سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِى قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَلَن تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ ٱللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا 23
Translations
[This is] the established way of Allāh which has occurred before. And never will you find in the way of Allāh any change.
Transliteration
Sunnatallahi allatee qad khalat min qabl, wa lan tajida li sunnatillahi tabdeelan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah's established laws and patterns (Sunnah) that operated in past generations remain unchanged and immutable. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that just as Allah's divine laws governed the outcomes of previous nations—rewarding the righteous and punishing the transgressors—these same principles apply eternally. Al-Qurtubi notes that this serves as reassurance to the believers of the guaranteed victory promised in Surah Al-Fath, as it follows the unalterable pattern by which Allah grants victory to His prophets and believers.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Fath, revealed after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah (6 AH), which initially seemed like a setback for the Muslims but was later revealed as a great victory. The surah assures the believers that Allah's established pattern of supporting His prophets and granting them victory will not change, providing consolation and certainty during a time of apparent compromise.
Related Hadiths
The concept is reinforced in a hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever follows my Sunnah during my lifetime and the Sunnah of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs after me, let him cling to it with his teeth.' Additionally, in Sunan Ibn Majah, there is reference to Allah's unchanging patterns as demonstrated through historical examples of nations before us.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should find confidence that Allah's divine laws are consistent and trustworthy—just as He supported previous prophets and communities, He will support the righteous today. Understanding that moral and spiritual laws are as immutable as physical laws helps Muslims maintain hope and patience during trials, knowing that steadfastness and obedience to Allah follow a proven path to success.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ يَدُ ٱللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ ۚ فَمَن نَّكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنكُثُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِمَا عَـٰهَدَ عَلَيْهُ ٱللَّهَ فَسَيُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you, [O Muḥammad] - they are actually pledging allegiance to Allāh. The hand of Allāh is over their hands. So he who breaks his word only breaks it to the detriment of himself. And he who fulfills that which he has promised Allāh - He will give him a great reward.
هُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَصَدُّوكُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ وَٱلْهَدْىَ مَعْكُوفًا أَن يَبْلُغَ مَحِلَّهُۥ ۚ وَلَوْلَا رِجَالٌ مُّؤْمِنُونَ وَنِسَآءٌ مُّؤْمِنَـٰتٌ لَّمْ تَعْلَمُوهُمْ أَن تَطَـُٔوهُمْ فَتُصِيبَكُم مِّنْهُم مَّعَرَّةٌۢ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۖ لِّيُدْخِلَ ٱللَّهُ فِى رَحْمَتِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ لَوْ تَزَيَّلُوا۟ لَعَذَّبْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
They are the ones who disbelieved and obstructed you from al-Masjid al-Ḥarām while the offering was prevented from reaching its place of sacrifice. And if not for believing men and believing women whom you did not know - that you might trample [i.e., kill] them and there would befall you because of them dishonor without [your] knowledge - [you would have been permitted to enter Makkah]. [This was so] that Allāh might admit to His mercy whom He willed. If they had been apart [from them], We would have punished those who disbelieved among them with painful punishment
وَيَنصُرَكَ ٱللَّهُ نَصْرًا عَزِيزًا
And [that] Allāh may aid you with a mighty victory.
إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُّبِينًا
Indeed, We have given you, [O Muḥammad], a clear conquest