وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذ ظَّلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ جَآءُوكَ فَٱسْتَغْفَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا 64
Translations
And We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed by permission of Allāh. And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you, [O Muḥammad], and asked forgiveness of Allāh and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allāh Accepting of Repentance and Merciful.
Transliteration
Wa mā arsalnā min rasūlin illā liyuṭāʿa bi-idhnillāh. Wa law annahum idh ẓalamū anfusahum jāʾūka fastaghfarū allāha wastaghfara lahum ar-rasūl la-wajadū allāha tawwāban raḥīmā.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that every messenger was sent with divine authority to be obeyed by permission of Allah. The second part presents a conditional scenario: had those who wronged themselves come to the Prophet seeking Allah's forgiveness while the Prophet interceded for them, they would have found Allah to be Most Forgiving and Merciful. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi emphasize this demonstrates the comprehensive nature of Allah's mercy and the importance of seeking forgiveness through proper channels, though Ibn Kathir notes this verse primarily addresses the obligation of obedience to the messengers as a foundational principle.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa (revealed in Medina) and relates to the broader theme of the surah concerning social conduct, justice, and governance. The verse may have been revealed to reinforce the Prophet Muhammad's authority during the Medinan period when some questioned his leadership and decisions in community matters.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who have the best manners' (Sahih Bukhari 3331), relating to the importance of obeying the messenger with proper etiquette. Additionally, 'Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah' (Sahih Muslim 1835) directly reinforces the obligation mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true repentance requires both sincere seeking of Allah's forgiveness and proper connection with His guidance through the messengers; it reminds us that Allah's mercy is vast and accessible to those who genuinely turn to Him, but also establishes that the messengers' authority in guiding us toward righteousness is non-negotiable and divinely ordained.
Related Ayahs
تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
These are the limits [set by] Allāh, and whoever obeys Allāh and His Messenger will be admitted by Him to gardens [in Paradise] under which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein; and that is the great attainment.
يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ وَيَهْدِيَكُمْ سُنَنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَيَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
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.
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ رِئَآءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَلَا بِٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ ۗ وَمَن يَكُنِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ لَهُۥ قَرِينًا فَسَآءَ قَرِينًا
And [also] those who spend of their wealth to be seen by the people and believe not in Allāh nor in the Last Day. And he to whom Satan is a companion - then evil is he as a companion.
وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَقْصُرُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَن يَفْتِنَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ كَانُوا۟ لَكُمْ عَدُوًّا مُّبِينًا
And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy.