39. Surah Az-Zumar (The Throngs)

Mecca Period 59 [75 verses]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ...

39:10 [Ali]. Say:

"O ye my servants who believe!

Fear your Lord:

C4260. The "fear of Allah" (Taqwa) is explained in n. 26 to 2:2.

See also n. 2912 to 23:60.

The fear of Allah is akin to love, for it means that we are afraid to displease Him.

... لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا فِي هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ...

good is (the reward) for those who do good in this world.

... وَأَرْضُ اللَّهِ وَاسِعَةٌ...

Spacious is Allah's earth!

C4261. Cf. 29:56 and n. 3489.

We must always do right. We cannot plead that the circumstances in which we find ourselves force our hands. If our home conditions do not allow us to act according to the Faith that is in us, we must be prepared to suffer ostracism or even exile.

... إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ ﴿١٠﴾

Those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure!"

لَكِنِ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ لَهُمْ غُرَفٌ مِّن فَوْقِهَا غُرَفٌ مَّبْنِيَّةٌ...

39:20. But it is for those who fear their Lord, that lofty mansions, one above another, have been built:

C4271. Cf. 29:58, and 34:37.

The idea of heaven here is that of a Home of sublimity and beauty, with a picturesque outlook, such as we would describe in this life by the type of a palace by gently-flowing streams. The mansions will also suggest generous space and architectural beauty, tiers upon tiers piled one upon another.

... تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ...

beneath them flow rivers (of delight):

... وَعْدَ اللَّهِ...

(such is) the promise of Allah:

... لَا يُخْلِفُ اللَّهُ الْمِيعَادَ ﴿٢٠﴾

never doth Allah fail in (His) promise.

C4272. Miad: the time, place, and manner of the fulfilment of a Promise.

Allah's promise will be fulfilled in all particulars better than we can possibly imagine.

Asad’s Version:

39:10 Say: "[Thus speaks God: 16 ] "O you servants of Mine who have attained to faith! Be conscious of your Sustainer! Ultimate good awaits those who persevere in doing good in this world. And [remember:] wide is God's earth, 17 [and,] verily, they who are patient in adversity will be given their reward in full, beyond all reckoning!'"

39:20

As against this, 25 they who of their Sustainer are conscious shall fin the life to come] have mansions raised upon mansions high, beneath which running waters flow: [this is] God's promise - [and] never does God fail to fulfil His promise