ٱللَّهُ يَصْطَفِى مِنَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ رُسُلًا وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ 75
Translations
Allāh chooses from the angels messengers and from the people. Indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Seeing.
Transliteration
Allahu yastasfee mina al-mala'ikati rusulun wa mina al-nas. Inna Allaha samee'un baseer.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah selects messengers from among the angels and from among mankind, demonstrating His divine wisdom and choice (istifaa') in appointing those who will convey His message. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this ayah establishes that prophethood is not self-assumed but granted by Allah's exclusive prerogative, and He is All-Hearing and All-Seeing in His selection, aware of the fitness and sincerity of those chosen to bear this tremendous responsibility.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Hajj, which addresses the pilgrimage and broader themes of monotheism and divine authority. The verse comes within a passage discussing Allah's complete knowledge and sovereignty, particularly relevant to Medinan context where the Prophet ﷺ had already established the Muslim community and clarified the nature of prophethood against various claims.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet ﷺ said, 'Indeed, Allah has chosen the language of Kinana [referring to Quraysh dialect] from among the languages' relates to how Allah selects the best means for conveying His message. Additionally, hadiths about the appointment of the four rightly-guided caliphs reflect the principle of divine selection mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that spiritual leadership and divine guidance are gifts from Allah alone, not positions to be claimed by humans, encouraging humility and submission to divinely-appointed guidance. It also reminds us that Allah's choices are based on perfect knowledge and wisdom, so we should trust His wisdom even when we may not fully comprehend His decisions regarding leadership and guidance.