Surah 39 (Az-Zumar), Verses 1-21 (Y6)

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.

Summary

Today’s selection is from Surah 39, Az-Zumar or the Crowds, verses 1-21. In this selection, the mushrikeen try to justify their worship of saints by saying, ‘they bring us closer to Allah’. On the Day of Judgment, no one shall bear the burdens of another. Believers who cannot practice their faith should immigrate to a place where they can practice. Lastly, no one can be rescued from punishment once the sentence has been decreed by God.

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Verses

Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.

The revelation of this Book (Al-Qur’an) is from Allah, the Almighty, the Wise.[1] Certainly We have revealed to you the Book with the Truth: therefore worship Allah, offering Him your sincere obedience.[2] Beware! Sincere true obedience is due to Allah Alone! As for those who take other guardians (worship the saints) besides Him and justify their conduct, saying: “We worship them only that they may bring us nearer to Allah.” Surely Allah will judge between them concerning all that in which they differ. Allah does not guide him who is a liar and a disbeliever.[3] If Allah had intended to take a son, He could have chosen anyone He pleased out of His creation: Glory be to Him! (He is above such things.) He is Allah, the One, the Irresistible.[4] He created the heavens and the earth to manifest the Truth. He causes the night to succeed the day and the day to overtake the night. He has subjected the sun and the moon to His law, each one following a course for an appointed term. Is He not the All-Mighty, the All-Forgiving?[5] He created you all from a single person, then from that person He created his mate. He also created for you eight head of cattle in pairs. He creates you in the wombs of your mothers in stages, one after another, in three layers of darkness. This is Allah, your Rabb. To Him belongs the sovereignty. There is no god but Him. How can you then turn away from Him?[6] 39:[1-6]

If you disbelieve, then you should know that Allah does not need you. He does not like ingratitude from His servants. Therefore, if you are grateful He is pleased with you. On the Day of Judgement, no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Ultimately, all of you have to return to your Rabb. Then He will tell you the truth of all that you did in this life. Surely He knows even the secrets of your hearts.[7] When some trouble befalls man, he cries to his Rabb and turns to Him in repentance; but no sooner does He bestow on him His favor than he forgets what he has prayed for and sets up rivals to Allah, thus misleading others from His Way. Tell such people: “Enjoy your unbelief for a little while; certainly you will be of the inmates of hellfire.”[8] Can he who is obedient, pass the hours of night prostrating in worship or standing in adoration, fearing the hereafter and hoping to earn the Mercy of his Rabb, be compared to the man who does not? Are the knowledgeable and the ignorant equal? In fact, none will take heed except the people of understanding.[9] 39:[7-9]

Say: “O My servants who have truly believed, fear your Rabb; those who will do good deeds in this world shall receive a good reward. If it has become difficult to follow the Right Way where you live, then migrate, you will find that Allah’s earth is spacious. Those who endure with patience will be rewarded without measure.”[10] Say: “I am commanded to worship Allah and serve none but Him[11] and I am commanded to be the first of those who submit to Allah in Islam.”[12] Say: “Surely, I am afraid if I disobey my Rabb, the punishment of a mighty Day.”[13] Say: “Allah Alone I worship, and Him Alone I serve.[14] As for yourselves, I have conveyed to you the Truth and if you do not believe, then worship what you want besides Him.” Say: “The real losers are those who will lose their souls as well their families on the Day of Resurrection. Ah! That will indeed be an open Loss.”[15] There shall be layers of fire above them and layers of fire beneath them. Such is the doom about which Allah wants His servants to have fear, and says: “O My servants, avoid My wrath.”[16] As for those who refrain from worshipping Tãghüt (Satanic forces) and turn to Allah in repentance, there is good news. So O Prophet, give good news to My servants[17] who listen to the Word and follow the best meaning of it. Such are the ones whom Allah has guided and such are the ones who are endowed with understanding.[18] 39:[10-18]

Is the one against whom the sentence of punishment has been decreed equal to the one who refrains from evil? Can you rescue the one who is in the fire? Of course not.[19] As for those who truly fear their Rabb, they shall be lodged in lofty mansions, built with one story upon another, beneath which the rivers flow; this is the promise of Allah; Allah does not fail in His promise.[20] Do you not see how Allah sends down water from the sky which penetrates the earth and comes out through springs? With it He brings forth a variety of crops with different colors, then they wither and you see them turning yellow, and then finally He crumbles them to dust. Surely, in this example, there is a lesson for the people of understanding.[21] 39:[19-21]

Ameen.

This concludes today’s episode of the 17 Verses Podcast. I hope that this selection has helped increase your understanding of the holy Qur’an just a little bit.

Thank you and be well.