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
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَسْجُدُ لَهُۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلشَّمْسُ وَٱلْقَمَرُ وَٱلنُّجُومُ وَٱلْجِبَالُ وَٱلشَّجَرُ وَٱلدَّوَآبُّ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْعَذَابُ ۗ وَمَن يُهِنِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن مُّكْرِمٍ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۩
Do you not see [i.e., know] that to Allāh prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth and the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, the moving creatures and many of the people? But upon many the punishment has been justified. And he whom Allāh humiliates - for him there is no bestower of honor. Indeed, Allāh does what He wills.
لَيُدْخِلَنَّهُم مُّدْخَلًا يَرْضَوْنَهُۥ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلِيمٌ حَلِيمٌ
He will surely cause them to enter an entrance with which they will be pleased, and indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Forbearing.
وَلَهُم مَّقَـٰمِعُ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ
And for [striking] them are maces of iron.
ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاكَ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلَّـٰمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ
"That is for what your hands have put forth and because Allāh is not ever unjust to [His] servants."