A Parable in Al Qur’an depicting Tug of War between Shirk and Tawḥīd

The tug of war between the evil and the good continues since time immemorial. The Satanic forces are always trying to pull man from going toward good or the righteous path. But despite all its force and strength, the evil is bound to fall for there is no replacement of the truth.

At many a places in Qur'an, the last of the four Divine scriptures,  man has been cautioned not to follow the footsteps of the evil and any deviatory tactics of the Satan and continue to follow the path shown by none other than the sole Lord of the world, who is free from any associates and relations. The push and pull between the shirk and the Tawhid has been mentioned many a times in Al Qur'an - of one of these we share today which is mentioned as a parable in the 29th verse of Surah 39 Az Zumar

ضَرَبَ اللّٰهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلًا فِيۡهِ شُرَكَآءُ مُتَشٰكِسُوۡنَ وَرَجُلًا سَلَمًا لِّرَجُلٍ ؕ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوِيٰنِ مَثَلًا ​ؕ اَلۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰهِ ​ ۚ بَلۡ اَكۡثَرُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُوۡنَ‏ 

(39:29) Allah propounds a parable: there is a man whose ownership is shared by several quarrelsome masters, each pulling him to himself; and there is another who is exclusively owned by one man. Can the two be alike? All praise and thanks be to Allah. But most of them are unaware.

This verse is a powerful parable (mathal) that explains tawḥīd (oneness of Allah) in the clearest human terms. It appeals not to theology alone, but to common sense and lived experience.

Context within Surah Az-Zumar

The essence of Surah Az-Zumar is Pure devotion (ikhlāṣ) and Rejection of shirk (associating partners with Allah) In fact the Surah clarifies the belief in One True God intellectually since “Most of them do not believe in Allah except while associating others with Him.” (39:38). Thus verse 39:29 explains why shirk is irrational and oppressive.

The Parable Explained

A detailed explanation of this parable by one of the leading Muslim scholar and exegete can be read from our post: Surah Az Zumar - The Companies: Exegesis / Tafsir of 39th Chapter of the Holy Qur'an

Herein under, we explain each segment of the verse in brief for ease of understanding.

• “A man owned by several quarrelling masters…”
• Imagine the plight of man who worships many gods, thus following conflicting ideologies and trying to please different authorities. When there so many pulls over a man, he is bound to live restlessly under contradictory commands.
• Such a situation and orientation is bound to result in utter confusion, anxiety, constant tension of pleasing whom or whom not, and living a destabilized life.
• This is the psychological state of shirk.
• “And another man owned wholly by one master…”
• This the true believer devoted to Allah alone which means one clear authority, ne moral compass and one ultimate purpose.
• Such an approach and faith leads clarity, inner peace, well defined direction and harmonized approach to life.
• This is the psychological and spiritual state of Tawḥīd.
• “Are they equal in comparison?”
• This is a rhetorical question, and the answer is obvious for no rational person would say they are equal.
• The Qur’an argues Tawḥīd through reason, not compulsion.
• With the clear direction and one Master to turn to, man finds peace of mind and heart and is sure to be blessed for One True God never abandons those who trust and worship Him.

Explanation of the parable by Ibn Kathir

The 14th century Muslim scholar and exegete of Al Qur'an interprets this verse as a powerful analogy demonstrating the logical absurdity of polytheism and the inherent superiority and rationality of pure monotheism (Tawhid). The Key Points of Ibn Kathir on interpretation of the parable are as under:

• Unequal Comparison: The verse emphasizes that these two individuals are not equal; the idolater, bound by conflicting loyalties, cannot be compared to the focused, unified believer.
• Universal Truth: The parable serves as a clear, rational proof (hujjah) for the Oneness of Allah (Tawhid) and the falsehood of polytheism, a truth accessible to human reason.
• Human Ignorance: Despite the obviousness of this comparison, "most of them do not know" (bl) means most people remain heedless and fail to understand this fundamental distinction, leading them to associate partners with Allah.
• Allah's Proof: The verse concludes with "Praise be to Allah!" (Alhamdulillah) for establishing such a clear proof against those who commit shirk (polytheism). 

