Ghafir · Makki · ayah 78 of 85

Ghafir 40:78

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا مِّن قَبْلِكَ مِنْهُم مَّن قَصَصْنَا عَلَيْكَ وَمِنْهُم مَّن لَّمْ نَقْصُصْ عَلَيْكَ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِىَ بِـَٔايَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ قُضِىَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ ٱلْمُبْطِلُونَ

“And We have already sent messengers before you. Among them are those [whose stories] We have related to you, and among them are those [whose stories] We have not related to you. And it was not for any messenger to bring a sign [or verse] except by permission of Allāh. So when the command of Allāh comes, it will be concluded [i.e., judged] in truth, and the falsifiers will thereupon lose [all].”

Saheeh International

Essence

Many messengers came before, named and unnamed; none brought a sign but by Allah's leave, and when His command comes, falsehood loses everything.

A reflection

Only by His leave

Wa-mā kāna li-rasūlin an yaʾtiya bi-āyatin illā bi-idhni allāh. It was never for any messenger to bring a sign except by Allah's leave.

The word idhn, leave or permission, comes from the root ʾ-dh-n, the ear. The lexicons picture permission as a word let into the ear: the way is now open. This is established.

So even the greatest human beings, the messengers, could not produce a miracle on their own initiative. A concise commentary gives the reason plainly: because they are servants, under His lordship. A modern commentary adds: only by His will and His wish.

That is a humbling thought for any ego. Musa could not part the sea without leave; ʿIsa could not heal without leave. Then nothing any of us achieves is purely our own. Our talents, our successes, our breakthroughs all pass through the same narrow door: His permission.

A pharmacist stands behind her counter. A distressed customer begs for a strong medicine for his child. She has it on the shelf behind her. She has the knowledge to dispense it. But without a prescription, she cannot. Her skill is real. The permission is not hers to give.

That is the position of every created being before Allah. We may have the means. The leave is His.

Some may feel this makes Allah controlling, keeping even prophets on a short leash. But consider who holds the leave. Not a jealous rival. The One who sent the messengers out of mercy, and who gave them signs when signs would help. Permission in His hands is permission in the wisest hands there are.

The practical lesson is gratitude and humility together. Whatever good passes through your hands today came through a door He opened. Say so, and the ego shrinks to its proper size.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.