Overall meaning : Allah Almighty points out that whoever obeys His Messenger, Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, has assuredly obeyed Allah Himself; as for those who turn away from him and disobey him, he will not be taken to account for their refusal to do so, for Allah has not sent him to watch over people’s deeds or call them to account for them. He has only sent him to convey His message to them.
Then, exposing the hypocrites, He states that they say to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ‘We will certainly obey you,’ but when they leave him, some of them scheme by night to disobey him and do other than what they have said they will do. Allah records whatever secret plans they make and whatever they conceal in their hearts. So He instructs His Prophet to ignore them and to put his trust in Him, for He is sufficient for him and none is as worthy of trust as He is.
He then invites these hypocrites to ponder on the Qur’an and reflect on its perfect harmony and consistency and perceive its conclusive proofs, stating that had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found in it many contradictions and inconsistencies.
Whenever any news related to public security or alarm reaches these hypocrites, Allah further states, they spread it about without ascertaining if it is true or false; but if, instead, they referred it to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and to their scholars and those in authority among them, to see whether or not it is beneficial to broadcast it, those from among them who are competent to investigate it would bring to light what it is really about. Had it not been for Allah’s grace and mercy, Allah tells the believers, all but a few of them would have followed Satan, as have these hypocrites in hastening to spread such news.
Allah then directs His Prophet to fight for His religion, stating that he is responsible for none except himself and instructs him to rouse the believers to fight so that He may well curb and restrain the might of the unbelievers, stating that He is far mightier than such unbelievers and that the punishment He inflicts on His enemies is far severer.