Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nisa Verse 59

Mufti Taqi Usmani

O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. Then, if you quarrel about something, revert it back to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is good, and the best at the end.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

O believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. Should you disagree on anything, then refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you ˹truly˺ believe in Allah and the Last Day. This is the best and fairest resolution.

Ruwwad Translation Center

O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and those of you who are in authority. If you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day; that is better and more commendable in the end.

A. J. Arberry

O believers, obey God, and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. If you should quarrel on anything, refer it to God and the Messenger, if you believe in God and the Last Day; that is better, and fairer in the issue.

Abdul Haleem

You who believe, obey God and the Messenger, and those in authority among you. If you are in dispute over any matter, refer it to God and the Messenger, if you truly believe in God and the Last Day: that is better and fairer in the end.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

O Ye who believe! obey Allah and obey the apostle and owners of authority from amongst you. then if dispute in aught refer it Unto ye Allah and the apostle if ye indeed believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best and fairest interpretation.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day; That is best, and most suitable for final determination.

Abul Ala Maududi

Believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and those from among you who are invested with authority; and then if you were to dispute among yourselves about anything refer it to Allah and the Messenger if you indeed believe in Allah and the Last Day; that is better and more commendable in the end.

Ahmed Ali

O you who believe, obey God and the Prophet and those in authority among you; and if you are at variance over something, refer it to God and the Messenger, if you believe in God and the Last Day. This is good for you and the best of settlement.

Ahmed Raza Khan

O People who Believe! Obey Allah and the Noble Messenger and those amongst you who are in authority; so if there is a dispute amongst you concerning any matter, refer it to Allah and the Noble Messenger (for judgement) if you believe in Allah and the Last Day; this is better and has the best outcome.

Ali Quli Qarai

O you who have faith! Obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those vested with authority among you. And if you dispute concerning anything, refer it to Allah and the Apostle, if you have faith in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more favourable in outcome.

Ali Ünal

O you who believe! Obey God and obey the Messenger, and those from among you who are invested with authority; and if you are to dispute among yourselves about anything, refer it to God and the Messenger, if indeed you believe in God and the Last Day. This is the best (for you) and fairest in the end.

Amatul Rahman Omar

O you who believe! obey Allâh and obey (His) Messenger and those who are in authority among you (to decide your affairs). And should you differ among yourselves in anything, refer it to Allâh and His Messenger (and judge according to their teachings), if indeed you believe in Allâh and the Last Day. That is (in your) best (interests) and most commendable in the long run.

English Literal

You, you those who believed, obey God and obey the messenger, and (those) of the order/command from you, so if you disputed in a thing, so return it to God and the messenger, if you were believing with God, and the Day the Last/Resurrection Day, that is better and (the) best interpretation/explanation .

Faridul Haque

O People who Believe! Obey Allah and the Noble Messenger and those amongst you who are in authority; so if there is a dispute amongst you concerning any matter, refer it to Allah and the Noble Messenger (for judgement) if you believe in Allah and the Last Day; this is better and has the best outcome.

Hamid S. Aziz

And when it is said to them, "Come round to what Allah has sent down and unto the Messenger," you see the hypocrites turning from you in aversion.

Hilali & Khan

O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad SAW), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger (SAW), if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Surely Allah commands you to make over trusts to those worthy of them, and that when you judge between people, you judge with justice. Surely Allah admonishes you with what is excellent. Surely Ally is ever Hearing, Seeing.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

O you who believe! obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those in authority from among you; then if you quarrel about anything, refer it to Allah and the Apostle, if you believe in Allah and the last day; this is better and very good in the end.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the messenger and those of you who are in authority; and if ye have a dispute concerning any matter, refer it to Allah and the messenger if ye are (in truth) believers in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more seemly in the end.

Muhammad Sarwar

Believers, obey God, His Messenger, and your (qualified) leaders. If you have faith in God and the Day of Judgment, refer to God and His Messenger concerning matters in which you differ. This would be a more virtuous and a better way of settling differences.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Believers, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. Should you dispute about anything refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and the best interpretation.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and those of you who are in authority. If you differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination.

Wahiduddin Khan

Believers, obey God and obey the Messenger and those who have been entrusted with authority among you. If you are in dispute over any matter, refer it to God and the Messenger, if you truly believe in God and the Last Day: this is best, and best in the end.

Talal Itani

O you who believe! Obey God and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you dispute over anything, refer it to God and the Messenger, if you believe in God and the Last Day. That is best, and a most excellent determination.

Tafsir jalalayn

O you who believe, obey God, and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you, that is, rulers, when they command you to obey God and His Messenger. If you should quarrel, disagree, about anything, refer it to God, that is, to His Book, and the Messenger, while he lives, and thereafter [refer] to his Sunna; in other words examine these [disputes] with reference to these two [sources], if you believe in God and the Last Day; that, reference to the two [sources], is better, for you than quarrelling or [adhering to] personal opinions, and more excellent in interpretation, in the end.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Necessity of Obeying the Rulers in Obedience to Allah

Allah says;

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ أَطِيعُواْ اللّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ الرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي الَامْرِ مِنكُمْ

Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and those of you who are in authority.

Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn Abbas said that;

the Ayah, "Was revealed about Abdullah bin Hudhafah bin Qays bin Adi, who the Messenger of Allah sent on a military expedition."

This statement was collected by the Group, with the exception of Ibn Majah. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan, Gharib".

