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.
Related Ayahs
ثَانِىَ عِطْفِهِۦ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ لَهُۥ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا خِزْىٌ ۖ وَنُذِيقُهُۥ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ عَذَابَ ٱلْحَرِيقِ
Twisting his neck [in arrogance] to mislead [people] from the way of Allāh. For him in the world is disgrace, and We will make him taste on the Day of Resurrection the punishment of the Burning Fire [while it is said],
لَن يَنَالَ ٱللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَـٰكِن يَنَالُهُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ مِنكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
Their meat will not reach Allāh, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allāh for that [to] which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good.
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلْفُلْكَ تَجْرِى فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِۦ وَيُمْسِكُ ٱلسَّمَآءَ أَن تَقَعَ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Do you not see that Allāh has subjected to you whatever is on the earth and the ships which run through the sea by His command? And He restrains the sky from falling upon the earth, unless by His permission. Indeed Allāh, to the people, is Kind and Merciful.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُولِجُ ٱلَّيْلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلَّيْلِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
That is because Allāh causes the night to enter the day and causes the day to enter the night and because Allāh is Hearing and Seeing.