Surah Al-Ahzaab (33) — Ayah 38

(Ayah 38) ➊ { مَا كَانَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ مِنْ حَرَجٍ … :} That is, there was never any restriction upon the Prophet in carrying out what Allah had decreed and commanded for him, nor is there now, nor should there ever be in the future. {’’ كَانَ ‘‘} is for the continuity of negation, that is why it is translated as "there is never any restriction." Therefore, he should not care about any criticism, reproach, or blame in conveying or acting upon this matter. From this verse, it is understood that just as Allah decided that an adopted son is not a real son, likewise, He also decreed that the Prophet (peace be upon him) would marry the divorced wife of his adopted son. Therefore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) should not have cared about the criticism of the hypocrites or the Jews in expressing or acting upon this. This is the same thing that Suddī and Zayn al-‘Ābidīn have stated. This verse also shows that for ordinary Muslims, marrying the divorced wife of an adopted son is merely permissible, but due to many benefits and because Allah had decreed it, it was obligatory upon the Prophet (peace be upon him).

➋ { سُنَّةَ اللّٰهِ فِي الَّذِيْنَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلُ:} The word {’’ سُنَّةَ ‘‘} is in the accusative either because the preposition "ka" is omitted before it, and due to its omission, it is accusative. That is, there is no restriction upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) in carrying out what Allah has decreed for him, just as Allah's way with previous prophets was that whatever He decreed for them, they did not feel any restriction in carrying it out. Or this is the verbal noun of an omitted verb, i.e., {’’سَنَّ اللّٰهُ هٰذَا سُنَّةً فِي الَّذِيْنَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلُ‘‘} The meaning is the same: that previous prophets also did not feel any restriction in doing those things that were made obligatory upon them by Allah, even if their peoples and the customs of their times were against them.

➌ {وَ كَانَ اَمْرُ اللّٰهِ قَدَرًا مَّقْدُوْرًا :} That is, the commands of Allah are especially based on wisdom and benefit; they are not based on temporary and immediate needs unlike those of worldly rulers, and likewise, their time is also fixed according to which they occur.

38. 1 This is a reference to the incident of the marriage of Zainab, since this marriage was lawful for you ﷺ, there is nothing sinful or distressing in it.

38. 2 That is, the previous prophets (peace be upon them) also did not feel any hesitation in doing such acts which were made obligatory upon them by Allah, even if the customs and traditions of the people and the public were against them.

38. 3 That is, they are based on special wisdom and benefit, not on temporary and immediate needs like worldly rulers. Similarly, their time is also fixed, according to which they occur.

38. There is no restriction upon the Prophet regarding what Allah has ordained for him. That is the way of Allah with those Prophets who passed before, and Allah’s command is a decree firmly determined [62].

[62] That is, this command of Allah was such that Allah had already decided upon it, and this marriage was made obligatory upon the Prophet. Because Allah wanted to abolish this custom through His Prophet, and this matter was bound to happen in any case. Even among the previous prophets, Allah’s practice has always been that they had to carry out Allah’s command, no matter how many difficulties and troubles they faced in this regard.