سُنَّةَ مَن قَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ مِن رُّسُلِنَا ۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ لِسُنَّتِنَا تَحْوِيلًا 77
Translations
[That is Our] established way for those We had sent before you of Our messengers; and you will not find in Our way any alteration.
Transliteration
Sunnat man qad arsalnā qablaka min rusulnā wa lā tajidu li sunnatinā tahwīlā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that the Sunnah (established way, pattern, or law) of Allah regarding His messengers is unchangeable and constant—what befell the previous prophets will similarly befall Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Ibn Kathir explains that Allah is informing the Prophet that the trials, persecutions, and ultimate triumph experienced by earlier messengers represent a divine pattern that applies universally to all prophets. Al-Tabari emphasizes that "Sunnatinā" (Our Sunnah) refers to Allah's immutable laws and ways of dealing with humanity, which cannot be altered or changed.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Isra, which discusses the Prophet's Night Journey (Isra' wal-Mi'raj) and provides him comfort and reassurance during the Meccan period of intense persecution. The verse serves to console the Prophet and believers by reminding them that prophets throughout history faced similar opposition, establishing a divine precedent of trial followed by divine support.
Related Hadiths
The Hadith of Khabbab ibn al-Aratt (Sahih Bukhari) wherein he asks the Prophet why he doesn't pray for Allah's help against the Quraysh, and the Prophet responds by relating stories of previous believers who were tortured but remained steadfast, illustrating the same divine pattern mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers facing hardships can find solace in knowing that trials are part of Allah's established pattern for prophets and the righteous, and that perseverance through such trials is itself a divine Sunnah that leads to ultimate success. This teaches us to view our struggles not as anomalies but as part of a greater divine plan that has proven successful throughout prophetic history.
Related Ayahs
وَٱخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرًا
And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small."
تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ ٱلسَّبْعُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَىْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا
The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allāh] by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving.
وَرَبُّكَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَلَقَدْ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ زَبُورًا
And your Lord is most knowing of whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And We have made some of the prophets exceed others [in various ways], and to David We gave the book [of Psalms].
مَّن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلْعَاجِلَةَ عَجَّلْنَا لَهُۥ فِيهَا مَا نَشَآءُ لِمَن نُّرِيدُ ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَا لَهُۥ جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَىٰهَا مَذْمُومًا مَّدْحُورًا
Whoever should desire the immediate - We hasten for him from it what We will to whom We intend. Then We have made for him Hell, which he will [enter to] burn, censured and banished.