Why this parable is so effective

The parable points towards clarity rather than confusion - responsibility rather than indecisiveness to please who. This parable, thus:

• Speaks to human experience: For everyone understands the Workplace conflicts, Conflicting bosses, and Multiple pressures.  Through the concept of Tawhid, Allah uses everyday logic to explain faith.
• Exposes shirk as oppression:
• For Shirk is not just a “belief error” — it is: Mental slavery, Emotional exhaustion, Moral chaos
• Whereas Tawḥīd is: Liberation from multiple masters, Stability in approach, and Dignity in worshipping One True God without any associates.

* Read more about Shirk and Tawhid from our reference pages:

• Understanding Shirk - Grave sin of Associating Partners with Allah (Reference Page)
• One of the most comprehensive verses of the Quran on doctrine of Tawhid

Connection with other Qur’anic verses

Herein under are some supporting verses from AL Qur'an based on the same theme of the parable mentioned above:

• 12:39: “Are many lords better, or Allah, the One, the Overwhelming?”
• 21:22: “Had there been gods besides Allah, the heavens and the earth would have been corrupted.”
• 16:75: Allah sets forth a parable: There is one who is a slave and is owned by another and has no power over anything; and there is one whom We have granted good provision Ourselves, of which he spends both secretly and openly. Can they be equal? All praise be to Allah. But most of them do not even know (this simple fact)

All verses mentioned above reinforce the same rational argument.

Practical relevance today

This verse applies beyond idol worship:

• Modern “masters” include: Wealth, Status, Ideology, People’s approval, Ego, and Social pressures. Thus Serving many “masters” leads to: Stress, Burnout, Identity crisis, 
• Serving One Lord leads to: Inner peace, Moral clarity and directed approach tom life and clarity of Purpose.

Why the verse ends with praise of Allah (“All praise is for Allah, but most of them do not know.”)

It is because: The truth is clear, The argument is simple and that Rejection comes from ignorance or arrogance, not lack of evidence

In nutshell, Surah 39:29 teaches that worshipping many authorities leads to confusion and bondage, while devotion to one Lord brings clarity, peace, and true freedom. Let us then steer our lives and set our course clear to one well defined path as shown to us by Al Qur'an. Let no diversionary forces force us to deviate from the true enlightened path that lead us to realizing that there is no god but God and to Him we will return one day. If we make our choice well, we will be among the most blessed on the Dya of Judgement, In Sha Allah.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may refer to more Selected Verses from Sürah 39. Az-Zumar (The Throngs) already published. You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Understanding Tawḥīd in Islam - The Oneness of God to understand the concept in detail.

You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For verses on Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Google | ChatGPT

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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A verse from Al Qur’an that gives out the Mission Statement of Islam

This world and the entire universe was created by the Lord of the worlds for nothing else except to reflect on the purpose of His creations and to worship none other than He, for no one can ever fathom the Divine wisdom nor can be thankful to Him. This has been the sole purpose of Divine Scriptures that were revealed to the selected prophets so than mankind know how to be thankful to Him by worshipping none other than He.

Like other Divine Scriptures (that is Psalms, Torah and the Gospel), the core theme of AL Qur'an is exactly the same: Serving only Allah, consecrating our devotion to Him. Although, this message is repeated time and again throughout Al Qur'an, we share today the 2nd verse of Surah Az-Zumar (39:2) which gives out the exact mission statement of Islam, given herein under along with its explanation:

اِنَّاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنَاۤ اِلَيۡكَ الۡكِتٰبَ بِالۡحَقِّ فَاعۡبُدِ اللّٰهَ مُخۡلِصًا لَّهُ الدِّيۡنَ ؕ‏ 

(39:2) (O Prophet), it is We Who have revealed this Book to you with Truth. So serve only Allah, consecrating your devotion to Him.

This verse is foundational. It states why the Qur’an was revealed, how Allah must be worshipped, and what separates true faith from false religion. Let us reflect on the wisdom of revelation of this exclusive verse. Please read the following explanation of the verse in conjunction with the scholarly explanation already given in the Exegesis of the surah.

