Chapter - The Teachings of the Holy Qur'an on Obedience
Say: Obey Allah and the Messenger; but if they turn back, Allah Surely loves not the disbelievers' (Holy Qur'an 3:31). The religion of Islam demands strict obedience to Allah and His Messenger. The world "Islam" means submission "obedience." Obedience to God (Allah) is not accepted if one is disobedient to the Messenger. "The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers" (Holy Qur'an 2:285). A true follower of the Messenger believes as the Messenger believes, but a hypocrite pretends he believes but is not at all a believer. There are those who claim they are believers but are sympathizers of the hypocrites; those are the ones who will never say anything one way or the other, fearing that they will show their sympathy for the hypocrite. Such ones are warned in the Holy Qur'an: "Behold, you are they who may contend on their behalf in this world's life, but who will contend with Allah on their behalf on the resurrection day" (Holy Qur'an 4:109) There are those who like to dispute and act hostile toward the Messenger of Allah. They are also warned in the same chapter: "And whoever acts hostilely to the Messenger after guidance has become manifest to him and follows other than the way of the believers, we turn him to that to which he himself turns and make him enter hell: And it is an evil resort" (Holy Qur'an 4:115) This refers to those whom the Messenger has guided to Allah on the right path, and who have tasted the blessings of Allah and then turn back to that which they had been brought out of. And here Allah causes them to meet with a worse condition that they left. This is tasted by such ones in this life. Allah does not spare a Messenger's nearest of kin or their wives and children. (See Holy Qur'an 66:1-11). Allah will chastise Messengers if they disobey Him, but Allah does not allow us to be the judge of His Messengers, nor does He make a second choice in choosing a Messenger for another. Read the histories of the Prophets of God. "O you who believe, obey Allah and obey His Messenger and make not your deeds vain." "Surely those who disbelieve and hinder men from Allah's way then die disbelievers, Allah will not forgive them" (Holy Qur'an 47:33, 34). God is very hard on those who disobey His Messenger. He warns in His Holy Qur'an not to quarrel and dispute or raise our voices above the Messenger's voice. Strict respect and honor is demanded for His Messengers. We should not take them lightly, we may underestimate them without knowledge.