Al 'Imran: (32) Say: Obey Allah...

It is narrated that when the verse {Say: If you love Allah, then follow me...} was revealed, 'Abdullah ibn Ubayy said: "Muhammad is equating his obedience with the obedience of Allah, and he commands us to love him just as the Christians loved 'Isa (Jesus)." Then this verse was revealed.

The clarification of the matter is that when the previous verse necessitated the obligation of following the Prophet (PBUH), the hypocrite cast a doubt regarding the religion, suggesting that Muhammad claims for himself what the Christians say about 'Isa.

Therefore, Allah, the Exalted, mentioned this verse to remove that doubt, saying:

{Say: Obey Allah and the Messenger}

Meaning: Allah has only obligated you to follow me not as the Christians claim about 'Isa, but because I am a Messenger from Allah. Since the Messenger is the conveyor of all obligations from Allah, his obedience becomes obligatory. Thus, the obligation to follow is for this reason, not because of the doubts the hypocrite cast into the religion.

Then the Exalted said:

{But if they turn away, then indeed, Allah does not love the disbelievers}

Meaning: If they turn away (from obedience), then Allah's love will not be attained for them. This is because Allah has only obligated praise and commendation for those who obey Him, whereas whoever disbelieves deserves humiliation and disgrace, which is the opposite of love. And Allah knows best.

{Indeed, Allah chose Adam and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of 'Imran above the worlds. Descendants, some of them from others. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.}