Surah 39. Az-Zumar

Is Allah not sufficient for His servant? Yet they threaten you with other 'powerless' gods besides Him! Whoever Allah leaves to stray will be left with no guide.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Is not Allah enough for His servant? But they try to frighten thee with other (gods) besides him! For such as Allah leaves to stray there can be no guide. ⁴²⁹⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The righteous man will find Allah enough for all the protection he needs, all the rest and peace he craves for, and all the happiness he can imagine. If Satans wish to frighten him with false gods, he knows that that is mere superstition. In the case of idols to whom worship is paid, this is easily intelligible. But there are other false gods which men worship,-wealth, position, power, science, selfish desire, and so on. The idea may occur to them: "this is the right course, but what will men say?" or "shall I lose my case if I tell the truth?" or "will it ruin my chances if I denounce sin in high places?" All such false gods will only mislead and leave their victims in the lurch. The worship of them will lose them the Mercy of Allah, which wants to guide and comfort all who seek Allah.

And whoever Allah guides, none can lead astray. Is Allah not Almighty, capable of punishment?

  - Mustafa Khattab

And such as Allah doth guide there can be none to lead astray is not Allah Exalted in Power (able to enforce His Will) Lord of Retribution? ^{4297 4298}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

On the other hand if any one holds fast to Allah's Truth, nothing can mislead or betray him.

Allah's Power can protect, and will defeat all plots against His Will, as well as punish Evil when it gets beyond bounds.

If you ask them 'O Prophet' who created the heavens and the earth, they will certainly say, 'Allah!' Ask 'them', 'Consider then whatever 'idols' you invoke besides Allah: if it was Allah's Will to harm me, could they undo that harm? Or if He willed 'some' mercy for me, could they withhold His mercy?' Say, 'Allah is sufficient for me. In Him 'alone' the faithful put their trust.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

If indeed thou ask them who it is that created the heavens and the earth they would be sure to say "Allah." Say: "See ye then? The things that ye invoke besides Allah can they if Allah wills some Penalty for me remove His Penalty? Or if He wills some Grace for me can they keep back His Grace?" Say: "Sufficient is Allah for me! In Him trust those who put their trust." ^{4299 4300 4301}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xxix. 61; also n. 2927 to xxiii. 85. Most worshippers of false gods are not either atheists or sceptics. They admit the existence of Allah but it has not come into their hearts and souls: it has not been translated into their lives. They run after false worship on account of ancestral custom or on account of their thoughtlessness or false environment, or on account of their own selfish desires or limited outlook. To them is addressed the argument: 'Ultimately your false gods can do nothing for you: why not turn to the One True God, on Whom you depend, and Who can give you Grace and Mercy, Justice and Punishment?'

Cf. xxxiii. 17,

Cf. xii. 67 and xiv. 12. Allah alone is He Who will and can discharge any trust put in Him. All other things will fail. Therefore those who put their trust in anything should put their trust in Allah.

Say, 'O Prophet,' 'O my people! Persist in your ways, for I 'too' will persist in mine. You will soon come to know

  - Mustafa Khattab

Say: "O my people! Do whatever ye can: I will do (my part): but soon will ye know ⁴³⁰²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xi. 121 and n. 1624-A.

who will be visited by a humiliating torment 'in this life' and overwhelmed by an everlasting punishment 'in the next'.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

"Who it is to whom come a Penalty of ignominy and on whom descends a Penalty that abides." ⁴³⁰³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xi, 93. The two clauses, about those who suffer a Penalty of ignominy and those on whom descends a lasting Penalty, apparently refer to the same persons in two different aspects: (1) they suffer shame, and (2) their punishment endures.

Surely We have revealed to you the Book 'O Prophet' with the truth for humanity. So whoever chooses to be guided, it is for their own good. And whoever chooses to stray, it is only to their own loss. You are not a keeper over them.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Verily We have revealed the Book to thee in Truth for (instructing) mankind. He then that receives guidance benefits his own soul: but he that strays injures his own soul. Nor art thou set over them to dispose of their affairs. ^{4304 4305}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Revelation is sent by Allah through His messenger, but it is for all. It is given in order that men and women may be taught Righteousness. It is given in Truth: there is no pretence about it. It is for their own good. If they reject it and follow Evil, the loss is their own.

Allah's messengers do all they can to teach mankind. But they cannot force men's wills. If men reject their teaching, the account of the rejecters is with Allah Cf. vi. 107 and n. 935.

'It is' Allah 'Who' calls back the souls 'of people' upon their death as well as 'the souls' of the living during their sleep. Then He keeps those for whom He has ordained death, and releases the others until 'their' appointed time. Surely in this are signs for people who reflect.

  - Mustafa Khattab

It is Allah that takes the souls (of men) at death: and those that die not (He takes) during their sleep: those on whom He has passed the decree of death He keeps back (from returning to life) but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term appointed. Verily in this are Signs for those who reflect. ^{4306 4307 4308 4309}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The mystery of life and death, sleep and dreams, is a fascinating enigma, of which the solution is perhaps beyond the ken of man. A vast mass of superstition as well as imaginative and psychological literature has grown up about it. But the simplest and truest religious doctrine is laid down here in a few words. In death we surrender our physical life, but our soul does not die; it goes back to a plane of existence in which it is more conscious of the realities of the spiritual world: "Allah takes the soul".

