Ya ayyuha annabiyyu ittaqi Allaha wala tutiAAi alkafireena walmunafiqeena inna Allaha kana (surah Ahzab: 1)

Tafseer Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi

(33:1) O Prophet, *1 fear Allah and do not obey the unbelievers and the hypocrites. Verily Allah is All-Knowing, Most Wise. *2

Yaa aiyuhan Nabiyyut taqil laaha wa laa tuti`il kaafireena wal munaafiqeen; innal laaha kaana `aleeman Hakeemaa

*1) As we have mentioned in the introduction to the Surah, these verses were sent down at a time when Hadrat Zaid had already divorced Hadrat Zainab. , Then the Holy Prophet himself was feeling, and Allah also had inspired him with this, that that was the right time for striking at the root of the tradition and customs of ignorance regarding the adopted relations, and that he should take the initiative and marry the divorced wife of his adopted son (Zaid) so that the custom was completely eradicated. But the reason why he was hesitant in this regard was the fear that this would provide a strong excuse to the disbelievers and the hypocrites; who were already burning with jealousy at his successive victories, to start a propaganda campaign against him. This fear was not due to any apprehension for personal defamation, but for the reason that it would harm Islam; it would cause mistrust of Islam among the people who were inclined towards it; it would make the neutral people to join the enemy; and it would cause the weak-minded people among the Muslims themselves to be involved in doubts and suspicions. Therefore, the Holy Prophet thought it was unwise to take a step for the eradication of a custom of ignorance, which would harm the greater interests and objectives of Islam.
*2) In the first very sentence, in the beginning of the discourse, AIlah removed all the apprehensions of the Holy Prophet, as if to say: "We know better what is useful and beneficial for ow Religion and what is not. We know what would be wise and what unwise in this regard. Therefore, you should not behave in a manner which would suit the disbelievers and the hypocrites, but you should behave in a manner which is according to Our W ill. You should fear Us and not the disbelievers and the hypocrites."