سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِى قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ ٱللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا 23
Translations
[This is] the established way of Allāh which has occurred before. And never will you find in the way of Allāh any change.
Transliteration
Sunnatallahi allatee qad khalat min qabl, wa lan tajida li sunnatillahi tabdeelan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah's established laws and patterns (Sunnah) that operated in past generations remain unchanged and immutable. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that just as Allah's divine laws governed the outcomes of previous nations—rewarding the righteous and punishing the transgressors—these same principles apply eternally. Al-Qurtubi notes that this serves as reassurance to the believers of the guaranteed victory promised in Surah Al-Fath, as it follows the unalterable pattern by which Allah grants victory to His prophets and believers.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Fath, revealed after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah (6 AH), which initially seemed like a setback for the Muslims but was later revealed as a great victory. The surah assures the believers that Allah's established pattern of supporting His prophets and granting them victory will not change, providing consolation and certainty during a time of apparent compromise.
Related Hadiths
The concept is reinforced in a hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever follows my Sunnah during my lifetime and the Sunnah of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs after me, let him cling to it with his teeth.' Additionally, in Sunan Ibn Majah, there is reference to Allah's unchanging patterns as demonstrated through historical examples of nations before us.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should find confidence that Allah's divine laws are consistent and trustworthy—just as He supported previous prophets and communities, He will support the righteous today. Understanding that moral and spiritual laws are as immutable as physical laws helps Muslims maintain hope and patience during trials, knowing that steadfastness and obedience to Allah follow a proven path to success.
Related Ayahs
لِّيَغْفِرَ لَكَ ٱللَّهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنۢبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكَ وَيَهْدِيَكَ صِرَٰطًا مُّسْتَقِيمًا
That Allāh may forgive for you what preceded of your sin [i.e., errors] and what will follow and complete His favor upon you and guide you to a straight path
سَيَقُولُ لَكَ ٱلْمُخَلَّفُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ شَغَلَتْنَآ أَمْوَٰلُنَا وَأَهْلُونَا فَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا ۚ يَقُولُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ ۚ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا إِنْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ ضَرًّا أَوْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ نَفْعًۢا ۚ بَلْ كَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًۢا
Those who remained behind of the bedouins will say to you, "Our properties and our families occupied us, so ask forgiveness for us." They say with their tongues what is not within their hearts. Say, "Then who could prevent Allāh at all if He intended for you harm or intended for you benefit? Rather, ever is Allāh, of what you do, Aware.
إِذْ جَعَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلْحَمِيَّةَ حَمِيَّةَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَعَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَلْزَمَهُمْ كَلِمَةَ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ وَكَانُوٓا۟ أَحَقَّ بِهَا وَأَهْلَهَا ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًا
When those who disbelieved had put into their hearts chauvinism - the chauvinism of the time of ignorance. But Allāh sent down His tranquility upon His Messenger and upon the believers and imposed upon them the word of righteousness, and they were more deserving of it and worthy of it. And ever is Allāh, of all things, Knowing.
وَأُخْرَىٰ لَمْ تَقْدِرُوا۟ عَلَيْهَا قَدْ أَحَاطَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرًا
And [He promises] other [victories] that you were [so far] unable to [realize] which Allāh has already encompassed. And ever is Allāh, over all things, competent.