Surah Az Zumar in English Translation with Explain

Surah Az-Zumar (Arabic: الزمر) is the 39th chapter of the Qur'an, consisting of 75 verses. It is a Meccan surah that emphasizes the themes of divine unity (Tawhid), the consequences of disbelief, the truth of the message brought by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and the fate of the believers and disbelievers in the Hereafter. The surah also speaks about the mercy and justice of Allah and highlights the importance of repentance and submission to Him.

General Themes of Surah Az-Zumar:

The Oneness of Allah (Tawhid): The surah emphasizes the worship of Allah alone and rejects the notion of associating partners with Him.
The Truth of the Qur'an: The surah asserts the Qur'an as the revealed truth and warns against ignoring or rejecting it.
The Reward and Punishment of the Afterlife: The surah describes the rewards awaiting the righteous in Paradise and the severe punishment awaiting the disbelievers in Hell.
Repentance and Forgiveness: The surah highlights the importance of sincere repentance and turning back to Allah for forgiveness.
The Role of the Prophets: The surah refers to the role of the Prophets in guiding people to the truth and serving as examples of patience, trust, and devotion to Allah.

English Translation and Explanation of Key Verses:

1. Verse 1:

"The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise." The surah begins by emphasizing that the Qur'an is a divine revelation sent down by Allah, who is All-Mighty and All-Wise. It affirms that the Qur'an is not a human invention but a message from the Creator.

2. Verse 3:

"Is it not for Allah that sincere religion is due? And those who take protectors other than Him (say), 'We worship them only that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position.' But indeed, Allah will judge between them concerning that in which they differ. Indeed, Allah does not guide him who is a liar and a disbeliever." This verse condemns the practice of associating partners with Allah, where people worship idols or other beings with the hope of gaining proximity to Allah. It stresses that sincere worship belongs solely to Allah, and He will judge those who dispute this.

3. Verse 7:

"If you disbelieve – indeed, Allah is free from need of you; but He does not like disbelief for His servants. And if you are grateful, He is pleased with you; and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another." This verse conveys that Allah does not need the worship of His creation. If people are ungrateful or reject faith, it does not diminish Allah's greatness. However, Allah is pleased with those who are grateful and worship Him. The verse also highlights the principle of individual responsibility: no one will bear the sins of another.

4. Verse 8:

"And when adversity touches a man, he calls upon his Lord, turning to Him in repentance. Then, when We bestow on him a favor from Us, he forgets what he had called upon Us before and makes for Allah equals." This verse describes how humans often turn to Allah in times of difficulty and hardship, but once they receive relief and blessings, they forget Allah and start associating partners with Him. It warns against such ingratitude and inconsistency in faith.

5. Verse 9:

"Is one who is devoutly obedient during the night, prostrating and standing, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, like one who does not?" This verse highlights the difference between the righteous and the disbelievers or heedless. The righteous devote themselves to worshiping Allah, especially at night, in fear of the Hereafter and in hope for His mercy. It emphasizes the importance of sincere worship and piety.

6. Verse 11-12:

"Say, 'Indeed, I have been commanded to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion. And I have been commanded to be the first among the Muslims.' " Here, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is commanded to worship Allah sincerely and to be the first to submit to Him in obedience. This is a call for all believers to follow the path of sincerity in their worship.

7. Verse 13-14:

"Say, 'Indeed, I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day.' Say, 'Allah alone do I worship, sincere to Him in my religion.'" In these verses, the Prophet (PBUH) reaffirms his commitment to sincere worship of Allah, emphasizing the fear of His punishment on the Day of Judgment for any disobedience.

8. Verse 17:

"And those who avoid the worship of false gods and turn to Allah in repentance, for them are good tidings. So give good tidings to My servants." This verse reassures those who avoid shirk (associating partners with Allah) and turn to Him in repentance. Allah promises them good tidings of His mercy and reward. This encourages believers to avoid idol worship and seek Allah’s forgiveness.

9. Verse 18:

"Who listen to the speech and follow the best of it. Those are the ones whom Allah has guided, and those are the people of understanding." This verse praises those who listen to the truth with an open heart and follow it. These are the people who have been guided by Allah and possess wisdom and understanding. It highlights the importance of listening to divine guidance and acting upon it.

