Quran chapter: Chapter 39: The Throngs (Al-Zumar)

This is a revelation of the scripture, from God, the Almighty, the Wise.

تَنزيلُ الكِتٰبِ مِنَ اللَّهِ العَزيزِ الحَكيمِ

tanzeelul Kitaabi minal laahil ‘Azeezil Hakeem

We sent down to you this scripture, truthfully; you shall worship God, devoting your religion to Him alone.

إِنّا أَنزَلنا إِلَيكَ الكِتٰبَ بِالحَقِّ فَاعبُدِ اللَّهَ مُخلِصًا لَهُ الدّينَ

innaaa anzalnaaa ilaikal Kitaaba bilhaqqi fa’budil laaha mukhlisal lahud deen

(The Idols as Mediators
A Common Myth)

Absolutely, the religion shall be devoted to God alone. Those who set up idols beside Him say, “We idolize them only to bring us closer to God; for they are in a better position!” God will judge them regarding their disputes. God does not guide such liars, disbelievers.

أَلا لِلَّهِ الدّينُ الخالِصُ وَالَّذينَ اتَّخَذوا مِن دونِهِ أَولِياءَ ما نَعبُدُهُم إِلّا لِيُقَرِّبونا إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلفىٰ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَحكُمُ بَينَهُم فى ما هُم فيهِ يَختَلِفونَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَهدى مَن هُوَ كٰذِبٌ كَفّارٌ

alaa lillaahid deenul khaalis; wallazeenat takhazoo min dooniheee awliyaaa’a maa na’buduhum illaa liyuqar riboonaaa ilal laahi zulfaa; innal laaha yahkumu baina hum fee maa hum feehi yakhtalifoon; innal laaha laa yahdee man huwa kaazibun kaffaar

If God wanted to have a son, He could have chosen whomever He willed from among His creations. Be He glorified; He is God, the One, the Supreme.

لَو أَرادَ اللَّهُ أَن يَتَّخِذَ وَلَدًا لَاصطَفىٰ مِمّا يَخلُقُ ما يَشاءُ سُبحٰنَهُ هُوَ اللَّهُ الوٰحِدُ القَهّارُ

law araadal laahu aiyattakhiza waladal lastafaa mimmaa yakhluqu maa yashaaa’; Subhaanahoo Huwal laahul Waahidul Qahhaar

(The Shape of the Earth*)

He created the heavens and the earth truthfully. He rolls the night over the day, and rolls the day over the night.* He committed the sun and the moon, each running for a finite period. Absolutely, He is the Almighty, the Forgiving.

خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالأَرضَ بِالحَقِّ يُكَوِّرُ الَّيلَ عَلَى النَّهارِ وَيُكَوِّرُ النَّهارَ عَلَى الَّيلِ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمسَ وَالقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجرى لِأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى أَلا هُوَ العَزيزُ الغَفّٰرُ

khalaqas samaawaati wal arda bilhaqq; yukawwirul laila ‘alan nahaari wa yukawwirun nahaara ‘alaal laili wa sakhkharash shamsa walqamara kulluny yajree li ajalim musammaa; alaa Huwal ‘Azeezul Ghaffaar

*39:5 This verse clearly informs us that the earth is round. The Arabic for “He rolls” (Yukawwir) is derived from the Arabic word for “ball” (Kurah). Since the Earth is not exactly round, a specific reference to its shape is given in 79:30. The Quran is replete with scientific information that became known to us centuries after the revelation of the Quran. See Appendix 20.

He created you from one person, then created from him his mate. He sent down to you eight kinds of livestock. He creates you in your mothers’ bellies, creation after creation, in trimesters of darkness. Such is God your Lord. To Him belongs all sovereignty. There is no other god beside Him. How could you deviate?