Why this verse is so important

Surah 39:2 combines three core pillars of Islam in one sentence: (1) The Qur’an is from Allah, (2) It is revealed with absolute truth, and (3) Its purpose is sincere worship (ikhlāṣ) of Allah alone

In other words, the revelation of Al Qur'an is to let the mankind know what is the Truth and how Allah is to be thanked by worshipping Him alone without any associates in utmost sincerity. This verse thus reflects the mission statement of Islam.

Context of revelation (Makkan background)

This verse was revealed in Makkah, when: Idol worship was dominant, Quraysh (The dominant tribe of polytheists) claimed they worshipped idols only as intermediaries, and the Religion had become ritual without sincerity. Therefore this verse is a response by Allah be declaring: (1) The Qur’an is truth, not mythology, (2) Worship must be direct, not mediated, and (3) Sincerity is non-negotiable.

In fact this verse sets the tone for the entire surah.

Key concept: Ikhlāṣ (sincerity)

Meaning of  مُخۡلِصًا لَّهُ الدِّيۡنَ ؕ “mukhlisan lahu ad-dīn” at the end of the above quoted verse means: (1) Pure devotion, (2) Undiluted worship meaning by No partners, no show, no intermediaries. This is not just about who is worshipped, but why and how.

Qur’anic cross-references (context from other verses)

As mentioned above, the theme of this verse reverberates throughout Al Qur'an to continuously remind the mankind to worship Allah alone, none other at all except Him. Herein under are some verses which also explain the quoted verse above:

• Purpose of revelation: “This Qur’an has been revealed to me that I may warn you and whomsoever it reaches.” (6:19) - that is the Qur’an is guidance, not philosophy.
• Sincerity as the core of worship: “They were commanded only to worship Allah, making the religion sincere for Him.” (98:5). This shows 39:2 is not isolated; it repeats a universal command.
• Rejection of intermediaries: 
• Islam strictly prohibits worshipping any deity except one true God and that all sincere devotion is to Him alone. 
• “Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion is due?” (39:3 – immediately following verse 2)
• This shows verse 2 is directly aimed at refuting shirk.
• Read explanation of verse three already published: Utter losers worship others than Allah with lame excuse of being closer to Allah
• Prophetic mission summarized: “Say: Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah alone.” (6:162) -  Same message as in 39:2, though different words but expressing total sincerity in devotion to Allah alone.

Hadith support (very important)

In addition to Al Qur'an, there are many a Hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ  which augment the theme of the above quoted verse. Here are some:

• Foundational Hadith: 
• The Prophet ﷺ said, “Actions are judged only by intentions.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim). This hadith is the practical explanation of 39:2.
• This means that without ikhlāṣ: Worship becomes habit, Religion becomes culture and Deeds lose value.
• Allah rejects insincere worship
• The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah says: “I am most free of need of partners. Whoever does an action associating others with Me, I leave him and his shirk.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
• This is exactly what 39:2 warns against.

Why verse 39:2 comes before laws and rulings

Let us dwell on this aspect because before rules are set into force, one must have a clear vision of one's goal: Worship of Allah alone.

• Therefore, Islam does not begin with: Rules, Punishments and Social systems
• Instead, Islam begins with  Correct belief with sincere intention, because: Without sincerity, obedience is hollow, and without truth, religion becomes misguidance.
• This is why tawḥīd and ikhlāṣ always come first in Makkan surahs.

Practical relevance today

In an age of ritual without meaning, the verse 39:2 reminds us:

• Prayer without sincerity is empty
• Charity for show is rejected
• Knowledge for status is dangerous

In an age of “many paths to God” the verse clarifies that (1) Truth is not plural, (2) Worship is not negotiable and (3) Allah does not accept mixed devotion.

Therefore, for personal self-accountability, every believer must ask: (1) Why do I pray?, (2) Who am I really pleasing? and (3) Is my religion for Allah or for people?

