The Form “Allah and His Messenger” Represents Only Allah, Not Two Separate Authorities

The Form “Allah and His Messenger” Represents Only Allah, Not Two Separate Authorities

The traditional understanding explains the form “Allah and His Messenger” as follows: Allah refers to the Quran and His Messenger to the Sunnah. However, when we look at the Quran, it is seen that there is no information supporting this explanation.

The Quran demands obedience to the Rasul (Messenger). There is no verse in the Quran that commands obedience to the nabi (prophet)! All the commandments to obey Allah in the Quran, without exception, “Obey Allah and His Messenger.” is in the form. Where “Allah and His Messenger” are mentioned, only one thing is meant: the Quran. Therefore, whoever obeys the Messenger obeys Allah. This does not mean that you should obey Allah and His Messenger separately. The Messenger conveys the message of the authority that sent him as it is. Obey Allah by obeying the Messenger, who conveyed the verses of Allah. For whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah (an-Nisa [4] 80). Obedience to the messenger is obedience to Allah, since he conveys the verses of Allah, that is, he cannot reduce or subtract (al-Haqqa [69] 44-47). Disobeying the Messenger is also rebellion against Allah (al-Anam [6] 33; an-Nisa [4] 14). But the nabi (prophet) will be obeyed only by al-Maruf (what is right and good; which agrees with the Quran). If the nabi makes a mistake, he will be opposed (al-Mumtahina [60] 12).

Allah and the messenger do not mean two different positions/authorities. If the verses that command obedience to Allah and the Messenger, as claimed, were about two different concepts, then why were singular pronouns used in the following verses?

“O you who believe! Obey Allah and His Messenger. Do not turn away from him (anhu عَنْهُ ) while you hear!” (al-Anfal [8] 20).
In the verse it is said “anhu (from him),” not “anhuma (from two of them).” Because there are no two separate authorities in Islam!

“O you who believe! When the Messenger invites you to that which gives you life (da’akum دَعَاكُم ), respond to Allah and the Messenger…” (al-Anfal [8] 24).
If two persons were commanded to obey, it would have to be “da’awakum,” that is, deuteronomy (dual).

“And when they are invited to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them (liyahkum لِيَحْكُمَ ), you see that a group among them keeps its distance.” (an-Nur [24] 48).
“Liyahkum” is singular. That is, it is used as if there is only one noun, not a binary one. If two people were to make the decision, it should have been “liyahkuma (for the two of them to judge)” according to grammatical rules. But there is no such thing as two judgments. Because Allah is the judge. The Messenger, on the other hand, narrates it and declares it.

“But if the truth is for their advantage, they will come to him (ilayhi اِلَيْهِ ) as the ones devoted.” (an-Nur [24] 49).
The pronoun “ilayhi” denotes a single person. However, the verse does not say “ilayhima (the two of them).”

“Say: Obey Allah and obey the Messenger as well.” … If you obey him (tutiuhu تُطِيعُوهُ ) you will follow the righteous path you are guided…” (an-Nur [24] 54).
If obedience was commanded to two people, it should have been said “tutiuhuma (they two).”

“They swear by Allah for you to please you. If they are believers, it is more appropriate for them to please (yurdu’hu يُرْضُوهُ ) Allah and His Messenger.” (at-Tawba [9] 62).
If there were two people trying to consent, it should have been “yurduhu’ma,” not “yurdu’hu.”

“…They were resentful only for that Allah and His Messenger enriched the believers of the bounties of Allah (fadlihi فَضْلِهِ )…” (at-Tawba [9] 74).
If two persons had a phase, they should have been included as “fadlihima,” not “fadlihi.”

As a result, although the Quran uses a pattern containing two different names, “Allah and His Messenger,” it only means Allah. There is no mention of two separate authorities as claimed.