(8–9) “Indeed, We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner, * so that you may believe in Allah and His Messenger, support and honor him, and glorify Him morning and evening.”

That is: “Indeed, We have sent you,” O noble Messenger, “as a witness” over your community concerning the good and evil they have done; as a witness concerning doctrines and questions, distinguishing their truth from their falsehood; and as a witness for Allah Most High, affirming His oneness and His sole possession of perfection in every respect. He was sent “as a bearer of glad tidings” to those who obey him and obey Allah, promising them reward in this world, in their religion, and in the Hereafter; and as a warner to those who disobey Allah, warning them of punishment both immediate and deferred. Part of conveying glad tidings and warnings in full is to explain the deeds and character traits for which glad tidings are given or warnings issued. Thus, he makes clear good and evil, happiness and misery, and truth and falsehood. For this reason, Allah then says: “so that you may believe in Allah and His Messenger.”

That is: because the Messenger calls you and teaches you what benefits you, We sent him so that you may uphold faith in Allah and His Messenger, which necessarily entails obeying them both in every matter.

“Support and honor him”—that is, support and honor the Messenger (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him): hold him in high esteem, revere him, and fulfill his rights, in view of the immense favor he has bestowed upon you. “And glorify Him”—that is, glorify Allah—“morning and evening,” at the beginning and end of the day. In this verse, Allah mentions the right shared by Allah and His Messenger, namely belief in them both; the right specific to the Messenger, namely supporting and honoring him; and the right specific to Allah, namely glorifying and sanctifying Him through prayer and other acts of worship.