Thus, Surah 39:2 establishes that the Qur’an is revealed to produce sincere, exclusive devotion to Allah, and any religion without ikhlāṣ is invalid—no matter how impressive its outward form.

Therefore, Surah 39:2 is not just a verse to be recited — it is a mirror that tests the purity of our faith. It also teaches us to reflect on each and every verse of Al Qur'an in order to keep our direction straight on Siraat e Mustaqeem and not be disoriented and follow false gods.

You may refer to more Selected Verses from Sürah 39. Az-Zumar (The Throngs) already published.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For verses on Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. .

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

Al Qur'an: Selected verses from Sürah 39. Az Zumar (The Throngs)

Every surah of Al Qur'an is unique in its substance addressing the core issues related to Islam. We have already shared the exegesis of all surahs of Al Qur'an and selected verses from some of the surahs. This post today is about selected verses from the Surah Az Zumar, the 39th surah / chapter of Al Qur'an.

Sürah Az-Zumar (Arabic: الزمر, meaning: "The Throngs") contains 75 verses (ayat), part of the Juzʼ 23 to 24. This surah derives its name from the Arabic word zumar (groups) that occurs in verses 71 and 73.

 .....وَسِيۡقَ الَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡۤا اِلٰى جَهَنَّمَ زُمَرًا​ ؕ 

(After the judgement has been passed) the unbelievers shall be driven in companies to Hell.....

We have already shared the Tafseer / Exegesis of Sürah 39.  Al Zumar (The Throngs) which can be read from links  | Exegesis / Tafseer |

Herein under we will only present a condensed overview of the entire Sūrah, for the scope of this post is to only to introduce the Sūrah and provide links to some of the selected verses from this Sūrah for selective reading / references. The following bird eye view includes the context, major themes and subjects and lessons that we can learn from this Sūrah, followed by references to  some of the selected verses already published.

Context of Revelation (Asbāb an-Nuzūl – General)

The surah is believed to have been revealed in the mid-Meccan period, possibly before the migration of a group of Muslims to Habash to avert the chances of persecution from the non believers of Makkah. It is a call to pure monotheism, sincere devotion, and moral clarity. It confronts shirk, comforts the believer, opens the door of repentance, exposes the illusion of worldly life, and ends with a decisive image of humanity divided into groups based on their response to Allah. It remains deeply relevant today as a guide for faith, hope, and accountability in a confused and material-driven world.

The Surah was revealed at a time when: (1) The Makkan opposition to the Prophet ﷺ had intensified, (2) Muslims were few, weak, and under pressure, 

This was the time when the Polytheists justified shirk through: (1) Intercession myths, (2) Ancestral tradition, and (3) Claims of nearness to God through idols

Therefore, under such hostile environment this surah was revealed to: (1) Purify Tawḥīd (absolute monotheism), (2) Expose the false logic of shirk, (3) Comfort the Prophet ﷺ and believers, (4) Offer hope to sinners while warning arrogant rejecters. Thus this surah of clarity, sincerity, and decisive outcomes.

Core Theme of Surah Az-Zumar

1. Central Theme: 

• Pure devotion (ikhlāṣ) to Allah alone, and the ultimate division of humanity based on that devotion. 
• Everything in the surah revolves around:
• Who Allah is
• How He must be worshipped
• What happens to people who accept or reject that truth

2.    Major Themes Explained

• Pure Tawḥīd & Ikhlāṣ: (1) Allah alone deserves worship — without intermediaries. (2) “Unquestionably, for Allah is the pure religion.” (39:3) - Shirk is shown as: Illogical, Unjust and Spiritually corrupt.
• False Intercession Exposed - Pagans claimed idols would bring them closer to Allah. as a rebuttal Allah responds: “They worship besides Allah that which neither harms nor benefits them…” (39:3). This emphasises the plain truth that Nearness to Allah comes through obedience, not symbols.
• The Qur’an as a Living Guide: The Qur’an is described as: (1) Consistent, (2) Repetitive in wisdom and (3) Spiritually transformative - “Allah has sent down the best of speech…” (39:23)
• Hope After Sin (One of the Most Merciful Passages) - No one is beyond forgiveness: “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah.” (39:53) - This verse alone has brought countless people back to Islam.
• Life’s Impermanence: The world is temporary and deceptive. The 21st verse is sent down specially for the men who reflect: “Do you not see that Allah sends down rain…” (39:21). This verse explains Human life is compared to vegetation that flourishes and fades.
• Ultimate Judgment: Groups Divided: The surah ends with a vivid scene: Disbelievers driven to Hell in groups and that Believers welcomed to Paradise in groups “And those who feared their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups…” (39:73) - This gives the surah its name.

