an oath by Allah. “If you commanded them, they would surely march forth.” This was because the hypocrites would say to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, “Wherever you are, we will be with you. If you go forth, we will go forth; if you remain, we will remain; and if you command us to strive in battle, we will strive.” So the Exalted said: “Say” to them, “Do not swear,” that is, do not take oaths. The statement ends here. Then He said: “Obedience is well known”—that is, this is obedience merely in speech and on the tongue, without inward conviction; and it is “well known,” meaning that it is known of you that you lie and say what you do not do. This is the meaning of Mujāhid’s statement, may Allah have mercy on him.

It has also been said that its meaning is: obedience accompanied by a sincere intention is better and more proper than an oath uttered by the tongue but not borne out by action. Muqātil ibn Sulaymān said: Let there be among you an obedience that is well known. “Surely Allah is All-Aware of what you do.”