Al-Qur'an Surah Ar-Ra'd Verse 38

Mufti Taqi Usmani

We have sent messengers before you, and gave them wives and children. It is not for a messenger to bring a verse without the will of Allah. For every age there are some rules prescribed.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

We have certainly sent messengers before you ˹O Prophet˺ and blessed them with wives and offspring. It was not for any messenger to bring a sign without Allah’s permission. Every destined matter has a ˹set˺ time.

Ruwwad Translation Center

We have sent messengers before you and gave them wives and offspring. It was not for any messenger to bring a sign except with Allah’s permission. Every matter has a destined time.

A. J. Arberry

And We sent Messengers before thee, and We assigned to them wives, and seed; and it was not for any Messengers to bring a sign, but by God's leave. Every term has a Book.

Abdul Haleem

We sent messengers before you and gave them wives and offspring; no messenger was given the power to produce a miracle except with God’s permission. There was a Scripture for every age:

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And assuredly We sent apostles before thee and We made for them wives and progeny and it is not for an apostle to Produce a verse except by the command of Allah; for everv time there is a Book.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

We did send messengers before thee, and appointed for them wives and children; and it was never the part of a messenger to bring a sign except as Allah permitted (or commanded). For each period is a Book (revealed).

Abul Ala Maududi

We indeed sent many Messengers before you and We gave them wives and children; and no Messenger had the power to produce a miraculous sign except by the command of Allah. Every age has its own (revealed) Book.

Ahmed Ali

We sent many apostles before you, and bestowed on them wives and children, but it was not for any apostle to come up with a miracle unless by the leave of God. For every age there is a law.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And indeed We sent Noble Messengers before you, and made wives and children for them; and it is not the task of any Noble Messenger to bring a sign except by Allah’s command; and all promises have a time prescribed.

Ali Quli Qarai

Certainly We have sent apostles before you, and We appointed for them wives and descendants; and an apostle may not bring a sign except by Allah’s leave. There is a written [ordinance] for every term:

Ali Ünal

Most certainly We sent Messengers before you, and (like every other man) appointed wives and children for them. It was not (the way) for a Messenger to work a miracle (as a sign of his being a Messenger) except by God’s leave. Every appointed term has its own Revelation and law.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And most surely, We sent before you many Messengers and We gave them wives and children. Yet it was not possible for a Messenger to bring a sign but by Allâh´s command. For everything that has an appointed term, there is a (divine) law (to regulate it).

English Literal

And We had sent messengers from before you and We made for them spouses and descendants. And (it) was not to a messenger that he comes with a verse/evidence except with God`s permission, to every term/time (is) a judgment/fate .

Faridul Haque

And indeed We sent Noble Messengers before you, and made wives and children for them; and it is not the task of any Noble Messenger to bring a sign except by Allah’s command; and all promises have a time prescribed.

Hamid S. Aziz

And verily, We sent Messengers before you, and We appointed for them wives and offsprings; and it was not given to any Messenger that he should bring a sign save by Allah´s permission. For every period there is a Book revealed (or Law decreed or Decree established).

Hilali & Khan

And indeed We sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad SAW), and made for them wives and offspring. And it was not for a Messenger to bring a sign except by Allah's Leave. (For) each and every matter there is a Decree (from Allah).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And thus have We revealed it, a true judgment, in Arabic. And if thou follow their low desires after that which has come to thee of knowledge, thou wouldst have against Allah no guardian nor protector.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And certainly We sent apostles before you and gave them wives and children, and it is not in (the power of) an apostle to bring a sign except by Allah's permission; for every term there is an appointment.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And verily We sent messengers (to mankind) before thee, and We appointed for them wives and offspring, and it was not (given) to any messenger that he should bring a portent save by Allah's leave. For everything there is a time prescribed.

Muhammad Sarwar

We sent Messengers before you (Muhammad) and gave them wives and offspring. No Messenger was to show miracles without the permission of God.

Qaribullah & Darwish

We have sent forth other Messengers before you and given them wives and descendants. Yet none of them could bring a sign except by the permission of Allah. Every term has its Book.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And indeed We sent Messengers before you, and made for them wives and offspring. And it was not for a Messenger to bring a sign except by Allah's leave. (For) every matter there is a decree (from Allah).

Wahiduddin Khan

We sent down messengers before you and gave them wives and children. Yet it was not possible for a messenger to bring a sign, save by the command of God. Every age has had its revelation.

Talal Itani

We sent messengers before you, and We assigned for them wives and offspring. No messenger could bring a sign except with the permission of God. For every era is a scripture.

Tafsir jalalayn

And when they derided him for having many wives, the following was revealed; And indeed We sent messengers before you, and We assigned to them wives and seed, children -- and you are like them; and it was not for any Messenger, from among them, that he should bring a sign, save by God's leave, because they are servants enthralled [by Him]. For every term, period, there is a Book, wherein is inscribed its delimitation.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

All Prophets and Messengers were Humans

Allah says,

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلً مِّن قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً

And indeed We sent Messengers before you, and made for them wives and offspring.

Allah says, `Just as We have sent you O Muhammad, a Prophet and a human, We sent the Messengers before you from among mankind, that eat food, walk in the markets, and We gave them wives and offspring.'

Allah said to the most honorable and Final Messenger,

قُلْ إِنَّمَأ أَنَاْ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَى إِلَىَّ

Say;"I am only a man like you. It has been revealed to me." (18;110)

It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that the Messenger of Allah said,

أَمَّا أَنَا فَأَصُومُ وَأُفْطِرُ وَأَقُومُ وَأَنَامُ وَاكُلُ اللَّحْمَ وَأَتَزَوَّجُ النِّسَاءَ فَمَنْ رَغِبَ عَنْ سُنَّتِي فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي

As for me, I fast and break the fast, stand in prayer at night and sleep, eat meat and marry women; so whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of mine.
No Prophet can bring a Miracle except by Allah's Leave

Allah said,

وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِيَ بِأيَةٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللّهِ

And it was not for a Messenger to bring a sign except by Allah's leave.

meaning, no Prophet could have brought a miracle to his people except by Allah's permission and will, for this matter is only decided by Allah the Exalted and Most Honored, not the Prophets; surely Allah does what He wills and decides what He wills.

لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ



(For) every matter there is a decree (from Allah).

for every term appointed, there is a record (or decree) that keeps it, and everything has a specific due measure with Allah,

أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى السَّمَأءِ وَالاٌّرْضِ إِنَّ ذلِكَ فِى كِتَـبٍ إِنَّ ذلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ

Know you not that Allah knows all that is in the heaven and on the earth, Verily, it is (all) in the Book. Verily, that is easy for Allah. (22;70)
Meaning of Allah blotting out what He wills and confirming what He wills of the Book

Allah said