Tafsir of Al-Isra 17:77

(The practice of those whom We sent before you of Our messengers) [17:77] is in the accusative case as a verbal noun (masdar), meaning: We established the practice of those whom We sent before you. It is that We do not leave a nation that provokes its messenger to drive him out from among them to linger after him except for a little while. Thus, the practice belongs to Allah—the Almighty and Majestic—and it was attributed to the messengers—peace be upon them—because it was established for their sake. This is indicated by His saying, Glory be to Him, "And you will not find any change in Our practice" [17:77], where He attributed the practice to Himself, the Exalted.

Al-Farra’ stated: "(The practice of)" is in the accusative case due to the omission of the preposition, meaning: "Like the practice of..." Thus, one does not pause at His saying, the Exalted, "(except for a little while)." The intent is to compare the state of the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—with the state of those before him, not to compare one individual to another individual of that type.

Abu al-Baqa’ allowed for it to be a direct object for a deleted verb, meaning: "Follow the practice of those before you," just as He, the Exalted, said, "So follow their guidance" [6:90]. Otherwise, it would be linked to what precedes it, and it is as if he considered the commands following it, though this is contrary to what the generality of exegetes hold.

"Change" (tahwil) means alteration, meaning: You will not find any alteration in what We have established as a custom, that is, no one can change it. The intent behind the negation of finding (in this context and similar ones) is the negation of existence. The evidence for the non-existence of anyone who could change the custom of Allah, the Exalted, is more manifest than the sun at high noon. The Imam has a discourse regarding this position that is not devoid of debate.