Answer Allah and (His) Messenger when he (the Messenger) calls you (Surah Al-Anfal 8: 24)

The Command to answer and obey Allah and His Messenger


Answer, obey,

that which will give you life that which will make your affairs good.'' Al-Bukhari went on to narrate that Abu Sa`id bin Al-Mu`alla (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said, "I was praying when the Prophet passed by and called me, but I did not answer him until I finished the prayer. He (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

What prevented you from answering me has not Allah said:

O you who believe! Answer Allah and (His) Messenger when he calls you to that which will give you life' He (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) then said:

I will teach you the greatest Surah in the Qur'an before I leave.

When he was about to leave, I mentioned what he (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said to me. He said,

All the praises and thanks are to Allah, the Lord of all that exists... [Surah Al-Fatihah 1: 1-6]. Surely, it is the seven oft-repeated verses. '''

Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated that Muhammad bin Ja`far bin Az-Zubayr said that `Urwah bin Az-Zubayr explained this Ayah,

O you who believe! Answer Allah and (His) Messenger when he calls you to that which will give you life, "Answer when called to war (Jihad) with which Allah gives you might after meekness, and strength after weakness, and shields you from the enemy who oppressed you.''

Allah comes in between a Person and His Heart

Allah said,

and know that Allah comes in between a person and his heart. Ibn `Abbas (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) commented, "Allah prevents the believer from disbelief and the disbeliever from faith.'' Al-Hakim recorded this in his Mustadrak and said, "It is Sahih and they did not record it.'' .
Similar was said by Mujahid, Sa`id, `Ikrimah, Ad-Dahhak, Abu Salih `Atiyyah, Muqatil bin Hayyan and As-Suddi. In another report from Mujahid, he commented;

...comes in between a person and his heart   "Leaves him without comprehension,'' As-Suddi said, "Prevents oneself from his own heart, so he will neither believe nor disbelieve except by His leave.'' There are several Hadiths that conform with the meaning of this Ayah. For instance, Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas bin Malik (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said, "The Prophet used to often say these words,

O You Who changes the hearts, make my heart firm on Your religion.

We said, `O Allah's Messenger! We believed in you and in what you brought us. Are you afraid for us' He said,

Yes, for the hearts are between two of Allah's Fingers, He changes them (as He wills).''

This is the same narration recorded by At-Tirmidhi in the Book of Qadar in his Jami' [Sunan], and he said, "Hasan.'' Imam Ahmad recorded that An-Nawwas bin Sam`an Al-Kilabi said that he heard the Prophet saying,

Every heart is between two of the Fingers of the Most Beneficent (Allah), Lord of all that exists, if He wills, He makes it straight, and if He wills, He makes it stray.

And he (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

O You Who changes the hearts! keep my heart firm on Your religion.  And he (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) would say;

The Balance is in the Hand of Ar-Rahman, He raises and lowers it.

This was also recorded by An-Nasai and Ibn Majah.


Source: Tafsir ibn Kathir (Abridged)