وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 29
Translations
And you do not will except that Allāh wills - Lord of the worlds.
Transliteration
Wa mā tashāʾūn illā an yashāʾ Allāhu Rabbu al-ʿālamīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes the absolute sovereignty of Allah over human will and choice, declaring that no one can will or desire anything except by Allah's permission and will. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a fundamental principle of Islamic theology: while humans possess free will in their choices, ultimately all things occur by Allah's divine will and decree (qadar). The verse serves as a humbling reminder that human agency operates within the framework of divine omnipotence.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the end of Surah At-Takwir, a Meccan surah primarily concerned with the Day of Judgment and divine power. The broader context emphasizes Allah's complete control over all creation, leading to this statement about the limits of human volition. It addresses the Meccan polytheists' false sense of autonomy in rejecting faith and serves as a warning about ultimate dependence on divine will.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The strongest among you in faith is the one whose tawakkul (trust) in Allah is the strongest,' emphasizing reliance on Allah's will. Additionally, the hadith in Jami' At-Tirmidhi about 'There is no power except with Allah' (Lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-Allāh) reflects this same principle of human dependence on divine will.
Themes
Key Lesson
This verse teaches that true freedom lies not in absolute autonomy but in aligning our will with Allah's will, recognizing that all our desires and actions ultimately depend on divine permission. For modern believers, this encourages humility in our plans, reliance on Allah through supplication, and acceptance that our efforts must be coupled with trust in Allah's decree.