Relevance & Application Today

• In an age of confusion Surah Az-Zumar restores clarity of belief. It emphasises that Worship is not: Cultural, Symbolic or Inherited - It is conscious devotion to Allah alone.
• In an age of despair:, the surah revives hope. That is no matter how broken a person feels, repentance is open.
• In a materialistic world the surah reminds us that Life is short, and every success fades with passage of time and that accountability is real and no one will escape it.
• In moral relativism the surah draws clear lines between: (1) Truth and falsehood, (2) Sincerity and hypocrisy, and (3) Salvation and loss

Some of the Most Important Verses

• 39:2 Sincerity in worship
• 39:3 Refutation of shirk
• 39:9 Are those who know equal to those who don’t?
• 39:21 Parable of worldly life
• 39:23 Description of the Qur’an
• 39:36 Allah is sufficient
• 39:42 Sleep and death
• 39:53 Door of repentance
• 39:71–73 Groups to Hell and Paradise

Now let us share herein some of the selected ayat / verses from this surah already shared:

• Verse 2: Sincerity in worship A verse from Al Qur’an that gives out the Mission Statement of Islam
• Verse 3: Refutation of shirk Utter losers worship others than Allah with lame excuse of being closer to Allah
• Verse 18: Allah guides those who pay heed to what is said and follow the best of it
• Verse 21: Parable of worldly life A deeply reflective verse of Al Qur’an that teaches man the entire cycle of human life
• Verse 29: Parable of Two men A Parable in Al Qur’an depicting Tug of War between Shirk and Tawḥīd
• Verse 39: Reward beyond all reckoning for those who Fear Allah and Persevere
• Verse 53: Door of repentance
• Don't let the Satan win
• The Divine Call to repent before the Punishment comes
• The Verse of Mercy: Those who have committed excesses should not despair of Allah's Mercy - Surely Allah forgives all sins
• Verse 54: Surrender yourselves to your Lord before the chastisement over-takes you

In time we will share more selected verses from Sürah 39. Az Zumar, In sha Allah

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For more Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. .

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo Pixabay

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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A deeply reflective verse of Al Qur’an that teaches man the entire cycle of human life

Al Qur'an is book of Divine Wisdom which uses many a approach to show to the man what life really is and how men of wisdom can interpret verses of Qur'an through deep reflection. While many verses are straight and easy to understand, some verses use natural imagery to deliver a single, powerful worldview about life (dunyā). One such verse is 21st verse of Surah 39 Az-Zumar which is a deeply reflective verse that combines observable nature, divine control, and moral guidance. Its wisdom lies not merely in describing a natural process, but in teaching how to think about life, time, power, and the Hereafter.

اَلَمۡ تَرَ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ اَنۡزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَلَـكَهٗ يَنَابِيۡعَ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ ثُمَّ يُخۡرِجُ بِهٖ زَرۡعًا مُّخۡتَلِفًا اَ لۡوَانُهٗ ثُمَّ يَهِيۡجُ فَتَـرٰٮهُ مُصۡفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَجۡعَلُهٗ حُطَامًا​ ؕ اِنَّ فِىۡ ذٰ لِكَ لَذِكۡرٰى لِاُولِى الۡاَلۡبَابِ

(39:21) Do you not see that Allah sent down water from the sky, then made it flow on earth as springs and streams and rivers and then with it He brings forth vegetation of various hues; then this vegetation ripens and dries up, turning yellow, where after He reduces it to broken straw? Surely there is a lesson in this for those endowed with understanding.

