Surah 39. Az-Zumar

Nay, but thou shalt worship God [alone], and be among those who are grateful [to Him]!

  - Mohammad Asad

Therefore, worship Allah and be among His thankful servants.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Rather, worship Allah 'alone' and be one of the grateful.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Nay, but Allah must thou serve, and be among the thankful!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Nay but worship Allah and be of those who give thanks. ⁴³⁴⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

To "give thanks" is to show by our conduct that we esteem the gifts of Allah and will use them in His service.

And no true understanding of God have they [who worship aught beside Him], inasmuch as the whole of the earth will be as a [mere] handful to Him on Resurrection Day, and the heavens will be rolled up in His right hand:⁶⁶ limitless is He in His glory, and sublimely exalted above anything to which they may ascribe a share in His divinity!

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., the whole universe is as nothing before Him: for this specific allegory of God's almightiness, see 21:104 . There are many instances, in the Qur'an as well as in authentic ahadith, of the clearly metaphorical use of the term "hand" in allusions to God's absolute power and dominion. The particular reference, in the above, to the Day of Resurrection is due to the fact that it will be only on his own resurrection that a human being shall fully grasp the concept of God's almightiness, referred to in the subsequent words, "limitless is He in His glory'' (subhanahu)".

They have not recognized the worth of Allah as his worth should be recognized. On the Day of Resurrection the whole earth shall be in His grasp and all the heavens shall be rolled up in His right hand. Glory be to Him! Exalted be He above what they associate with Him.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

They have not shown Allah His proper reverence- when on the Day of Judgment the 'whole' earth will be in His Grip, and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand. Glorified and Exalted is He above what they associate 'with Him'!

  - Mustafa Khattab

And they esteem not Allah as He hath the right to be esteemed, when the whole earth is His handful on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens are rolled in His right hand. Glorified is He and High Exalted from all that they ascribe as partner (unto Him).

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

No just estimate have they made of Allah such as is due to Him: on the Day of Judgement the whole of the earth will be but His handful and the heavens will be rolled up in His right hand: Glory to Him! High is He above the Partners they attribute to Him! ^{4341 4342}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. vi. 91, and n. 909; and xxii. 74. In running after false gods or the powers of nature they have forgotten that all creatures are as nothing before Allah.

See last note. The whole earth will be no more to Allah than a thing that a man might enclose in the hollow of his hand, nor will the heavens with their vast expanse be more than a scroll, which a man might roll up with his right hand, the hand of power and action. Cf. xxi. 104, and lxxxi. 1.

And [on that Day,] the trumpet [of judgment] will be sounded, and all [creatures] that are in the heavens and all that are on earth will fall down senseless. unless they be such as God wills [to exempt].⁶⁷ And then it will sound again - and lo! standing [before the Seat of Judgment], they will begin to see [the truth]! ⁶⁸

  - Mohammad Asad

As is evident from 27:89 , the above is an allusion to the unbroken spiritual life in this world - and, therefore, happiness in the hereafter - of those who have attained to faith and have done righteous deeds. Cf. 21:103 - "the supreme awesomeness [of the Day of Resurrection] will cause them no grief".

Cf. 37:19 .

The Trumpet shall be blown, and all that is in the heavens and the earth shall swoon except those whom Allah will please to exempt. Then the Trumpet will be blown for the second time and behold! They shall all stand up, looking around.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The Trumpet will be blown and all those in the heavens and all those on the earth will fall dead, except those Allah wills 'to spare'. Then it will be blown again and they will rise up at once, looking on 'in anticipation'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And the trumpet is blown, and all who are in the heavens and the earth swoon away, save him whom Allah willeth. Then it is blown a second time, and behold them standing waiting!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

The Trumpet will (just) be sounded when all that are in the heavens and on earth will swoon except such as it will please Allah (to exempt). Then will a second one be sounded when behold they will be standing and looking on! ⁴³⁴³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Saiqa implies the idea of a swoon, or loss of all consciousness of being: it implies a cessation of the normal functioning of the usual powers of life or feeling. With the first Trumpet of the Resurrection the whole world will cease to be in the form and the relations which we see now: there will be a new heaven and a new earth, see xiv. 48, n. 1925; human souls will for the time being be dazed and lose all memory or consciousness of time or place or personality. With the second one, they will stand in a new world; they will see with clearer vision than ever before; and judgment will proceed.

