your decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction. ( An-Nisa, 4:65)
Obedience is a sure sign of one’s faith in Allah and his total willingness to be a servant to Him. This is surely the
only way to man’s salvation. As Allah states in Surat’ Al-Anfal, 8:24: “O you who believe! Give your response to Allah
and His Messenger, when He calls you to that which will give you life.” The messenger calls man to his eternal
salvation. In another verse Allah states that the Messenger summons the believers to salvation, freedom, contentment
and avoidance of evil.

In verse 157 of Surah Al-Araf Allah says: “I will show mercy to those.......who follow the Messenger, the
Ummi whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures),- in the law and the Gospel;- for he commands
them to do what is just and forbids them to do what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and
pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); he releases them from their heavy burdens and
from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honour him, help him, and follow
the light which is sent down with him, who will prosper.”
(Al-Araf,7:157)

The believers’ victory over unbelievers is also dependent on their obedience to the Messenger and those charged
with authority among them. In response to their obedience, Allah supports believers and grants them a glorious victory.
The reverse is also true. In case of disobedience, they lose their power over unbelievers. Allah relates such an incident
that took place in the prophet's time. In the following verse:
ۚ  َ‫َص ْيتُ ْم ِم ْن بَ ْع ِد َما أَ َرا ُك ْم َما تُ ِحبُّون‬
َ ‫ َحتَّ ٰى إِ َذا فَ ِش ْلتُ ْم َوتَنَا َز ْعتُ ْم فِي اأْل َ ْم ِر َوع‬ ۖ ‫ص َدقَ ُك ُم هَّللا ُ َو ْع َدهُ إِ ْذ تَ ُحسُّونَهُ ْم بِإِ ْذنِ ِه‬َ ‫َولَقَ ْد‬
َ‫ َوهَّللا ُ ُذو فَضْ ٍل َعلَى ْال ُم ْؤ ِمنِين‬ ۗ ‫ َولَقَ ْد َعفَا َع ْن ُك ْم‬ ۖ ‫ص َرفَ ُك ْم َع ْنهُ ْم لِيَ ْبتَلِيَ ُك ْم‬
َ ‫ ثُ َّم‬ ۚ َ‫ِم ْن ُك ْم َم ْن ي ُِري ُد ال ُّد ْنيَا َو ِم ْن ُك ْم َم ْن ي ُِري ُد اآْل ِخ َرة‬

CONCEPT FROM QUR’AAN | Loyalty and Obedience 4

Prepared by MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA
 Wa laqad sadaqakumuLLaahu wa’dahouu iz tahussou-nahum bi-iznih, - hattaaa izaa fashiltum wa tanaaza’tum fil-
amri wa’asaytum min-ba’di maaa araakum-maa tuhibboun. Minkum-many-yureedud-dunyaa wa minkum-many-
yureedul-aakhirah. Thumma sarafakum anhum li-yabtali-yakum. Wa laqad afaa’ankum; waLLaahu Zou-fazlin alal-
Mu’mineen.
Allah did indeed fulfil His promise to you when, with His permission you were about to annihilate your
enemy, until you flinched and fell to disputing about the order, and disobeyed it after He brought you in
sight (of the booty) which you covet. Among you are some that hanker after this world and some that
desire the Hereafter. Then He diverted you from your foes in order to test you, but He forgave you, for
Allah is full of grace to those who believe. (Al-Imran, 3:152)

Salvation can be achieved only through obedience. Those who do not obey the Messenger and follow a path other
than the one leading to righteousness, will eventually go to Hell. Allah makes this fact plain in the Qur’an as follows:
ْ ‫ َو َسا َء‬ ۖ ‫ق ال َّرسُو َل ِم ْن بَ ْع ِد َما تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ْالهُد َٰى َويَتَّبِ ْع َغي َْر َسبِي ِل ْال ُم ْؤ ِمنِينَ نُ َولِّ ِه َما ت ََولَّ ٰى َونُصْ لِ ِه َجهَنَّ َم‬
‫ت‬ ِ ِ‫َو َم ْن يُ َشاق‬
‫صيرًا‬ ِ ‫َم‬
Wa many-yushaaq-qir-Rasoula mim-ba’di maa tabayyana lahul-hudaa wa yattabi gayra sabee-lil-Mu’mineena nu-
wallihee maa ta-wallaa wa nuslihee Jahannam; wa saaa’at maseeraa. (Section 18)
If anyone contends with the Messenger even after guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and
follows a path other than that becoming to men of faith, We shall leave him on the path he has chosen,
and consign him to Hell, what an evil refuge! (An-Nisa, 4:115)

CONCEPT FROM QUR’AAN | Loyalty and Obedience 5

Prepared by MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA