سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ

Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 26

The Women · Medinan · Juz 5 · Page 82

يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ وَيَهْدِيَكُمْ سُنَنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَيَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿26﴾
Allâh wishes to make clear (what is lawful and what is unlawful) to you, and to show you the ways of those before you, and accept your repentance, and Allâh is All-Knower, All-Wise.
يُرِيدُ yurīdu Wishes
ٱللَّهُ l-lahu Allah
لِيُبَيِّنَ liyubayyina to make clear
لَكُمْ lakum to you
وَيَهْدِيَكُمْ wayahdiyakum and to guide you
سُنَنَ sunana (to) ways
ٱلَّذِينَ alladhīna (of) those
مِن min from
قَبْلِكُمْ qablikum before you
وَيَتُوبَ wayatūba and (to) accept repentance
عَلَيْكُمْ ۗ ʿalaykum from you
وَٱللَّهُ wal-lahu And Allah
عَلِيمٌ ʿalīmun (is) All-Knowing
حَكِيمٌۭ ḥakīmun All-Wise

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 26) { يُرِيْدُ اللّٰهُ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ … :} That is, Allah Almighty is stating His commands so that you may know what is lawful and unlawful, and so that there may be guidance to the excellent way of the people before you. By "people before you" are meant the Prophets and the righteous among their communities. (Ibn Kathir, Shawkani)

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

The exegesis of this verse has been done along with the previous verse.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

26. Allah wants to make everything clear to you and to guide you to the ways of those who passed before you [45], and to turn to you in mercy. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

[45]
How to Follow the Previous Scriptures?

From this, it is understood that the family and social rulings that are being mentioned from the beginning of this Surah—such as the protection of the rights of orphans, various injustices against women, the rulings of inheritance, the mention of marriage and prohibited relations, etc.—similar or corresponding rulings were also revealed to the previous prophets. And we are not only being informed about their ways, but we are also being instructed to adopt their ways. And this too is the mercy of Allah Ta'ala that He is guiding us away from the ways of ignorance towards the way of life of the righteous. The legitimacy of stoning (rajm) is also established from this verse, because the same punishment was prescribed in the Torah.