And the earth will shine bright with her Sustainer's light.⁶⁹ And the record [of everyone's deeds] will be laid bare,⁷⁰ and all the prophets will be brought forward, and all [other] witnesses;⁷¹ and judgment will be passed on them all in justice. And they will not be wronged,

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., with a clear revelation of His will. See also 14:48 , where it is stated that on Resurrection Day "the earth shall be changed into another earth, as shall be the heavens". A further allusion to this transformation (and not annihilation) of the universe is found in {20:105-107}.

Cf. {17:13-14} (and the corresponding note [18]); also 18:49 .

See 4:41 and the corresponding note [52]. Accordingly, the above phrase may well have the meaning of "all the prophets as witnesses", i.e., for or against those to whom they conveyed God's message. In all probability, however, the term shuhada, a' (or ashhad in 40:51 ) signifies here - as its singular shahid obviously does in 50:21 - man's newly-awakened consciousness, which will compel him to bear witness against himself on Judgment Day (cf. 6:130 , 17:14 , 24:24 , 36:65 , 41:20 ff.).

The earth will be shining with the light of her Rabb, the Book of record will be laid open, the Prophets and other witnesses will be brought in, and justice shall be done between people with all fairness: none shall be wronged.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The earth¹ will shine with the light of its Lord, the record 'of deeds' will be laid 'open', the prophets and the witnesses will be brought forward- and judgment will be passed on all with fairness. None will be wronged.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 This refers to the place where the judgment will be held. The Prophet (ﷺ) is reported in a ḥadîth collected by Aṭ-Ṭabarâni to have said, “The Judgment will be passed on an earth where neither blood has been shed nor any sin committed.”

And the earth shineth with the light of her Lord, and the Book is set up, and the Prophets and the witnesses are brought, and it is judged between them with truth, and they are not wronged.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And the Earth will shine with the glory of its Lord: the Record (of Deeds) will be placed (open); the prophets and the witnesses will be brought forward: and a just decision pronounced between them; and they will not be wronged (in the least). ^{4344 4345}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

It will be a new Earth. All traces of injustice or inequality, darkness or evil, will have gone. There will be the one universal Light, the Glory of Allah, which will now illuminate all. Falsehood, pretence, and illusion will have disappeared. Everything will be seen in its true light.

It is in such a scene of Reality that Judgment will be held. Before the Throne of Allah, the book of each man's deeds and motives will be placed wide open, which all may see; the Prophets and Preachers of Truth and the martyrs who gave their lives or made their real sacrifices in the cause of Truth, will be in the Court, to give evidence; and the decision pronounced will be absolutely just, for the Judge will not only be just, but He will know every fact and circumstance, and His wisdom will give due weight to everything, great or small.

for every human being will be repaid in full for whatever [good or evil] he has done:⁷² and He is fully aware of all that they do.

  - Mohammad Asad

Cf. {99:7-8}, "he who shall have done an atom's weight of good, shall behold it; and he who shall have done an atom's weiaht of evil, shall behold it".

Every soul will be paid in full according to its deeds, for He knows fully well as to what they did.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Every soul will be paid in full for its deeds, for Allah knows best what they have done.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And each soul is paid in full for what it did. And He is best aware of what they do.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And to every soul will be paid in full (the fruit) of its deeds; and (Allah) knoweth best all that they do. ⁴³⁴⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

In an earthly court, a decision may possibly go wrong because the judge is deceived; here no deceit or mistake will be possible, for Allah knows all, and knows it better than any one else can.

And those who were bent on denying the truth will be urged on in throngs towards hell till, when they reach it, its gates will be opened, and its keepers will ask them, "Have there not come to you apostles from among yourselves, who conveyed to you your Sustainer's messages and warned you of the coming of this your Day [of Judgment]?" They will answer: "Yea, indeed!" But the sentence of suffering will [already] have fallen due upon the deniers of the truth;⁷³

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., as an ineluctable consequence of their unrepented sinning.

