(36) “It is not for a believing man or woman—when Allah and His Messenger decree a matter—to have any choice in their affair. Whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has indeed strayed into manifest error.”

That is, nothing is proper or becoming for anyone characterized by faith except to hasten to seek the pleasure of Allah and His Messenger, flee from the displeasure of Allah and His Messenger, obey their commands, and avoid their prohibitions. Thus, when Allah and His Messenger decree any matter, deciding it conclusively and making it binding, it is not fitting for any believing man or woman “to have any choice in their affair”—that is, the choice of whether or not to do it. Rather, every believing man and woman knows that the Messenger has a greater claim over them than their own selves, and so does not allow any personal desire to become a barrier between them and the command of Allah and His Messenger.

“Whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has indeed strayed into manifest error”—that is, clear error, for he has abandoned the straight path leading to Allah’s honor in favor of other paths leading to painful punishment. Allah first mentioned the reason that requires one not to oppose the command of Allah and His Messenger—namely, faith. He then mentioned what deters one from doing so: the warning of misguidance, which entails punishment and exemplary chastisement.