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
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.
يَعِدُهُمْ وَيُمَنِّيهِمْ ۖ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا
He [i.e., Satan] promises them and arouses desire in them. But Satan does not promise them except delusion.
وَمَن يَكْسِبْ إِثْمًا فَإِنَّمَا يَكْسِبُهُۥ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِۦ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
And whoever earns [i.e., commits] a sin only earns it against himself. And Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise.
وَأَخْذِهِمُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ وَقَدْ نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَكْلِهِمْ أَمْوَٰلَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ ۚ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
And [for] their taking of usury while they had been forbidden from it, and their consuming of the people's wealth unjustly. And We have prepared for the disbelievers among them a painful punishment.