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Surah Al-Ahzab, Ayah 38 (33:38)

ٱلْأَحْزَاب

مَّا كَانَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ مِنْ حَرَجٍ فِيمَا فَرَضَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُۥ ۖ سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ فِى ٱلَّذِينَ …

Quran 33:38 is ayah 38 of Surah Al-Ahzab (“The Combined Forces”), a Medinan surah of 73 ayahs. It is in Juz 22, on page 423 of the Madani Mushaf.

33:38
مَّاكَانَعَلَىٱلنَّبِىِّمِنْحَرَجٍفِيمَافَرَضَٱللَّهُلَهُۥ ۖسُنَّةَٱللَّهِفِىٱلَّذِينَخَلَوْا۟مِنقَبْلُ ۚوَكَانَأَمْرُٱللَّهِقَدَرًامَّقْدُورًا٣٨
mā kāna ʿalā l-nabiyi min ḥarajin fīmā faraḍa l-lahu lahu sunnata l-lahi fī alladhīna khalaw min qablu wakāna amru l-lahi qadaran maqdūran

There is not to be upon the Prophet any discomfort concerning that which Allāh has imposed upon him. [This is] the established way of Allāh with those [prophets] who have passed on before. And ever is the command of Allāh a destiny decreed.(38)

Word by word

  1. مَّاmāNot
  2. كَانَkāna(there can) be
  3. عَلَىʿalāupon
  4. ٱلنَّبِىِّl-nabiyithe Prophet
  5. مِنْminany
  6. حَرَجٍḥarajindiscomfort
  7. فِيمَاfīmāin what
  8. فَرَضَfaraḍaAllah has imposed
  9. ٱللَّهُl-lahuAllah has imposed
  10. لَهُۥ ۖlahuon him
  11. سُنَّةَsunnata(That is the) Way
  12. ٱللَّهِl-lahi(of) Allah
  13. فِىfīconcerning
  14. ٱلَّذِينَalladhīnathose who
  15. خَلَوْا۟khalawpassed away
  16. مِنminbefore
  17. قَبْلُ ۚqablubefore
  18. وَكَانَwakānaAnd is
  19. أَمْرُamru(the) Command
  20. ٱللَّهِl-lahi(of) Allah
  21. قَدَرًاqadarana decree
  22. مَّقْدُورًاmaqdūrandestined

Tafsir (commentary) of 33:38

Available in English, Bengali, Urdu, Arabic, Russian.

English · EnglishTafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir
مَّا كَانَ عَلَى النَّبِىِّ مِنْ حَرَجٍ فِيمَا فَرَضَ اللَّهُ لَهُ

(There is no blame on the Prophet in that which Allah has made legal for him.) means, in that which has been permitted for him and which he has been commanded to do, i.e. his marrying Zaynab, may Allah be pleased with her,, who had been divorced by his adopted son Zayd bin Harithah,

سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ فِى الَّذِينَ خَلَوْاْ مِن قَبْلُ

(That has been Allah's way with those who have passed away of old.) means this is the ruling of Allah for the Prophets who came before him. Allah would not command them to do anything for which they might be blamed. This is a refutation of those hypocrites who imagined that there was anything wrong with his marrying the ex-wife of Zayd, his freed slave and adopted son.

وَكَانَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ قَدَراً مَّقْدُوراً

(And the command of Allah is a decree determined.) means, His command which He has decreed must inevitably come to pass; nothing can prevent it or avert it, for whatever He wills happens, and whatever He does not decree, does not happen.

Read the full Surah Al-Ahzab