Cf. vi. 60. What is sleep? As far as animal life is concerned, it is the cessation of the working of the nervous system, though other animal functions, such as digestion, growth, and the circulation of the blood, continue, possibly at a different pace. It is the repose of the nervous system, and in this respect it is common to man and animals, and perhaps even to plants, if, as is probable, plants have a nervous system. The mental processes (and certainly volition) are also suspended in sleep, except that in ordinary dreams there is a medley of recollections, which often present vividly to our consciousness things that do not or cannot happen in nature as we know it in our coordinated minds. But there is another kind of dream which is rarer-one in which the dreamer sees things as they actually happen, backwards or forwards in time, or in which gifted individuals see spiritual truths otherwise imperceptible to them. How can we explain this? It is suggested that our soul or personality,-that something which is above our animal life-is then in a plane of spiritual existence akin to physical death (see last note), when we are nearer to Allah. In poetic imagery, Sleep is "twin-brother to Death".

Sleep being twin-brother to Death, our souls are for the time being released from the bondage of the flesh. Allah takes them for the time being. If, as some do, we are to die peacefully in sleep, our soul does not come back to the physical body, and the latter decays and die. If we have still some period of life to fulfil according to Allah's decree, our soul comes back to the body, and we resume our functions in this life.

If we contemplate these things, we can see more clearly many spiritual truths: e.g. (1) that our bodily life and death are not the whole story of our existence; (2) that in our bodily life we may be dead to the spiritual world, and in our bodily death, may be our awakening to the spiritual world; (3) that our nightly Sleep, besides performing the function of rest to our physical life, gives us a foretaste of what we call death, which does not end our personality; and (4) that the Resurrection is not more wonderful than our daily rising from Sleep, "twin-brother to Death".

Or have they taken others besides Allah as intercessors? Say, 'O Prophet,' ''Would they do so,' even though those 'idols' have neither authority nor intelligence?'

  - Mustafa Khattab

What! Do they take for intercessors others besides Allah? Say: "Even if they have no power whatever and no intelligence?" ⁴³¹⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Let alone worship, men should not rely upon any power or person other than Allah to help them out or intercede for them. When it is idols, they are poor lifeless things which have obviously neither power nor intelligence. But even prophets or saints or heroes have no power to intercede except as Allah wills and permits. See next note.

Say, 'All intercession belongs to Allah 'alone'. To Him belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. Then to Him you will 'all' be returned.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

Say: "To Allah belongs exclusively (the right to grant) Intercession: to Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth: in the End it is to Him that ye shall be brought back." ^{4311 4312}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

For Shafa'at (Intercession, Advocacy) see ii. 255; x. 3; xx. 109, n. 2634; and xxi. 28, n. 2688. It follows that no one can intercede with Allah, except (1) by Allah's permission, and (2) for those who have prepared themselves by penitence for Allah's acceptance. Even in earthly Courts, Advocacy is not permitted to any one; the Advocate must be granted the position of Advocate before he can plead before the judge. Nor can it be supposed that a plea for forgiveness or mercy can be put forward except on grounds recognised by equity and justice.

At all times, including our present life, all dominion belongs to Allah. At the End of the present plane of existence, we shall be placed before Allah for Judgment. Cf. x. 4.

Yet when Allah alone is mentioned, the hearts of those who disbelieve in the Hereafter are filled with disgust. But as soon as those 'gods' other than Him are mentioned, they are filled with joy.

  - Mustafa Khattab

When Allah the One and Only is mentioned the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter are filled with disgust and horror; but when (gods) other than He are mentioned behold they are filled with joy! ⁴³¹³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

To evil ones, the mention of the exclusive service of Good is hateful: they only rejoice when other motives are added, e.g., personal indulgence, ancestral custom, and numerous things in life which compete with Allah's Law in this world.

Say, 'O Prophet,' 'O Allah- Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the seen and unseen! You will judge between Your servants regarding their differences.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

Say: "O Allah! Creator of the heavens and the earth! Knower of all that is hidden and open! It is Thou that wilt judge between Thy Servants in those matters about which they have differed." ⁴³¹⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The mysteries of life and death, of worship and spiritual growth, are matters of high moment, which it may be difficult for us to apprehend in this present life. It is no use arguing about them and plunging in endless controversies. The proper attitude is to appeal to Allah humbly to accept our purified hearts and Faith, in the firm hope that everything which is now vague to us will be cleared up in the Hereafter, and to pray to Him for His guidance and mercy.

Even if the wrongdoers were to possess everything in the world twice over, they would certainly offer it to ransom themselves from the horrible punishment on Judgment Day, for they will see from Allah what they had never expected.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Even if the wrongdoers had all that there is on earth and as much more (in vain) would they offer it for ransom from the pain of the Penalty on the Day of Judgement: but something will confront them from Allah which they could never have counted upon! ^{4315 4316}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xiii. 18. Those who reject Allah's Message must realise that the time will come when they will wish they had sacrificed everything in the cause of Truth and Righteousness. It will be too late then. Why not examine the matter seriously now and accept Allah's Grace and Light?