After the Judgement, the Unbelievers will be driven to hell in groups. When they reach there, its gates will be opened and its keepers will say: "Did there not come to you Rasools from among yourselves, who recited to you the revelations of your Rabb and forewarned you about the meeting of this Day?" "Yes," they will answer. But at that time the sentence of punishment would have been already announced against the unbelievers."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in 'successive' groups. When they arrive there, its gates will be opened and its keepers will ask them: 'Did messengers not come to you from among yourselves, reciting to you the revelations of your Lord and warning you of the coming of this Day of yours?' The disbelievers will cry, 'Yes 'indeed'! But the decree of torment has come to pass against the disbelievers.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

And those who disbelieve are driven unto hell in troops till, when they reach it and the gates thereof are opened, and the warders thereof say unto them: Came there not unto you messenger's of your own, reciting unto you the revelations of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this your Day? they say Yea, verily. But the word of doom for disbelievers is fulfilled.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

The Unbelievers will be led to Hell in crowds; until when they arrive there its gates will be opened and its Keepers will say "Did not apostles come to you from among yourselves rehearsing to you the Signs of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" The answer will be: "True: but the Decree of Punishment has been proved true against the Unbelievers!" ^{4347 4348 4349}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Groups: this is the word which gives the key-note to the Sura. If the soul does not stand to its own convictions or search out the Truth by itself, it will be classed with the crowds that go to Perdition!

The Keepers may be supposed to be angels, who know nothing of the conditions of evil on this earth, and are surprised at such crowds coming to the "Evil Abode".

Cf. x. 33. The answer is perhaps given by other angels: 'yes; messengers were sent to them from among themselves, to warn them and proclaim to them Mercy through repentance; but the decree of Allah, which warned them of punishment, has now come true against them, for they rebelled and were haughty; they rejected Truth, Faith, and Mercy!'

[and] they will be told, "Enter the gates of hell, therein to abide!" And how vile an abode for those who were given to false pride !⁷⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

Sc., "and therefore refused to submit to the guidance offered them by God's apostles": cf. {96:6-7} - "man becomes grossly overweening whenever he believes himself to be self-sufficient". See also 16:22 and the corresponding note [IS].

They will be told: "Enter the gates of hell to live therein forever." Evil shall be the abode of the arrogant."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

It will be said to them, 'Enter the gates of Hell, to stay there forever.' What an evil home for the arrogant!

  - Mustafa Khattab

It is said (unto them): Enter ye the gates of hell to dwell therein. Thus hapless is the journey's end of the scorners.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

(To them) will be said: "Enter ye the gates of Hell to dwell therein: and evil is (this) abode of the arrogant!" ⁴³⁵⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

As elsewhere, the root of Evil is pointed out to be in self-love and arrogance. Cf. ii. 34, etc.

But those who were conscious of their Sustainer will be urged on in throngs towards paradise till, when they reach it, they shall find its gates wideopen;⁷⁵ and its keepers will say unto them, "Peace be upon you! Well have you done: enter, then, this [paradise], herein to abide!"

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "and its gates have [or "will have"] been opened", i.e., before their arrival, as indicated by the particle wa (lit., "and"), which in this case denotes precedence in time (Zamakhshari). Cf. in this connection {38}: SO - "gardens of perpetual bliss, with gates wide-open to them".

As for those who fear their Rabb, they shall be led towards paradise in groups. When they reach there, its gates will be opened, and its keepers will say: "Peace be upon you! You have done well, now enter to live therein forever."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And those who were mindful of their Lord will be led to Paradise in 'successive' groups. When they arrive at its 'already' open gates, its keepers will say, 'Peace be upon you! You have done well, so come in, to stay forever.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

And those who keep their duty to their Lord are driven unto the Garden in troops till, when they reach it, and the gates thereof are opened, and the warders thereof say unto them: Peace be unto you! Ye are good, so enter ye (the Garden of delight), to dwell therein;

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And those who feared their Lord will be led to the Garden in crowds: until behold they arrive there; its gates will be opened: and its Keepers will say: "Peace be upon you! Well have ye done! Enter ye here to dwell therein." ^{4351 4352}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The righteous ones will also go in crowds, and not be alone. There is now a true sorting out. Verses 73-75 are parallel in contrast to verses 71-72 above.

