يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ وَيَهْدِيَكُمْ سُنَنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَيَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ 26
Translations
Allāh wants to make clear to you [the lawful from the unlawful] and guide you to the [good] practices of those before you and to accept your repentance. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
Transliteration
Yureedu Allahu liyubayyina lakum wa yahdiyakum sunana alladhina min qablikum wa yatubu alaykum wa Allahu alimun hakimun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah intends to clarify for you the laws and moral guidance, to direct you toward the righteous practices of those before you, and to accept your repentance through His mercy and wisdom. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that this verse establishes Allah's purpose in revealing legislation—not to burden, but to guide humanity toward righteousness and legal clarity. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that following the Sunnah of previous prophets represents a continuous thread of divine guidance, while Allah's willingness to accept repentance demonstrates His clemency.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the context of Surah An-Nisa's detailed discussion of laws regarding marriage, inheritance, and women's rights revealed in Medina. It serves as a transitional statement affirming that Allah's legislative revelation aims at clarification and guidance rather than hardship, connecting the preceding rulings on family law to the broader theme of divine mercy and wisdom.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their wives' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), reflecting the Quranic emphasis on just treatment within family matters. Additionally, the hadith 'Verily, Allah is Kind and loves kindness' (Sahih Muslim 2165) relates to the theme of Allah's gentle guidance through legislation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reassures believers that Islamic law exists as a compassionate guide rather than an oppressive burden, and that Allah continuously extends the opportunity for repentance and spiritual growth. For modern readers, it emphasizes that seeking knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and heeding divine guidance are acts of mercy meant to elevate human character and community welfare.
Related Ayahs
وَمَاذَا عَلَيْهِمْ لَوْ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَأَنفَقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِمْ عَلِيمًا
And what [harm would come] upon them if they believed in Allāh and the Last Day and spent out of what Allāh provided for them? And Allāh is ever, about them, Knowing.
وَيَقُولُونَ طَاعَةٌ فَإِذَا بَرَزُوا۟ مِنْ عِندِكَ بَيَّتَ طَآئِفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ غَيْرَ ٱلَّذِى تَقُولُ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَكْتُبُ مَا يُبَيِّتُونَ ۖ فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًا
And they say, "[We pledge] obedience." But when they leave you, a group of them spend the night determining to do other than what you say. But Allāh records what they plan by night. So leave them alone and rely upon Allāh. And sufficient is Allāh as Disposer of affairs.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ خُذُوا۟ حِذْرَكُمْ فَٱنفِرُوا۟ ثُبَاتٍ أَوِ ٱنفِرُوا۟ جَمِيعًا
O you who have believed, take your precaution and [either] go forth in companies or go forth all together.
وَٱلَّذَانِ يَأْتِيَـٰنِهَا مِنكُمْ فَـَٔاذُوهُمَا ۖ فَإِن تَابَا وَأَصْلَحَا فَأَعْرِضُوا۟ عَنْهُمَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا
And the two who commit it [i.e., unlawful sexual intercourse] among you - punish [i.e., dishonor] them both. But if they repent and correct themselves, leave them alone. Indeed, Allāh is ever Accepting of Repentance and Merciful.