( قل أطيعوا الله وأطيعوا الرسول فإن تولوا ) أي : تولوا عن طاعة الله ورسوله ، ( فإنما عليه ما حمل ) يعني : على الرسول ما كلف وأمر به من تبليغ الرسالة ، ( وعليكم ما حملتم ) من الإجابة والطاعة ، ( وإن تطيعوه تهتدوا وما على الرسول إلا البلاغ المبين ) أي : التبليغ البين .
O Messenger! Say to these hypocrites: “Obey Allah and His Messenger both physically and spiritually. If you turn away from their obedience as you have been commanded, then his responsibility is only to convey the message as he has been tasked, whereas the responsibility you have been tasked with is to obey and implement whatever he has brought. If you obey him in whatever he commands you to do and refrain from whatever he prevents you from, you shall be guided to the truth. The Messenger’s responsibility is only to convey the message clearly, not to carry you onto guidance or force you upon it.”