خَلَقَكُم مِن نَفسٍ وٰحِدَةٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنها زَوجَها وَأَنزَلَ لَكُم مِنَ الأَنعٰمِ ثَمٰنِيَةَ أَزوٰجٍ يَخلُقُكُم فى بُطونِ أُمَّهٰتِكُم خَلقًا مِن بَعدِ خَلقٍ فى ظُلُمٰتٍ ثَلٰثٍ ذٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُم لَهُ المُلكُ لا إِلٰهَ إِلّا هُوَ فَأَنّىٰ تُصرَفونَ

khalaqakum min nafsinw waahidatin summa ja’ala minhaa zawjahaa wa anzala lakum minal-an’aami samaani yata azwaaj; yakhlu qukum fee butooni ummahaatikum khalqam mim ba’di khalqin fee zulumaatin salaas; zaalikumul laahu Rabbukum lahul mulk; laaa ilaaha illaa Huwa fa annaa tusrafoon

(Believe For Your Own Good)

If you disbelieve, God does not need anyone. But He dislikes to see His servants make the wrong decision. If you decide to be appreciative, He is pleased for you. No soul bears the sins of any other soul. Ultimately, to your Lord is your return, then He will inform you of everything you had done. He is fully aware of the innermost thoughts.

إِن تَكفُروا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنكُم وَلا يَرضىٰ لِعِبادِهِ الكُفرَ وَإِن تَشكُروا يَرضَهُ لَكُم وَلا تَزِرُ وازِرَةٌ وِزرَ أُخرىٰ ثُمَّ إِلىٰ رَبِّكُم مَرجِعُكُم فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِما كُنتُم تَعمَلونَ إِنَّهُ عَليمٌ بِذاتِ الصُّدورِ

in takfuroo fa innal laaha ghaniyyun ‘ankum; wa laa yardaa li’ibaadihil kufra wa in tashkuroo yardahu lakum; wa laa taziru waaziratunw wizra ukhraa; summa ilaa Rabikum marji’ukum fa-yunabbi’ukum bimaa kuntum ta’maloon; innahoo ‘aleemum bizaatissudoor

When the human being is afflicted, he implores his Lord, sincerely devoted to Him. But as soon as He blesses him, he forgets his previous imploring, sets up idols to rank with God and to divert others from His path. Say, “Enjoy your disbelief temporarily; you have incurred the hellfire.”

وَإِذا مَسَّ الإِنسٰنَ ضُرٌّ دَعا رَبَّهُ مُنيبًا إِلَيهِ ثُمَّ إِذا خَوَّلَهُ نِعمَةً مِنهُ نَسِىَ ما كانَ يَدعوا إِلَيهِ مِن قَبلُ وَجَعَلَ لِلَّهِ أَندادًا لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبيلِهِ قُل تَمَتَّع بِكُفرِكَ قَليلًا إِنَّكَ مِن أَصحٰبِ النّارِ

wa izaa massal insaana durrun da’aa Rabbahoo muneeban ilaihi summa izaa khawwalahoo ni’matam minhu nasiya maa kaana yad’ooo ilaihi min qablu wa ja’ala lillaahi andaadal liyudilla ‘ansabeelih; qul tamatta’ bikufrika qaleelan innaka min Ashaabin Naar

Is it not better to be one of those who meditate in the night, prostrating and staying up, being aware of the Hereafter, and seeking the mercy of their Lord? Say, “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” Only those who possess intelligence will take heed.

أَمَّن هُوَ قٰنِتٌ ءاناءَ الَّيلِ ساجِدًا وَقائِمًا يَحذَرُ الـٔاخِرَةَ وَيَرجوا رَحمَةَ رَبِّهِ قُل هَل يَستَوِى الَّذينَ يَعلَمونَ وَالَّذينَ لا يَعلَمونَ إِنَّما يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُوا الأَلبٰبِ

amman huwa qaanitun aanaaa’al laili saajidanw wa qaaa’imai yahzarul Aakhirata wa yarjoo rahmata Rabbih; qul hal yastawil lazeena ya’lamoona wallazeena laa ya’lamoon; innamaa yatazakkaru ulul albaab

Say, “O My servants who believed, you shall reverence your Lord.” For those who worked righteousness in this world, a good reward. God’s earth is spacious, and those who steadfastly persevere will receive their recompense generously, without limits.

قُل يٰعِبادِ الَّذينَ ءامَنُوا اتَّقوا رَبَّكُم لِلَّذينَ أَحسَنوا فى هٰذِهِ الدُّنيا حَسَنَةٌ وَأَرضُ اللَّهِ وٰسِعَةٌ إِنَّما يُوَفَّى الصّٰبِرونَ أَجرَهُم بِغَيرِ حِسابٍ

qul yaa ‘ibaadil lazeena aamanut taqoo Rabbakum; lillazeena ahsanoo fee haazihid dunyaa hasanah; wa ardul laahi waasi’ah; innamaa yuwaffas saabiroona ajrahum bighayri hisab