Understanding of the verse by the Ordinaries

For most of the readers of AL Qur'an, this verse just describes a natural phenomenon. Allah in ths verses describes a natural process wherein the rain descends from the clouds, Water flows and settles in the earth, vegetation grows in different colors and the plants mature. Then a time comes when there is no rain and the vegetation dries up and turns yellow and finally crumbles into straw.

Then Allah concludes: “Surely in this is a reminder for those endowed with understanding.”

Understanding of the verse by those endowed with wisdom and understanding

The men of wisdom correlate this verse with various phases plant life with that of man's life cycle: (1) Rain means birth of a child, the growth of plants to the developing youth and turning into a man's prime age when he is contributing and reflecting. Then slowly and gradually man enters into his old age just like yellowing of the plants and then like lifeless straw, a man too dies and the life cycle ends.

Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, One of the eminent scholars and exegetes of Al Qur'an explains the core idea behind this verse as under:

"A man of understanding learns this lesson from it that the life of this world and its adornments are all transitory: the end of every spring is autumn; the fate of every youth is weakness and death; and every rise has a fall. Therefore, this world is not something of which one should be charmed and enamored so as to forget God and the Hereafter and should conduct himself here in a manner as to nun his Hereafter, only for the sake of enjoying the short lived pleasures of this world. Then a man of understanding also learns this lesson from these phenomena that the spring and autumn of this world are only under Allah's control: Allah allows to grow and prosper whomever He wills and ruins and lays waste whomever He wills. Neither it is in anybody's power to stop the growth of someone whom Allah wills to grow, nor has anyone the power to save him from destruction whom Allah wills to destroy.

The 14th century Muslim scholar Ibn Kathir explains that:

• The natural phenomenon described is not random but a deliberate sign from Allah, designed to lead people to recognize their Creator and the ultimate reality beyond the physical world. 
• The verse serves as a parable for the life of this world, which begins with life and ends in decay, urging people to heed the divine message.  

Wisdom behind the verse - Layer by Layer

• 1️⃣ Allah as the Absolute Controller
• “Allah sent down water from the sky…” That is the verse begins by attributing the entire process directly to Allah, not to chance or nature acting independently.
• Wisdom: Man learns that the rain is beyond human control - which means that human planning is useless without divine permission. This cultivates humility, not arrogance 
• ➡️ Lesson: Human power is limited; divine power is absolute.
• 2️⃣ Hidden Provision and Divine Planning
• “…then made it flow on earth as springs…” - That is water does not just fall and disappear as it penetrates the ground and stored invisibly. Then it re-emerges as springs, streams, and rivers
• Wisdom: Allah provides sustenance in unseen ways - What disappears from sight is not lost and that delay does not mean denial
• ➡️ Lesson: Trust Allah even when provision is unseen.
• 3️⃣ Diversity within Unity
• “…vegetation of various hues…” That is rain is alike all over where it falls, yet it produces multicoloured hues, different taste and benefits.
• Wisdom: Unity of source, diversity of outcomes - describing the Evidence of divine design, not randomness
• ➡️ Lesson: Differences among people and creations are intentional and meaningful.
• 4️⃣ Peak Does Not Mean Permanence
• “…then it ripens…” that is the vegetation reaches: Full beauty and maximum usefulness , yet the stage is brief and temporary.
• Wisdom: Every worldly success has a peak -but youth, power, wealth are temporary and do not last forever.
• ➡️ Lesson: Do not be deceived by temporary perfection.
• 5️⃣ Inevitable Decline
• “…then you see it turn yellow…” Which means no force stops aging and plants weaken, the once vibrant and fresh hues start to fade and lose strength.
• Wisdom: Decline is part of divine law for nothing created is permanent and has to decay and die ultimately.
• ➡️ Lesson: This world is not a place of eternity.
• 6️⃣ Complete Dissolution
• “…then He makes it broken straw…” That is what once was nourished, beautified and sustained life, becomes worthless debris.
• Wisdom: Material value is temporary and that pride in worldly status is foolish
• ➡️ Lesson: Attachment to dunya leads to loss. Those who live for this world alone with disregard to the life of the Hereafter will be the ultimate losers.

