ﱁ ﱂ ﱃ ﱄ ﱅ ﱆ ﱇ ﱈ ﱉ ﱊ ﱋ ﱌ ﱍ ﱎ ﱏ ﱐ ﱑ ﱒ ﱓ ﱔ ﱕ ﱖ ﱗ ﱘ ﱙ
It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.
Tafsir
Verse range: 33:36
[36] It is not for a believer, male or female, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter, to have the choice in their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.
Commentary (Al-Razi's Perspective):
It is reported that this verse was revealed concerning Zaynab (bint Jahsh). The Prophet (peace be upon him) wished to marry her to Zayd ibn Harithah. Zaynab disliked this arrangement, and so did her brother. When this verse was revealed, they both accepted the decision.
The Deeper Meaning:
When Allah commanded His Prophet to tell his wives that they had the choice (in remaining with him or leaving), it became clear that the Prophet (PBUH) would not wish harm upon others. If someone had a preference, the Prophet would accommodate it, even setting aside his own rights for the sake of another.
Therefore, this verse serves as a correction against the assumption that one's personal desire should be followed, or that the reins of choice lie solely in the hands of the individual, as was the case with the wives (in the previous context).
Rather, it is not fitting for any believer, male or female, to have a choice when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter.
Whoever opposes them in any matter has strayed into manifest error. This is because Allah is the ultimate Goal (Al-Maqsad), and the Prophet is the Guide leading to it (Al-Hadi Al-Muwassil). Whoever abandons the Goal and refuses to listen to the Guide is certainly lost.
[37] And [remember, O Muhammad], when you said to the one whom Allah had favored and you had favored, "Keep your wife and fear Allah," while you concealed within yourself what Allah was going to disclose, and you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you should fear Him. So when Zayd had no longer any need of her, We married her to you, so that there would be no difficulty for the believers concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they have no longer any need of them. And the command of Allah was certainly done.
