Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Ahzab Verse 38

Mufti Taqi Usmani

There is no problem for the prophet in (doing) what Allah has prescribed for him, a customary practice of Allah in the case of those who have gone before - and Allah’s command is pre-determined by destiny -

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

There is no blame on the Prophet for doing what Allah has ordained for him. That has been the way of Allah with those ˹prophets˺ who had gone before. And Allah’s command has been firmly decreed.

Ruwwad Translation Center

There is no blame on the Prophet concerning what Allah has made lawful for him. Such was the way of Allah with those [prophets] who came before. And Allah’s command is a decree firmly determined,

A. J. Arberry

There is no fault in the Prophet, touching what God has ordained for him -- God's wont with those who passed away before; and God's commandment is doom decreed;

Abdul Haleem

the Prophet is not at fault for what God has ordained for him. This was God’s practice with those who went before- God’s command must be fulfilled-

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

No blame there is upon the Prophet in that which Allah hath decreed for him. That hath been Allah's dispensation with those who have passed away afore - and the ordinance of Allah hath been a destiny destined

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

There can be no difficulty to the Prophet in what Allah has indicated to him as a duty. It was the practice (approved) of Allah amongst those of old that have passed away. And the command of Allah is a decree determined.

Abul Ala Maududi

There could be no hindrance to the Prophet regarding what Allah ordained for him. Such has been Allah's Way (with the Prophets) who went before. Allah's command is a decree firmly determined.

Ahmed Ali

There is no constraint on the Prophet in what God has decreed for him. This has been the way of God with (apostles) who have gone before you, and God's command is a determined act.

Ahmed Raza Khan

There is no blame upon the Prophet regarding the matter that Allah has decreed for him; it has been Allah’s tradition in those who passed before; and the command of Allah is a certain destiny.

Ali Quli Qarai

There is no blame on the Prophet in respect of that which Allah has made lawful for him: Allah’s precedent with those who passed away earlier (and Allah’s commands are ordained by a precise ordaining),

Ali Ünal

There is no hindrance for the Prophet with respect to what God has ordained and made lawful for him. This was God’s way with those (Prophets) who passed before. The command of God is a decree determined (in due measures for every thing, event and individual).

Amatul Rahman Omar

No blame shall lie on the Prophet for (doing) that which Allâh has made incumbent upon him. (Such indeed has been) the law of Allâh with regard to those (Prophets) who have passed away. Indeed, the command of Allâh is a decree that is made absolute;

English Literal

(There) was not on the prophet from strain/blame in what God specified/stipulated to him, God`s law/manner in those who past/expired from before, and God`s order/command was/is a predestiny predestined/estimated .

Faridul Haque

There is no blame upon the Prophet regarding the matter that Allah has decreed for him; it has been Allah’s tradition in those who passed before; and the command of Allah is a certain destiny.

Hamid S. Aziz

And when you said to him to whom Allah had shown favour and to whom you had shown a favour, "Keep your wife to yourself and be careful of (your duty to) Allah"; and you concealed in your soul what Allah would bring to light, and you feared men, whereas Allah had a greater right that you should fear Him. But when Zaid had accomplished the necessary formalities (of divorce) from her, We gave her to you (Muhammad) as a wife, so that there should be no difficulty for the believers in respect of the wives of their adopted sons, when they have accomplished the formalities of divorce from them. The commands of Allah shall be performed (fulfiled).

Hilali & Khan

There is no blame on the Prophet (SAW) in that which Allah has made legal for him. That has been Allah's Way with those who have passed away of (the Prophets of) old. And the Command of Allah is a decree determined.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And when thou saidst to him to whom Allah had shown favour and to whom thou hadst shown a favour: Keep thy wife to thyself and keep thy duty to Allah; and thou concealedst in thy heart what Allah would bring to light, and thou fearedst men, and Allah has a greater right that thou shouldst fear Him. So when Zaid dissolved her marriage-tie, We gave her to thee as a wife, so that there should be no difficulty for the believers about the wives of their adopted sons, when they have dissolved their marriage-tie. And Allah’s command is ever performed.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

There is no harm in the Prophet doing that which Allah has ordained for him; such has been the course of Allah with respect to those who have gone before; and the command of Allah is a decree that is made absolute:

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

There is no reproach for the Prophet in that which Allah maketh his due. That was Allah's way with those who passed away of old - and the commandment of Allah is certain destiny -

Muhammad Sarwar

The Prophet cannot be blamed for carrying out the commands of God. It was the tradition of God with those who lived before. The command of God has already been decreed and ordained.

Qaribullah & Darwish

No fault shall be attached to the Prophet for doing what Allah has obligated for him. Such was the way of Allah with those who passed away before the decree of Allah is a decree determined

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

There is no blame on the Prophet in that which Allah has made legal for him. That has been Allah's way with those who have passed away of old. And the command of Allah is a decree determined.

Wahiduddin Khan

No blame shall be attached to the Prophet for doing what is sanctioned for him by God. This was God's way with those who went before him -- and the command of God is a decree determined.

Talal Itani

There is no blame on the Prophet regarding what God has ordained for him. Such is the pattern of God among those who passed before. The command of God is an absolute decree.

Tafsir jalalayn

There is no restriction for the Prophet in what God has ordained, [in what] He has made lawful, for him; [that is] God's precedent (sunnata'Llhi is in the accusative because the operator of the oblique has been removed [from the oblique construction ka-sunnati'Llhi, `as is God's precedent') with those who passed away before, of prophets, which is that there is no restriction for them in this respect, a [special] dispensation for them regarding marriage -- and God's commandment, what He does, is inexorable destiny

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah says;

مَّا كَانَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ مِنْ حَرَجٍ فِيمَا فَرَضَ اللَّهُ لَهُ

There is no blame on the Prophet in that which Allah has made legal for him.

means, in that which has been permitted for him and which he has been commanded to do,

i.e. his marrying Zaynab, may Allah be pleased with her, who had been divorced by his adopted son Zayd bin Harithah,

سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ فِي الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِن قَبْلُ

That has been Allah's way with those who have passed away of old.

means this is the ruling of Allah for the Prophets who came before him. Allah would not command them to do anything for which they might be blamed.

This is a refutation of those hypocrites who imagined that there was anything wrong with his marrying the ex-wife of Zayd, his freed slave and adopted son.

وَكَانَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ قَدَرًا مَّقْدُورًا



And the command of Allah is a decree determined.

means, His command which He has decreed must inevitably come to pass; nothing can prevent it or avert it, for whatever He wills happens, and whatever He does not decree, does not happen