Surah 39. Az-Zumar

THE BESTOWAL from on high of this divine writ issues from God, the Almighty, the Wise:

  - Mohammad Asad

The revelation of this Book (AL-Qur'an) is from Allah, the Almighty, the Wise.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The revelation of this Book is from Allah- the Almighty, All-Wise.

  - Mustafa Khattab

The revelation of the Scripture is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

The revelation of this Book is from Allah the Exalted in Power Full of Wisdom. ⁴²⁴²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

In connection with Revelation two qualities of Allah are mentioned: (1) that He is All-Powerful and can carry out His Will in spite of all opposition; and (2) that He is full of knowledge and wisdom. The first answers those who question how Allah can send Revelation to man; the second explains that true wisdom consists in carrying out Allah's Will as revealed to us.

for, behold, it is We who have bestowed this revelation upon thee from on high, setting forth the truth: so worship Him, sincere in thy faith in Him alone!

  - Mohammad Asad

Certainly We have revealed to you the Book with the Truth: therefore worship Allah, offering Him your sincere obedience.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Indeed, We have sent down the Book to you 'O Prophet' in truth, so worship Allah 'alone', being sincerely devoted to Him.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Lo! We have revealed the Scripture unto thee (Muhammad) with truth; so worship Allah, making religion pure for Him (only).

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Verily it is We Who have revealed the Book to thee in Truth: so serve Allah offering Him sincere devotion.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Is it not to God alone that all sincere faith is due? And yet, they who take for their protectors aught beside Him [are wont to say], "We worship them for no other reason than that they bring us nearer to God."¹ Behold, God will judge between them² [on Resurrection Day] with regard to all wherein they differ [from the truth]: for, verily, God does not grace with His guidance anyone who is bent on lying [to himself³ and is] stubbornly ingrate!

  - Mohammad Asad

This relates not only to the worship of saints, angels and "deified" persons as such, but also to that of their symbolic representations (statues, pictures, relics, etc.) and, in the case of defunct human personalities, of their real or reputed tombs. Since all such practices are based on the worshipper's hope of "mediation" between himself and God, they obviously conflict with the concept of His omniscience and justice, and are, therefore - notwithstanding their widespread occurrence - utterly rejected by the Qur'an.

I.e., between those worshippers and the spiritual leaders who have led them astray (cf. {34:31-33})

Cf. {6:22-24} and the corresponding notes.

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.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Indeed, sincere devotion is due 'only' to Allah. As for those who take other lords besides Him, 'saying,' 'We worship them only so they may bring us closer to Allah,' surely Allah will judge between all¹ regarding what they differed about. Allah certainly does not guide whoever persists in lying and disbelief.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Those who are devoted to Allah alone and those who associate other gods with Him.

Surely Pure religion is for Allah only. And those who choose protecting friends beside Him (say): We worship them only that they may bring us near unto Allah. Lo! Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Lo! Allah guideth not him who is a liar, an ingrate.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion is due? But those who take for protectors other than Allah (say): "We only serve them in order that they may bring us nearer to Allah." Truly Allah will judge between them in that wherein they differ. But Allah guides not such as are false and ungrateful. ^{4243 4244 4245}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

In the many Signs in Creation as described below, there yet is a clear indication of the unity of Plan, pointing to the Unity of the Creator. Worship or service is due to none but Him. And He wants exclusive and sincere devotion.

Worshippers of Idols or of deities other than Allah, e.g., saints or perhaps Wealth and Power, Science or Selfish Desire, may pretend that these are symbols that may get them nearer to their self-development, nearer to the goal of their life, nearer to Allah, but they are altogether on the wrong track.

This departure of theirs from true worship, this divergence from the right way, produces endless disputations and sects. Allah will judge between them. But if they are determined to go after falsehoods and forget the gratitude and service which they owe to Allah, and Allah alone, they are putting themselves on a Path where they will get no guidance. They are cutting themselves off from revealed Truth.

Had God willed to take unto Himself a son, He could have chosen anyone that He wanted out of whatever He has created - [butl limitless is He in His glory!⁴ He is the One God, the One who holds absolute sway over all that exists!

  - Mohammad Asad

The implication is this: Since God is almighty, He can have or do anything that He wills; and so, if He wanted, He could "take unto Himself a son" (which is an allusion to the Christian doctrine of Jesus as "the son of God"). Since, however, He is "limitless in His glory" - i.e., complete in His excellence and utterly remote from all imperfection - He is ipso facto remote from the incompleteness inherent in the need of, or desire for, progeny, which logically precludes the possibility of His having a "son". (Cf. the last sentence of 6:100 and the corresponding note [88].)

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.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Had it been Allah's Will to have offspring, He could have chosen whatever He willed of His creation. Glory be to Him! He is Allah- the One, the Supreme.

  - Mustafa Khattab

If Allah had willed to choose a son, he could have chosen what he would of that which He hath created. Be He glorified! He is Allah, the One, the Absolute.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Had Allah wished to take to Himself a son He could have chosen whom He pleased out of those whom He doth create: but Glory be to Him! (He is above such things.) He is Allah the One the Irresistible. ⁴²⁴⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

It is blasphemy to say that Allah begot a son. If that were true, He should have had a wife (vi. 101), and His son would have been of the same kind as Himself; whereas Allah is one, with no one else like unto Him (cxii. 4). Begetting is an animal act which goes with sex. How can it be consistent with our conception of One Who is above all Creatures? If such a blasphemous thought were possible, as that Allah wanted some one else to help Him, He could have chosen the best of His creatures instead of lowering Himself to an animal act. But glory to Allah! He is above such things! His Unity is the first thing that we have to learn about Him. As He is Omnipotent, He requires no creatures to help Him or bring other creatures to Him.

He it is who has created the heavens and the earth in accordance with [an inner] truth.⁵ He causes the night to flow into the day, and causes the day to flow into the night; and He has made the sun and the moon subservient [to His laws], each running its course for a term set [by Him].⁶ Is not He the Almighty, the All-Forgiving?

  - Mohammad Asad

See note [I] I on the last but one sentence of 10:5 .

See note [5] on 13:2 .

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 not He the All-Mighty, the All-Forgiving?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

He created the heavens and the earth for a purpose. He wraps the night around the day, and wraps the day around the night. And He has subjected the sun and the moon, each orbiting for an appointed term. He is truly the Almighty, Most Forgiving.

  - Mustafa Khattab

He hath created the heavens and the earth with truth. He maketh night to succeed day, and He maketh day to succeed night, and He constraineth the sun and the moon to give service, each running on for an appointed term. Is not He the Mighty, the Forgiver?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

He created the heavens and the earth in true (proportions): He makes the Night overlap the Day and the Day overlap the Night: He has subjected the sun and the moon (to His law) each one follows a course for a time appointed. Is not He the Exalted in Power He Who forgives again and again? ^{4247 4248}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. vi. 73, and n. 896.

His Power is equalled by His Mercy. Who can there be like unto Him?