The Central Message

This verse is a parable of human life: Just as plants do not remain, neither do humans.

• Why Allah Ends with “People of Understanding” because everyone sees plants grow and die - yet not everyone reflects. 
• True intelligence in the Qur’an is not IQ, Knowledge or Science. It is reflection that leads to humility and obedience.

Practical Lessons for Today

Since this life is temporary and is a testing ground for man to reflect upon purpose of one's creation. Therefore one should:

• Never be arrogant in success or boast about it for nothing is permanent.
• Never despair in decline for it is a natural phenomena and no matter how much a man may try, the decline is bound to happen.
• Use prosperity before it fades
• Prepare for the Hereafter while time remains
• Read nature as a sign, not just a resource

Surah 39:21 teaches that just as vegetation rises, flourishes, and fades by Allah’s will, so too does human life — and only those who reflect prepare for what comes after the harvest.

You may refer to more Selected Verses from Sürah 39. Az-Zumar (The Throngs) already published.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

For more Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. .

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

Utter losers worship others than Allah with lame excuse of being closer to Allah

Faith defines clear lines and directions of worship and devotion. That is it gives the clear direction that leads to  Allah, the One and Only One Creator of the entire universe, and the Ultimate Truth. Despite clear instructions in Qur'an to worship Allah alone and not to take humans as His associates or to find in them a way to reach Allah, for Allah is nearer to one's jugular vein and is always listening to those calling upon him.

It is utterly disturbing to see that a large section of believers, specially in some Asian countries, are misled by the pseudo religious scholars and imams not to approach Allah directly and tell them to find those who know Qur'an better to "route through them their grievances" to Allah for Allah listens to the pious and knowledgeable. This utterly tangent to the teachings of Qur'an and falls into the realm of Shirk. In fact this is what the disbelievers of Makkah did in the formatting days of Islam and would tell Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

We share today the third verse of Surah Az-Zumar which warns the disbelievers and everyone who takes protectors beside Allah with the lame excuse of getting close to Allah. This verse reinforces the importance of exclusive devotion to Allah and warns against associating partners with Him or relying on intermediaries for spiritual closeness. It serves as a reminder that only Allah has the authority to accept or reject worship and that He will decisively address any deviations from the true path.

Surah Az-Zumar (The Troops) is the 39th chapter of the Quran. Verse 3 of this surah reads:

أَلَا لِلَّهِ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْخَالِصُ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ زُلْفَىٰٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِى مَا هُمْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى مَنْ هُوَ كَـٰذِبٌۭ كَفَّارٌۭ

Indeed, sincere devotion is due ˹only˺ to Allah. As for those who take take protectors besides Allah, ˹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.

In this verse, several important concepts are highlighted:

• Pure Monotheism: The verse emphasizes that worship should be dedicated solely to Allah, the One God. It stresses that true devotion and religious practice should be centered on the exclusive worship of Allah.
• False Intermediaries: The verse criticizes those who worship other deities or take protectors (such as idols or other beings) besides Allah. These people believe that these intermediaries will help them get closer to Allah, which is a misunderstanding of the concept of monotheism.
• Divine Judgment: The verse assures that Allah will ultimately judge between those who adhere to pure monotheism and those who deviate by worshiping intermediaries. This judgment will clarify the truth and address any discrepancies in religious practices.

As explained above, this verse highlights key themes of monotheism and the exclusive worship of Allah, and these themes are echoed throughout the Quran. Here’s a deeper look at this verse with references to similar verses:

