Quran Universe
3:32

قُلۡ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ

Qul ateeAAoo Allaha waalrrasoola fain tawallaw fainna Allaha la yuhibbu alkafireena

Say, "Obey Allah and the Messenger." But if they turn away - then indeed, Allah does not like the disbelievers.

Word by word
  1. قُلۡSay
  2. أَطِيعُواْObey
  3. ٱللَّهَAllah
  4. وَٱلرَّسُولَۖand the Messenger
  5. فَإِنThen if
  6. تَوَلَّوۡاْthey turn away
  7. فَإِنَّthen indeed
  8. ٱللَّهَAllah
  9. لَا(does) not
  10. يُحِبُّlove
  11. ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَthe disbelievers
Ali 'Imran · 3:32Madinah

Obey Allah and the Messenger. That is the whole instruction.

A simple command and what turning away means

Two choices
obeyAllah and the Messenger
turn awayAllah does not like it
What love requires
feelings alonea claim of love
obediencelove that acts

Right after the test of love, the command is put plainly. Ibn Kathir explains that defying the Messenger's way while claiming to love Allah is not accepted, and that Allah does not like those who turn away.

You know the instruction. The excuse forms quickly: not now, too busy, the situation is different. The verse is short because the thing is simple.

I will obey once life is less complicated.

Obedience is the simple proof of love, today, in small steps.

Try this

Do one thing today you know Allah asked of you that you have been delaying.

Related3:81
Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 3:31)

Say (O Muhammad ﷺ to mankind): "If you (really) love Allah, then follow me (i.e. Muhammad), Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (31)Say: "Obey Allah and the Messenger." But if they turn away, then Allah does not like the disbelievers (32)

Allah's Love is Attained by Following the Messenger (ﷺ)

This honorable Ayah judges against those who claim to love Allah, yet do not follow the way of Muhammad ﷺ. Such people are not true in their claim until they follow the Shari'ah (Law) of Muhammad ﷺ and his religion in all his statements, actions and conditions. It is recorded in the Sahih that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ

(Whoever commits an act that does not conform with our matter (religion), then it will be rejected of him.)

This is why Allah said here,

قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ

(Say (O Muhammad ﷺ to mankind): "If you (really) love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you...") meaning, what you will earn is much more than what you sought in loving Him, for Allah will love you. Al-Hasan Al-Basri and several scholars among the Salaf commented, "Some people claimed that they love Allah. So Allah tested them with this Ayah;

قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ

(Say (O Muhammad ﷺ to mankind): "If you (really) love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you..."). "

Allah then said,

وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

("And forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.") meaning, by your following the Messenger ﷺ, you will earn all this with the blessing of his mission. Allah next commands everyone,

قُلْ أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا

(Say: "Obey Allah and the Messenger." But if they turn away) by defying the Prophet ﷺ)

فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ

(then Allah does not like the disbelievers.) thus, testifying that defiance of the Messenger's way constitutes Kufr. Indeed, Allah does not like whoever does this, even if he claims that he loves Allah and seeks a means of approach to Him, unless, and until, he follows the unlettered Prophet, the Final Messenger ﷺ from Allah to the two creations: mankind and the Jinn. This is the Prophet ﷺ who, if the previous Prophets and mighty Messengers were to have been alive during his time, they would have no choice but to follow, obey him, and to abide by his Law. We will mention this fact when we explain the Ayah,

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ

(And (remember) when Allah took the Covenant of the Prophets)[3:81], Allah willing.