The Meaning of Obeying God and His Messenger ﷺ
Allah Almighty says:
“O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger…” Surah An-Nisa (4:59)
Obeying Allah
To obey Allah means to align oneself with the divine commands and cosmic laws embedded in creation, without the need for human-imposed penalties to compel compliance. True obedience flows from conscience, reason, and reverence. Examples include:
– Conscious dealings with others: Acting with integrity and awareness in all interactions, so that your behavior harmonizes with divine guidance and innate human goodness.
– Industrial and environmental responsibility: Implementing safety measures in factories to protect workers, reducing air pollution, and preserving water sources, both surface and underground.
– Sustainable stewardship: Avoiding overfishing or excessive hunting outside designated seasons, ensuring species survival for future generations.
– Equitable resource management: Refraining from building dams that deprive downstream communities of life-sustaining water.
In essence, obedience to Allah encompasses all aspects of life, guided by reason, ethics, and the natural order.
Obeying the Messenger ﷺ
To obey the Messenger ﷺ is to follow the message he was entrusted with, which is to deliver the Qur’an. This obedience cannot contradict obedience to Allah, for the two are inseparable.
The Prophet’s mission was:
– To convey the message as received.
– To embody its principles in his life, transforming divine guidance into lived reality.
– To establish justice, eliminate oppression, and uphold equality in all societal and judicial matters.
Obeying Those in Authority
Those who come after the Prophet ﷺ, leaders and decision-makers, are tasked with translating the message into practical governance, adapted to the evolving circumstances of time, place, and community.
This clause is not a footnote; it’s a safeguard. It ensures that obedience to human authority is never absolute. It must be measured against divine guidance and prophetic example.
Civic Obedience as Practical Implementation
Obeying those in authority is not a contradiction, it is a practical mechanism for implementing divine principles in society. But it is always:
- Contextual: Adapted to time, place, and community.
- Accountable: Subject to divine and prophetic reference.
- Revocable: If it contradicts the Qur’an or the natural order, it must be challenged or corrected.
Resolving Disputes
When disagreements arise in applying any matter of public concern, the Qur’anic directive is clear:
“…refer it to Allah and the Messenger…” Surah An-Nisa (4:59)
This means:
- Refer to Allah: Seek the truth by studying the natural laws and divine patterns in creation, ensuring that decisions do not disrupt the balance of the universe.
- Refer to the Messenger ﷺ: Reflect deeply on the Qur’anic message and its ethical implications, striving to translate it into just and practical outcomes, taking in consideration the way understood and applied by the Prophet.
If disagreement persists due to differing interpretations of the Qur’an, the final recourse is to return to the divine order itself:
“And in whatever you disagree; its judgment belongs to Allah.” (42:10)
Only through this process can human affairs be guided by divine wisdom, ensuring justice, harmony, and sustainability.
And Allah knows best.