The angels in heaven are not surprised at the advent of the good and righteous souls. They are glad; they greet them with the salutation of Peace; they congratulate them; and they welcome them in.

And they will exclaim: "All praise is due to God, who has made His promise to us come true, and has bestowed upon us this expanse [of bliss] as our portion,⁷⁶ so that we may dwell in paradise as we please!" And how excellent a reward will it be for those who laboured [in God's way]!

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "has made us heirs to this land", i.e., of paradise. According to all the classical commentators, the concept of "heritage" is used here metaphorically, to denote the rightful due, or portion, of the blessed. The term ard (lit., "earth" or "land") has also - especially in poetry - the connotation of "anything that is spread" (cf. Lane I, 48): hence my rendering of it, in the above context, as "expanse".

They will say: "Praise be to Allah Who has truly fulfilled His promise and gave us this land to inherit, now we can live in paradise wherever we like." How excellent will be the reward for the righteous?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The righteous will say, 'Praise be to Allah Who has fulfilled His promise to us, and made us inherit the 'everlasting' land¹ to settle in Paradise wherever we please.' How excellent is the reward of those who work 'righteousness'!

  - Mustafa Khattab

 This is emphasized in 21:105. The meaning is that Allah will award Paradise to the believers to be its residents forever. Some commentators say that the word “inherit” is used because of the understanding that when Allah created Paradise and Hell, He made places for all of humanity in both. Those who will go to Paradise will inherit the spots of the disbelievers who chose misguidance (which leads to Hell), and those who will go to Hell will inherit the spots of those who chose guidance (which leads to Paradise).

They say: Praise be to Allah, Who hath fulfilled His promise unto us and hath made us inherit the land, sojourning in the Garden where we will! So bounteous is the wage of workers.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

They will say: "Praise be to Allah Who has truly fulfilled His promise to us and has given us (this) land in heritage: we can dwell in the Garden as we will: how excellent a reward for those who work (righteousness)!" ^{4353 4354}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This is said by the new arrivals in heaven. As is right, they begin with the Praises of Allah, which shows at once their satisfaction and their gratitude.

In heritage: i.e. as our Portion. Cf. iii. 180, and n. 485; vi. 165, and n. 988. There is no question here of their passing on any property to heirs. They are the final possessors of Heaven for eternity, by the grace of Allah.

And thou wilt see the angels surrounding the throne of [God's] almightiness,⁷⁷ extolling their Sustainer's glory and praise. And judgment will have been passed in justice on all [who had lived and died], and the word will be spoken:⁷⁸ "All praise is due to God, the Sustainer of All the worlds!"

  - Mohammad Asad

Whenever the term al-'arsh ("the throne [of God]") occurs in the Qur'an, it is used as a metaphor for His absolute dominion over all that exists: hence my rendering, "the throne of [God's] almightiness". (See also 7:54 and the corresponding note [43].) The mention of the "angels surrounding" it has, obviously, a metaphorical meaning: see note [4] on 40:7 .

Lit., "it will he said".

You will see the angels surrounding the Divine Throne, glorifying their Rabb with His praises. The judgement between the people will be made with perfect justice, and it will be proclaimed: "Praise be to Allah the Rabb of the worlds!"

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

You will see the angels all around the Throne, glorifying the praises of their Lord, for judgment will have been passed on all with fairness. And it will be said,¹ 'Praise be to Allah- Lord of all worlds!'

  - Mustafa Khattab

 The believers will praise Him for His grace, and the disbelievers will praise Him for His justice.

And thou (O Muhammad) seest the angels thronging round the Throne, hymning the praises of their Lord. And they are judged aright. And it is said: Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And thou wilt see the angels surrounding the Throne (Divine) on all sides singing Glory and Praise to their Lord. The Decision between them (at Judgment) will be in (perfect) justice. And the cry (on all sides) will be "Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds!" ⁴³⁵⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

These are the opening words of the first Sura, and they describe the atmosphere of the final Bliss in Heaven, in the light of the Countenance of their Lord, the Lord of all!