10. Verse 20:

"But for those who fear their Lord, for them are chambers, above them chambers built, with rivers flowing beneath them. [This is] the promise of Allah. Allah does not fail in His promise." This verse speaks about the rewards of the righteous in Paradise. Those who fear Allah and live righteously will be rewarded with lofty chambers in Paradise, with rivers flowing beneath them. Allah’s promises are always fulfilled.

11. Verse 22:

"So is one whose breast Allah has expanded to Islam, so that he follows a light from his Lord, [like] one who is hardened in heart? Woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allah. Those are in clear error." This verse contrasts those whose hearts are open to the light of Islam and divine guidance with those whose hearts are hardened. The hardened hearts are a result of their rejection of Allah's remembrance, and they are in clear misguidance.

12. Verse 32:

"So who is more unjust than one who lies about Allah and denies the truth when it has come to him? Is there not in Hell a residence for the disbelievers?" This verse highlights the grave injustice of lying about Allah and rejecting His truth when it is presented. It warns that such individuals will face severe punishment in Hell.

13. Verse 33-34:

"And the one who brings the truth and believes in it – those are the righteous. They will have whatever they desire with their Lord. That is the reward of the doers of good." This verse explains that those who bring the truth (the Prophets) and those who believe in it will be rewarded by Allah. They will receive whatever they desire from Allah as a reward for their faith and good deeds.

14. Verse 35:

"So that He may forgive you of your sins and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow, and a good place of residence – that is the great attainment." The verse outlines the ultimate reward for the believers: forgiveness of sins, admission into Paradise, and eternal bliss. This is the great achievement and the goal of the righteous.

15. Verse 36-37:

"And whoever is given his record in his right hand – those will be the successful ones. But those who are given their record behind their back, those are the ones who will be in Hellfire." These verses describe the two groups of people on the Day of Judgment: the successful ones who will be given their record in their right hand (a symbol of success), and the doomed ones who will receive their record behind their backs, leading to their punishment in Hell.

16. Verse 53-54:

"Say, 'O My servants who have harmed yourselves by your own hands, do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'" One of the most powerful verses in the surah, it addresses those who have committed sins, urging them not to despair of Allah’s mercy. Allah forgives all sins for those who repent sincerely, and His mercy is vast.

17. Verse 70-71:

"And those who have disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates will be opened, and its keepers will say, 'Did there not come to you messengers from among yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day?'" This verse describes the scene of the disbelievers being led to Hell, where they will be confronted with the fact that they were warned about the consequences of their disbelief. They will regret their rejection of the truth.

18. Verse 73-74:

"And those who feared their Lord will be driven to Paradise in groups, until, when they reach it and its gates are opened, and its keepers say, 'Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured.'" In contrast to the disbelievers, the believers will be led to Paradise, where they will be greeted with peace for their patience and perseverance in following the path of Allah.

19. Verse 75:

"And they will say, 'Praise to Allah, who has fulfilled for us His promise and made us inherit the earth, so we may settle in Paradise wherever we will.'"

The believers will express their gratitude to Allah for fulfilling His promise, granting them eternal life in Paradise as their inheritance, and allowing them to enjoy its blessings.

Key Lessons from Surah Az-Zumar:

Tawhid (Oneness of Allah): The surah emphasizes that all worship must be directed to Allah alone, and He is the only One worthy of worship. All forms of shirk (associating partners with Allah) are condemned.
Repentance and Forgiveness: Allah is merciful and forgiving. Those who turn to Him in sincere repentance, no matter the gravity of their sins, will find His forgiveness.
Individual Responsibility: Each person is responsible for their own actions, and no one will bear the burden of another's sins.
The Afterlife: The surah provides a vivid contrast between the reward of the righteous in Paradise and the punishment of the disbelievers in Hell, urging believers to strive for the former.
Importance of Gratitude: Allah is pleased with those who are grateful for His blessings and worship Him with sincerity.

Conclusion:

Surah Az-Zumar emphasizes the importance of worshiping Allah alone, repenting for one's sins, and seeking His mercy. It reassures the believers of the great reward awaiting them in Paradise, while warning the disbelievers of the consequences of their rejection of the truth. The surah serves as a reminder to remain steadfast in faith, trust in Allah’s justice, and never despair of His forgiveness.

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