سُوْرَةُ الْاَحْزَابِ
Surah Al-Ahzaab (33) — Ayah 36
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ ٱلْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ ۗ وَمَن يَعْصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلًا مُّبِينًا ﴿36﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allâh and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed into a plain error.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَا
wamā
And not
كَانَ
kāna
(it) is
لِمُؤْمِنٍۢ
limu'minin
for a believing man
وَلَا
walā
and not
مُؤْمِنَةٍ
mu'minatin
(for) a believing woman
إِذَا
idhā
when
قَضَى
qaḍā
Allah has decided
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah has decided
وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ
warasūluhu
and His Messenger
أَمْرًا
amran
a matter
أَن
an
that
يَكُونَ
yakūna
(there) should be
لَهُمُ
lahumu
for them
ٱلْخِيَرَةُ
l-khiyaratu
(any) choice
مِنْ
min
about
أَمْرِهِمْ ۗ
amrihim
their affair
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
يَعْصِ
yaʿṣi
disobeys
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
وَرَسُولَهُۥ
warasūlahu
and His Messenger
فَقَدْ
faqad
certainly
ضَلَّ
ḍalla
he (has) strayed
ضَلَـٰلًۭا
ḍalālan
(into) error
مُّبِينًۭا
mubīnan
clear
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
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.
36. It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, to have any choice in their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger [55] has certainly gone far astray.
[55]
The Status of Freed Slaves in Society:
At the beginning of this surah, it has already been mentioned that there was a large number of slaves in Arab society. Slaves were considered an inferior and second-class creation. Even if a slave was freed, who was then called a "mawla," the society of free people was still not ready to absorb him into itself. Islam wanted to reform this social corruption. Allah Almighty willed that the beginning of this reform should be made from the person of the Prophet and his household.
Lady Zainab's Submission to Allah and His Command:
Youﷺ had a slave, Zaid bin Harithah, whom youﷺ freed and then adopted as your son. But even then, free people were not ready to give him equal social status. Youﷺ sought the hand of your paternal cousin Zainab for Zaid. The people found this insulting and extremely unpleasant. For this reason, they refused the proposal. But Allah willed that this matter must be accomplished. In this context, this verse was revealed. Thus, youﷺ recited this verse to Lady Zainab bint Jahsh, and she submitted to Allah's command and accepted the proposal. And Sayyiduna Zaid was married to Zainab bint Jahsh.
[55]
The Status of Freed Slaves in Society:
At the beginning of this surah, it has already been mentioned that there was a large number of slaves in Arab society. Slaves were considered an inferior and second-class creation. Even if a slave was freed, who was then called a "mawla," the society of free people was still not ready to absorb him into itself. Islam wanted to reform this social corruption. Allah Almighty willed that the beginning of this reform should be made from the person of the Prophet and his household.
Lady Zainab's Submission to Allah and His Command:
Youﷺ had a slave, Zaid bin Harithah, whom youﷺ freed and then adopted as your son. But even then, free people were not ready to give him equal social status. Youﷺ sought the hand of your paternal cousin Zainab for Zaid. The people found this insulting and extremely unpleasant. For this reason, they refused the proposal. But Allah willed that this matter must be accomplished. In this context, this verse was revealed. Thus, youﷺ recited this verse to Lady Zainab bint Jahsh, and she submitted to Allah's command and accepted the proposal. And Sayyiduna Zaid was married to Zainab bint Jahsh.