This something will be beyond anything they can conceive of in this life. Just as the righteous will then attain a bliss which no human imagination can conceive of now, so the unrighteous will be in a misery of which they can form no conception now. See next note.

And the evil 'consequences' of their deeds will unfold before them, and they will be overwhelmed by what they used to ridicule.

  - Mustafa Khattab

For the evils of their Deeds will confront them and they will be (completely) encircled by that which they used to mock at! ⁴³¹⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

How humiliating it will be for them to realise that the things they used to mock at are realities all around them, and the things they were so eager to pursue are mere falsehoods or vanities!

When one is touched with hardship, they cry out to Us 'alone'. Then when We shower Our blessings upon them, they say, 'I have been granted all this only because of 'my' knowledge.' Not at all! It is 'no more than' a test. But most of them do not know.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Now when trouble touches man he cries to Us; but when We bestow a favor upon him as from Ourselves he says "This has been given to me because of a certain knowledge (I have)!" Nay but this is but a trial but most of them understand not! ^{4318 4319 4320}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xxx. 33 and n. 3545.

Cf. xxxix. 8 above.

Cf. xxxviii. 78, and n . 3408. Prosperity may be a trial as much as adversity.

The same had already been said by those 'destroyed' before them,¹ but their 'worldly' gains were of no benefit to them.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Like Korah (see 28:76-81).

Thus did the (generations) before them say! But all that they did was of no profit to them.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

So the evil 'consequences' of their deeds overtook them. And the wrongdoers among these 'pagans' will be overtaken by the evil 'consequences' of their deeds. And they will have no escape.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Nay the evil results of their deeds overtook them. And the wrongdoers of this (generation) the evil results of their deeds will soon overtake them (too) and they will never be able to frustrate (Our Plan)! ^{4321 4322}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xvi. 34.

It is the same story through the ages. People laugh at Truth, persecute Truth, and try to destroy Truth. But Allah's Plan is never to be frustrated. It will be carried out, and only the enemies of Truth will accomplish their own undoing. So it happened in Arabia: so will it happen always and everywhere.

Do they not know that Allah gives abundant or limited provisions to whoever He wills? Surely in this are signs for people who believe.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Know they not that Allah enlarges the provision or restricts it for any He pleases? Verily in this are signs for those who believe! ⁴³²³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xxviii. 82. Allah's gifts are given to all men-to some in a greater degree than to others. But it is all done according to His wise Plan, for His Will is just and looks to the good of all creatures. No one should therefore be puffed up in prosperity or cast down in adversity. Prosperity does not necessarily mean merit on man's part, nor adversity the reverse. Thinking men bear in mind the large Plan-which is visible in all Allah's Signs.

Say, 'O Prophet, that Allah says,' 'O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah's mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins.¹ He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 No matter how big someone’s sins are, they cannot be bigger than Allah’s mercy. Based on 4:48, the only unforgivable sin in Islam is if someone dies while disbelieving in Allah or associating others with Him in worship. In an authentic narration collected by At-Tirmiⱬi, the Prophet (ﷺ) reports that Almighty Allah says, "O children of Adam! As long as you call upon Me, putting your hope in Me, I will forgive you for what you have done, and I will not mind. O  children of Adam! If your sins were to reach the clouds of the sky and then you sought My forgiveness, I would ˹still˺ forgive you. O  children of Adam! If you were to come to Me with sins filling the whole world and then you came to Me without associating other gods with Me, I would certainly match your sins with forgiveness."

Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. ⁴³²⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Forgives all sins: i.e., on sincere repentance and amendment of conduct.

Turn to your Lord 'in repentance', and 'fully' submit to Him before the punishment reaches you, 'for' then you will not be helped.

  - Mustafa Khattab

"Turn ye to your Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (Will) before the Penalty comes on you: after that ye shall not be helped. ⁴³²⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The exhortation in brief is: 'Repent and work righteousness, before it becomes too late'. No help will come to you when the Judgment is actually established and you stand before Allah.

Follow 'the Quran,' the best of what has been revealed to you from your Lord, before the punishment takes you by surprise while you are unaware,

  - Mustafa Khattab

"And follow the Best of (the courses) revealed to you from your Lord before the Penalty comes on you of a sudden while ye perceive not!-- ⁴³²⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xxxix. 18, and n. 4269. Allah's Command meets the weakness of His weakest servants, and only asks that His servants should surrender their selfish will to Allah's Will. In divine compassion, therefore, we are allowed to do just what we can, even though our standard should fall short of the highest standard. But our aim should be to follow the highest standard, and Allah's Grace will come to our assistance. But we must do so in this life-and at once, as soon as the Word penetrates our mind or understanding. We must not delay a moment, for the Judgment may come at any time, suddenly, before we even perceive where we are.