Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger (Surah Muhammad 47: 33)

Command to Obey Allah and His Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam)

Imam Ahmad Ibn Nasr Al-Marwazi reported in Kitab As-Salah (the Book of Prayer) that Abu Al-`Aliyah said, "The Prophet's Companions (Radhi Allahu Anhum) used to think that no sin would harm a person who says `La ilaha illallah,' just as no good deed would benefit a person who joins partners with Allah. So Allah revealed,

Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and do not invalidate your deeds.  This made them fear that some sins could nullify their deeds.'' It has also been reported from Ibn `Umar, (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) that he said, "We, the Companions of Allah's Messenger , used to think that good deeds would all be accepted, until Allah revealed,

Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and do not invalidate your deeds.  So we asked each other: `What is it that can nullify our deeds' So we said, `The major sins, great offenses that require admission into the Fire and immoral sins.' But then Allah revealed,

Verily, Allah does not forgive joining partners with Him in worship, but He forgives except that to whom He wills. (Surah An-Nisa' 4: 48)

After this was revealed, we ceased saying that. We thereafter continued to fear for those who committed great sins and immoral sins and to have hope for those who did not.'' Then, Allah commands His believing servants to obey Him and His Messenger, which would result in their happiness in this worldly life and the Hereafter. He also prohibits them from apostasy, because that would result in the nullification of their deeds. Thus He says,

and do not invalidate your deeds, meaning, by apostasy.


Source: Tafsir ibn Kathir (Abridged)