Tafseer of The Clans · Al-Ahzaab · 33:21
There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of the statement of the Exalted: "Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah there has been for you a good example, for whoever hopes in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much" (33:21).
The reciters differed over the reading of His statement (أُسْوَةٌ, uswah). Most of the reciters of the regions read it as (إِسْوَةٌ, iswah) with a kasrah on the alif, with the exception of ʿĀṣim ibn Abī al-Najūd, who read it with a ḍammah (أُسوة, uswah). Yaḥyā ibn Waththāb read this word with the kasrah, but read His statement "Indeed, in them there is for you an example (أُسْوَةٌ)" with the ḍammah. They are two dialectal variants.
It is mentioned that the kasrah is the pronunciation of the people of the Ḥijāz, and the ḍammah that of Qays; they say: uswah and ukhuwwah. This is a rebuke from Allah to those who lagged behind the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and behind his army camp in Medina, namely those among the believers who believed in him. The Exalted says to them: "Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah there has been for you a good example," namely that you take him as an example and be with him wherever he is, and do not lag behind him; "for whoever hopes in Allah," by which He says: indeed, whoever hopes for the reward and the mercy of Allah in the Hereafter does not prefer himself over him, but takes him as an example in being with him wherever he is.
And in the spirit of what we have said about this, the exegetes have also spoken.
Mention of who said that:
Ibn Ḥumayd related to us, saying: Salama related to us, on the authority of Ibn Isḥāq, who said: Yazīd ibn Rūmān related to me, saying: Then He turned to the believers and said: "Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah there has been for you a good example, for whoever hopes in Allah and the Last Day," namely that they do not prefer themselves over his person, nor over the place where he is; "and remembers Allah much," by which He says: and who remembers Allah much in fear, in adversity and in prosperity.
