I was listening to the tafsīr of Surah al-Ḥujurāt the other day, and within the first āyah, I came across the asbāb al-nuzūl (reason for revelation) for the opening verses.
From what I learnt, this incident takes place in the 9th year of Hijrah, around a year to a year and a half before the passing of our Nabi ﷺ. This year is known as ʿĀm al-Wufūd, the Year of Delegations, when many groups came to Madinah Munawwarah to embrace Islām.
Just a brief overview.
A group from Banū Tamīm came to Rasūlullāh ﷺ. When delegations would return, Nabi ﷺ would appoint a leader, an Amīr, who would represent them and carry responsibility among his people.
At this point, Nabi ﷺ sought mashwarah (consultation) from Sayyidinā Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and Sayyidinā Umar ibn al-Khattab (raḍiyallāhu ʿanhumā) regarding who should be appointed.
The incident continues from there, leading to the revelation of the āyah.
But that’s not what struck me.
What struck me came later, after listening to a talk by Qari Ayub Essack, and it genuinely took me aback.
Our Nabi ﷺ, as perfect as he is, had no need for mashwarah. He ﷺ did not need to seek the opinions of the Ṣaḥābah, because he only spoke based on revelation, with the permission of Allah.
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ
“He does not speak from his own desire.” (Sūrat al-Najm 53:3)
And yet… Nabi ﷺ still made mashwarah.
That made me pause.
My curiosity peaked, so I looked a little more into mashwarah.
There is an entire surah, Surah al-Shūrā, and although consultation is mentioned in multiple places in the Qur’an, one āyah in particular stood out to me, āyah 38:
وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَىٰ بَيْنَهُمْ
“And their affairs are conducted by mutual consultation.” (Sūrat al-Shūrā 42:38)
Allah mentions this among qualities of people of excellence, highlighting something so simple, yet so often overlooked.
And it just made me realise… how amazing our Nabi ﷺ is.
He didn’t need mashwarah, yet he ﷺ still did it.
It shows his humility.
It shows his perfection in character.
And it reminds us that he ﷺ was sent as an أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ, the most beautiful example.
Through him, we learn not just what to do, but how to do it.
We learn that no one is above the need for mashwarah.
Not the experienced. Not the knowledgeable. Not the elder. Not the young.
It’s a simple sunnah, but a powerful one.
And maybe something we can start bringing into our own lives a little more intentionally.
In shā’ Allāh, Allāh will place khayr in the matters we consult upon.
Āmīn.
- Bint al-Qalm (عفي عنها )