I am looking for the explanation of this ayah from the prominent tafaaseer. What is the background of it and what exactly it means when said: We hear and we obey..
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24:51 **The answer of the Believers, when summoned to Allah and His Messenger, in order that He may judge between them, is no other than this: they say, “We hear and we obey”: it is such as these that will attain felicity. **
Re: Looking for several scholarly opinions on this Ayah
Here’s what I could find in Tafsir Ibn Kathir:
Then Allah tells us about the attributes of the believers who respond to Allah and His Messenger and who seek no other way apart from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger . Allah says:
إِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوْلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذَا دُعُواْ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَن يَقُولُواْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا]
(The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allah and His Messenger, to judge between them, is that they say: "We hear and we obey’'.) meaning, to hear to obey. Allah describes them as having attained success, which is achieving what one wants and being saved from what one fears. So Allah says:
وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ]
(And such are the successful.) Concerning the Ayah:
أَن يَقُولُواْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا]
(they say: "We hear and we obey’‘.), Qatadah said: "We were told that when Ubadah bin As-Samit, who had been present at Al-Aqabah and at Badr, and was one of the leaders of the Ansar, was dying, he said to his nephew Junadah bin Abi Umayyah: Shall I not tell you what you must do and what is your due' He said, Yes.’ He said: You have to listen and obey when times are easy and when they are hard, when you feel energetic and when you do not want to, and when you feel selfish. You have to train your tongue to speak the truth. Do not go against those who are in authority, unless they openly command you to commit acts of disobedience to Allah. Whenever you are commanded to do something that goes against the Book of Allah, then follow the Book of Allah.''' Qatadah said: We were told that Abu Ad-Darda' said, "There is no Islam except through obedience to Allah, and no goodness except in Jamaah. Sincerity is to Allah and His Messenger , and to the Khalifah and all the believers.‘’ He said: "And we were told that Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, used to say; The bonds of Islam are La ilaha illallah, establishing prayer, paying Zakah and obeying those whom Allah has given authority over the affairs of the Muslims.‘’’ This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim. There are very many Hadiths and reports which state that it is obligatory to obey the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger, the Rightly-Guided Khalifahs and the Imams when they command us to obey Allah; there are too many of these reports to quote them all here.
Re: Looking for several scholarly opinions on this Ayah
Yes, you obey as long as what you’re obeying doesn’t go against the Quran and the teachings of Islam.
That does not mean that if someone says something to you and they tell you they know more than you, then you must obey them. They could be total ducks, and you’d be ignorant not to make sure they’re not ducks before you follow them.
So many ducks in the world, I swear 
A true leader will never force you to follow them. They’ll never have the “i’m right-you’re wrong” persona.
Note, I’m not self-aggrandizing here - I don’t think I’m much of a leader at all, because I don’t fit those requirements - but then I don’t think most here are either. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be on GS to begin with
Re: Looking for several scholarly opinions on this Ayah
This is the crux of the matter. It’s gonna really help me a lot. Something to ponder upon and also reflect upon.
Re: Looking for several scholarly opinions on this Ayah
Sadiyah: Is there any relevence to the following ayahs and the true explanation of the specific words that I bolded with the commentary you posted…
5:7 And call in remembrance the favour of Allah unto you, and His covenant, which He ratified with you, when ye said: “We hear and we obey”: And fear Allah, for Allah knoweth well the secrets of your hearts.
2:285 The Messenger believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His apostles. “We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His apostles.” And they say: “We hear, and we obey: (We seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys.”
Re: Looking for several scholarly opinions on this Ayah
I personally don't think these verses are referring to such a broad meaning.
** Recognize (hear) the words of Allah (swt) and submit to Him by obeying His commands. ** This is quite simply the definition of a Muslim.
Re: Looking for several scholarly opinions on this Ayah
The Hunk: my own understanding was the same, that is, we as muslims by our title are the most submitive nation of all. We hear things by ALLAH:swt: and Rasool:saw: that can be conveyed to us by any means, like books (Quran itself), fellow muslims, and the righteous leader and we obey. As simple as it is; however, I was looking for what the great mufassireen had to say about it. We already hear the opinion of Ibn-e-Katheer. Any one has the access to the Tafseer of Imam Razi:rehm: ?
How about Tafheem-ul-Quran by Abul A’la Maudoodi?
Re: Looking for several scholarly opinions on this Ayah
Anwaar bhai, I believe the message that is being sent across is more or less the same and Allahu aalim. However, 5:7 does give a bit of historical context as well as the way it was used by our pious predecessors.
Reminding the Believers of the Bounty of the Message and Islam
Allah reminds His believing servants of His bounty by legislating this glorious religion and sending them this honorable Messenger. He also reminds them of the covenant and pledges that He took from them to follow the Messenger , support and aid him, implement his Law and convey it on his behalf, while accepting it themselves. Allah said,
وَاذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمِيثَـقَهُ الَّذِى وَاثَقَكُم بِهِ إِذْ قُلْتُمْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا]
(And remember Allah’s favor upon you and His covenant with which He bound you when you said, “We hear and we obey.”) This is the pledge that they used to give to the Messenger of Allah when they embraced Islam. They used to say, "We gave our pledge of obedience to the Messenger of Allah to hear and obey, in times when we are active and otherwise, even if we were passed on for rights, and not to dispute leadership with its rightful people.‘’ Allah also said,
وَمَا لَكُمْ لاَ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُواْ بِرَبِّكُمْ وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَـقَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِينَ ]
(And what is the matter with you that you believe not in Allah! While the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord; and He has indeed taken your covenant, if you are real believers.) It was also said that this Ayah (5:7) reminds the Jews of the pledges and promises Allah took from them to follow Muhammad and adhere to his Law, as Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas stated. Allah then said,
وَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ]
(And have Taqwa of Allah.) in all times and situations. Allah says that He knows the secrets and thoughts that the hearts conceal,
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ]
(Verily, Allah is All-Knower of the secrets of (your) breasts.)
Re: Looking for several scholarly opinions on this Ayah
Here’s the tafsir for 2:285. Again, the message more or less is the same. Ie. Muslims will abide by the Shariah of Allah (SWT) and Allahu aalim.
Allah’s statement,
وَقَالُواْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا]
(And they say, "We hear, and we obey’') means, we heard Your statement, O our Lord, comprehended and implemented it, and adhered to its implications.
http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=2&tid=7605
Btw… it is recommended to recite the last two ayahs of Surah Baqarah at night. I’ll see if I can find the exat material from Tafsir ibn Kathir on it, insha’Allah.