unconditionally; rather, he was commanded to do so if such doubt existed. A ruling dependent on a condition does not apply when that condition is absent.

Likewise, concerning His words,

“The truth is from your Lord, so never be among those who doubt,”

and His words,

“And do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites,”

and similar passages, many commentators say that the address is directed to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, but others are intended. That is, others might doubt and obey those people, and so are forbidden to do so, whereas he would neither doubt nor obey them. Yet even assuming this to be so, he too is addressed by these words and is subject to this prohibition.

Allah, glorified be He, has forbidden him to commit what He has made unlawful: associating partners with Him, speaking about Him without knowledge, wrongdoing, and acts of indecency. Through Allah’s prohibition of these things and his obedience to Allah in this regard, he became deserving of an immense reward. Were it not for the prohibition and his obedience, he would not have deserved that reward.

It is not necessary that someone who receives commands and prohibitions be a person whose obedience is in doubt and who might disobey the Lord—or disobey Him altogether and never obey Him. Rather, Allah commanded the angels while knowing that they would obey Him, and He commands the prophets while knowing that they will obey Him. Likewise, everything in which the believers obey Him is something He has commanded them to do, while knowing that they will obey Him.