Tafsir al-Sadi - Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi’ - (318)

(20–21) “O you who believe, obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not turn away from Him while you hear. * Do not be like those who say, ‘We hear,’ though they do not hear.”

After stating that He is with the believers, Allah Most High commanded them to fulfill the requirements of faith, through which they attain His support. He said: “O you who believe, obey Allah and His Messenger” by carrying out what they command and avoiding what they forbid.

“And do not turn away from Him”—that is, from this command to obey Allah and His Messenger—“while you hear” what is recited to you from Allah’s Book, including His commands, counsels, and admonitions. To turn away under such circumstances is among the most reprehensible of states.

“Do not be like those who say, ‘We hear,’ though they do not hear.” That is, do not content yourselves with an empty claim devoid of reality, for this is a condition pleasing to neither Allah nor His Messenger. Faith does not consist of wishful thinking or outward display; rather, it is what takes firm root in the heart and is confirmed by deeds.

﴿٢٠ - ٢١﴾ ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلا تَوَلَّوْا عَنْهُ وَأَنْتُمْ تَسْمَعُونَ * وَلا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَهُمْ لا يَسْمَعُونَ﴾ . لما أخبر تعالى أنه مع المؤمنين، أمرهم أن يقوموا بمقتضى الإيمان الذي يدركون به معيته، فقال: ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ﴾ بامتثال أمرهما واجتناب نهيهما. ﴿وَلا تَوَلَّوْا عَنْهُ﴾ أي: عن هذا الأمر الذي هو طاعة الله، وطاعة رسوله. ﴿وَأَنْتُمْ تَسْمَعُونَ﴾ ما يتلى عليكم من كتاب الله، وأوامره، ووصاياه، ونصائحه، فتوليكم في هذه الحال من أقبح الأحوال. ﴿وَلا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَهُمْ لا يَسْمَعُونَ﴾ أي: لا تكتفوا بمجرد الدعوى الخالية التي لا حقيقة لها، فإنها حالة لا يرضاها الله ولا رسوله، فليس الإيمان بالتمني والتحلي، ولكنه ما وقر في القلوب وصدقته الأعمال.