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 the Scripture is from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

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

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

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

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

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

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

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

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 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