سُنَّةَ مَن قَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ مِن رُّسُلِنَا ۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ لِسُنَّتِنَا تَحْوِيلًا 77
Translations
[That is Our] established way for those We had sent before you of Our messengers; and you will not find in Our way any alteration.
Transliteration
Sunnat man qad arsalnā qablaka min rusulnā wa lā tajidu li sunnatinā tahwīlā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that the Sunnah (established way, pattern, or law) of Allah regarding His messengers is unchangeable and constant—what befell the previous prophets will similarly befall Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Ibn Kathir explains that Allah is informing the Prophet that the trials, persecutions, and ultimate triumph experienced by earlier messengers represent a divine pattern that applies universally to all prophets. Al-Tabari emphasizes that "Sunnatinā" (Our Sunnah) refers to Allah's immutable laws and ways of dealing with humanity, which cannot be altered or changed.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Isra, which discusses the Prophet's Night Journey (Isra' wal-Mi'raj) and provides him comfort and reassurance during the Meccan period of intense persecution. The verse serves to console the Prophet and believers by reminding them that prophets throughout history faced similar opposition, establishing a divine precedent of trial followed by divine support.
Related Hadiths
The Hadith of Khabbab ibn al-Aratt (Sahih Bukhari) wherein he asks the Prophet why he doesn't pray for Allah's help against the Quraysh, and the Prophet responds by relating stories of previous believers who were tortured but remained steadfast, illustrating the same divine pattern mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers facing hardships can find solace in knowing that trials are part of Allah's established pattern for prophets and the righteous, and that perseverance through such trials is itself a divine Sunnah that leads to ultimate success. This teaches us to view our struggles not as anomalies but as part of a greater divine plan that has proven successful throughout prophetic history.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ يَهْدِى لِلَّتِى هِىَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَبِيرًا
Indeed, this Qur’ān guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward
أَوْ تُسْقِطَ ٱلسَّمَآءَ كَمَا زَعَمْتَ عَلَيْنَا كِسَفًا أَوْ تَأْتِىَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ قَبِيلًا
Or you make the heaven fall upon us in fragments as you have claimed or you bring Allāh and the angels before [us]
يَوْمَ نَدْعُوا۟ كُلَّ أُنَاسٍۭ بِإِمَـٰمِهِمْ ۖ فَمَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَـٰبَهُمْ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا
[Mention, O Muḥammad], the Day We will call forth every people with their record [of deeds]. Then whoever is given his record in his right hand - those will read their records, and injustice will not be done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside the date seed].
أَوْ تَكُونَ لَكَ جَنَّةٌ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَعِنَبٍ فَتُفَجِّرَ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرَ خِلَـٰلَهَا تَفْجِيرًا
Or [until] you have a garden of palm trees and grapes and make rivers gush forth within them in force [and abundance]