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
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَظَلَمُوا۟ لَمْ يَكُنِ ٱللَّهُ لِيَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ وَلَا لِيَهْدِيَهُمْ طَرِيقًا
Indeed, those who disbelieve and commit wrong [or injustice] - never will Allāh forgive them, nor will He guide them to a path,
وَإِنْ أَرَدتُّمُ ٱسْتِبْدَالَ زَوْجٍ مَّكَانَ زَوْجٍ وَءَاتَيْتُمْ إِحْدَىٰهُنَّ قِنطَارًا فَلَا تَأْخُذُوا۟ مِنْهُ شَيْـًٔا ۚ أَتَأْخُذُونَهُۥ بُهْتَـٰنًا وَإِثْمًا مُّبِينًا
But if you want to replace one wife with another and you have given one of them a great amount [in gifts], do not take [back] from it anything. Would you take it in injustice and manifest sin?
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ سَنُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۖ لَّهُمْ فِيهَآ أَزْوَٰجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ ۖ وَنُدْخِلُهُمْ ظِلًّا ظَلِيلًا
But those who believe and do righteous deeds - We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide forever. For them therein are purified spouses, and We will admit them to deepening shade.
أَيْنَمَا تَكُونُوا۟ يُدْرِككُّمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ وَلَوْ كُنتُمْ فِى بُرُوجٍ مُّشَيَّدَةٍ ۗ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ حَسَنَةٌ يَقُولُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِۦ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَقُولُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِۦ مِنْ عِندِكَ ۚ قُلْ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَمَالِ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلْقَوْمِ لَا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ حَدِيثًا
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you should be within towers of lofty construction. But if good comes to them, they say, "This is from Allāh"; and if evil befalls them, they say, "This is from you." Say, "All [things] are from Allāh." So what is [the matter] with those people that they can hardly understand any statement?