Tafsir of Ar-Ra'd 13:38

"And We have already sent messengers before you..."

They used to criticize him for marriage and having children, just as they would say: "What is the matter with this messenger that he eats food?" They would demand signs from him and deny the concept of abrogation (naskh).

It was said: The messengers before him were human beings like him, possessing wives and offspring. It was not for them to bring signs based on their own opinions, nor were they to bring what was demanded of them.

Laws (shara'i') are matters of benefit that differ according to changing circumstances and times. For every time, there is a decree written for the servants—meaning, it is imposed upon them according to what their reformation requires.

"{And Allah does what He wills}" He abrogates what He deems appropriate to abrogate, and establishes in its place what He sees as beneficial to establish, or He leaves it unabrogated.

It is also said: He erases from the record of the Guardian Angels (al-hafaza) that which is neither a good deed nor a bad deed, for they are commanded to record every word and action, and He establishes other things.

It is also said: He erases the disbelief and sins of the repentant through repentance, and establishes their faith and obedience.

It is also said: He erases some creatures and establishes others—among humans, animals, plants, trees, their attributes, and their states. The discussion on this is vast.

"{And with Him is the Mother of the Book}" The origin of every book, which is the Preserved Tablet (al-lawh al-mahfuz), for everything that exists is written within it.

(Note: It is also recited as "wa-yuthabbit" [and He establishes].)

"{And whether We show you part of what We promise them or take you [in death], upon you is only the notification, and upon Us is the account.}"