Tafseer of The Clans · Al-Ahzaab · 33:62
[This is] the established way of Allah with those who passed on before; and you will not find in the way of Allah any change.
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 statement concerning the explanation of His word, the Exalted: سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ فِي الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَلَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلا ("The way (sunna) of Allah concerning those who passed away before; and you will not find for the way of Allah any alteration") (33:62).
He, exalted be His mention, says: سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ فِي الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلُ ("The way of Allah concerning those who passed away before") — namely these hypocrites who were present with the Messenger of Allah, Allah's peace and blessings be upon him (ﷺ), in his city, of the kind of these hypocrites: that He, when they make their hypocrisy (nifāq) public, would kill them thoroughly and would curse them with an abundant cursing.
And in accordance with what we have said concerning this, the people of interpretation (taʾwīl) have spoken.
* Mention of those who said that:
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: His word سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ فِي الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلُ ... ("The way of Allah concerning those who passed away before ..."), the verse. He says: thus is the way (sunna) of Allah concerning them, when they make hypocrisy public.
And His word وَلَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلا ("and you will not find for the way of Allah any alteration"). He, exalted be His mention, says to His prophet Muḥammad, Allah's peace and blessings be upon him (ﷺ): and you, O Muḥammad, will not find for the way of Allah, which He has instituted among His creatures, any change. So be convinced that He will not change His way concerning these hypocrites.