Imam Ahmad recorded that Ali said,

"The Messenger of Allah sent a troop under the command of a man from Al-Ansar. When they left, he became angry with them for some reason and said to them, `Has not the Messenger of Allah commanded you to obey me?'

They said, `Yes.'

He said, `Collect some wood,' and then he started a fire with the wood, saying, `I command you to enter the fire.'

The people almost entered the fire, but a young man among them said, `You only ran away from the Fire to Allah's Messenger. Therefore, do not rush until you go back to Allah's Messenger, and if he commands you to enter it, then enter it.'

When they went back to Allah's Messenger, they told him what had happened, and the Messenger said,

لَوْ دَخَلْتُمُوهَا مَا خَرَجْتُمْ مِنْهَا أَبَدًا إِنَّمَا الطَّاعَةُ فِي الْمَعْرُوف

Had you entered it, you would never have departed from it. Obedience is only in righteousness."

This Hadith is recorded in the Two Sahihs.

Abu Dawud recorded that Abdullah bin Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said,

السَّمْعُ وَالطَّاعَةُ عَلَى الْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ فِيمَا أَحَبَّ وَكَرِهَ مَا لَمْ يُوْمَرْ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ فَإِذَا أُمِرَ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ فَلَ سَمْعَ وَلَا طَاعَة

The Muslim is required to hear and obey in that which he likes and dislikes, unless he was commanded to sin. When he is commanded with sin, then there is no hearing or obeying.

This Hadith is recorded in the Two Sahihs.

Ubadah bin As-Samit said,

"We gave our pledge to Allah's Messenger to hear and obey (our leaders), while active and otherwise, in times of ease and times of difficulty, even if we were deprived of our due shares, and to not dispute this matter (leadership) with its rightful people.

The Prophet said,

إِلاَّ أَنْ تَرَوْا كُفْرًا بَوَاحًا عِنْدَكُمْ فِيهِ مِنَ اللهِ بُرْهَان

Except when you witness clear Kufr about which you have clear proof from Allah."

This Hadith is recorded in the Two Sahihs.

Another Hadith narrated by Anas states that the Messenger of Allah said,

اسْمَعُوا وَأَطِيعُوا وَإِنْ أُمِّرَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَبْدٌحَبَشِيٌّ كَأَنَّ رَأْسَهُ زَبِيبَة

Hear and obey (your leaders), even if an Ethiopian slave whose head is like a raisin, is made your chief.

Al-Bukhari recorded this Hadith.

Umm Al-Husayn said that she heard the Messenger of Allah giving a speech during the Farewell Hajj, in which he said;

وَلَوِ اسْتُعْمِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَبْدٌيَقُودُكُمْ بِكِتَابِ اللهِ اسْمَعُوا لَهُ وَأَطِيعُوا

Even if a slave was appointed over you, and he rules you with Allah's Book, then listen to him and obey him.

Muslim recorded this Hadith.

In another narration with Muslim, the Prophet said,

عَبْدًا حَبَشِيًّا مَجْدُوعًا

Even if an Ethiopian slave, whose nose was mutilated...

In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

مَنْ أَطَاعَنِي فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللهَ وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَقَدْ عَصَى اللهَ وَمَنْ أَطَاعَ أَمِيرِي فَقَدْ أَطَاعَنِي وَمَنْ عَصَى أَمِيرِي فَقَدْ عَصَانِي

Whoever obeys me, obeys Allah, and whoever disobeys me, disobeys Allah. Whoever obeys my commander, obeys me, and whoever disobeys my commander, disobeys me.

This is why Allah said,

أَطِيعُواْ اللّهَ

Obey Allah,

adhere to His Book.

وَأَطِيعُواْ الرَّسُولَ

and obey the Messenger,

adhere to his Sunnah.

وَأُوْلِي الَامْرِ مِنكُمْ

And those of you who are in authority.

in the obedience to Allah which they command you, not what constitutes disobedience of Allah, for there is no obedience to anyone in disobedience to Allah, as we mentioned in the authentic Hadith,

إِنَّمَا الطَّاعَةُ فِي الْمَعْرُوف

Obedience is only in righteousness.
The Necessity of Referring to the Qur'an and Sunnah for Judgment

Allah said,

فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ

(And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger.

Mujahid and several others among the Salaf said that the Ayah means,

"(Refer) to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger."

This is a command from Allah that whatever areas the people dispute about, whether major or minor areas of the religion, they are required to refer to the Qur'an and Sunnah for judgment concerning these disputes. In another Ayah, Allah said,

وَمَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِن شَىْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ

And in whatsoever you differ, the decision thereof is with Allah. (42;10)

Therefore, whatever the Book and Sunnah decide and testify to the truth of, then it, is the plain truth. What is beyond truth, save falsehood.

This is why Allah said,

إِن كُنتُمْ تُوْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاخِرِ

if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day.

meaning, refer the disputes and conflicts that arise between you to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger for judgment.

Allah's statement,
إِن كُنتُمْ تُوْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاخِرِ
(if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day), indicates that those who do not refer to the Book and Sunnah for judgment in their disputes, are not believers in Allah or the Last Day.

Allah said,

ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ

That is better,

meaning, referring to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger for judgment in various disputes is better.

وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلً



and more suitable for final determination.

As-Suddi and several others have stated,

meaning, "Has a better end and destination."

Mujahid said,

"Carries a better reward.