وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ ٱلْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ ۗ وَمَن يَعْصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلًا مُّبِينًا 36
Translations
It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allāh and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allāh and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.
Transliteration
Wa mā kāna li-mu'minin wa lā mu'minatun idhā qaḍā Allāhu wa rasūluhū amran an yakūna lahumu al-khiyaratu min amrihim wa man yaʿṣi Allāha wa rasūlahū faqad ḍalla ḍalālan mubīnā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, believers—both men and women—have no choice but to obey, for the right to choose (al-khiyarah) belongs solely to Allah and His Prophet. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this was revealed regarding believers who sought alternatives to prophetic rulings, emphasizing that absolute obedience to divine and prophetic decrees is incumbent upon all believers, and deviation from this is manifest misguidance (ḍalāl mubīn).
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period within Surah Al-Ahzab, a surah dealing with family laws and community regulations. The immediate context relates to matters of marriage and personal decisions, reflecting the Prophet's role as judge and legislator in the Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
The principle is reinforced in the hadith: 'Whoever obeys me has obeyed Allah, and whoever disobeys me has disobeyed Allah' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, Umm Salamah's account of the Prophet's decisions in personal matters (Sunan Abu Dawud) illustrates the application of this principle in the Prophet's lifetime.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith requires unconditional submission to Allah's commands and the Prophet's guidance, recognizing that our personal preferences must align with divine will rather than contradict it. This teaches believers to cultivate trust in Allah's wisdom and the Prophet's guidance, surrendering ego-driven desires for the greater good of following the Straight Path.