Key Themes and Similar Verses in Qur'an

• Exclusive Worship of Allah: 
• Surah Al-Baqarah 2:163:
• "And your God is one God. There is no deity except Him, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate."
• This verse affirms the oneness of God and emphasizes that He alone deserves worship, aligning with the notion of pure monotheism in Surah Az-Zumar.
• Surah Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4:
• "Say, 'He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.'" 
• This surah reinforces the concept of Allah's unique oneness and His exclusivity in being worshiped.
• Rejection of Intermediaries
• Surah Al-Ankabut 29:17:
• "You worship instead of Allah only idols, and you only invent falsehood. Indeed, those whom you worship instead of Allah have no power to provide for you. So seek from Allah provision and worship Him and be grateful to Him. To Him you will be returned."
• This verse condemns the worship of idols and emphasizes that only Allah has the power to provide and deserves worship.
• Surah Al-Zumar 39:7: 
• "If you disbelieve – indeed, Allah is Free from need of you. He does not approve for His servants disbelief. And if you are grateful, He approves it for you. No bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that in which you used to differ." 
• This verse highlights Allah’s independence from His creation and asserts that He alone is worthy of gratitude and worship.
• Divine Judgment
• Surah Al-Baqarah 2:281:
• "And fear the Day when you will be returned to Allah. Then every soul will be compensated for what it earned, and they will not be treated unjustly."
• This verse speaks about the Day of Judgment when Allah will judge people according to their deeds, resonating with the assurance in Surah Az-Zumar that Allah will judge those who have deviated from true monotheism.
• Surah Al-Ankabut 29:69:
• "And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good."
• This verse underscores that Allah will guide those who sincerely strive towards Him and will be the ultimate judge of their intentions and actions.

Hadiths attributed to Prophet on the same theme:

• Hadith on Monotheism:

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of monotheism in numerous hadiths. For instance, he said, “Whoever says ‘There is no god but Allah’ and dies on that, will enter Paradise”. This hadith underscores the centrality of declaring Allah’s oneness and worshiping Him alone.

• Hadith on Shirk (Associating Partners with Allah):

The Prophet Muhammad said, “The most grievous sin is to associate partners with Allah, to kill a soul which Allah has forbidden except for a just cause, and to be disobedient to one's parents”. This highlights the severity of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and aligns with the Quranic teaching in Surah Az-Zumar 39:3 about the exclusive right of Allah to be worshiped.

• Hadith on Intercessors:

The Prophet Muhammad clarified that no one can intercede on behalf of another without Allah’s permission. He said, “No one can intercede with Allah except with His permission”. This aligns with the Quranic verse which addresses the false belief that intermediaries can bring people closer to Allah. In Islam, intercession is only possible with Allah’s permission, and it does not contradict the fundamental belief in Allah’s sole right to be worshiped.

• Hadith on Idolatry and Intermediaries:

In a hadith recorded in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad said, “Avoid the seven destructive sins.” The companions asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what are they?” He replied, “Shirk (associating partners with Allah), magic, killing a soul which Allah has forbidden except in justice, consuming interest, consuming the property of an orphan, fleeing from the battlefield, and slandering chaste, innocent women” (Sahih Muslim 89). This hadith reinforces the rejection of any practice that involves associating partners with Allah or relying on intermediaries for worship.

• Hadith on Judgment Day:

The Prophet Muhammad taught that on the Day of Judgment, Allah will judge every individual based on their deeds. He said, “Allah will keep His servant under His shade on the Day when there is no shade but His”. This reinforces the idea that Allah alone will judge people and will address any deviations in worship or belief, consistent with Surah Az-Zumar 39:3.

• Hadith on Accountability:

The Prophet Muhammad also said, “The first matter that the servant will be questioned about on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is correct, then the rest of his actions will be correct; and if it is defective, then the rest of his actions will be defective”. This hadith emphasizes personal accountability and aligns with the Quranic principle that Allah will judge the sincerity and correctness of worship.

The verse of Surah Az-Zumar stated above in the light of other shared verses from Qur'an and Hadiths thus emphasizes the importance of worshiping Allah alone and condemns the use of intermediaries in religious practice. Similar verses throughout the Quran reinforce these concepts by affirming Allah’s exclusive right to worship, rejecting the worship of false deities, and assuring divine judgment on the Day of Resurrection.

Let us not derail us from the Sirat al-Mustaqim "الصراط المستقيم"  (the Straight Path) as shown to us through Qur'an and many a Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Let us not fall into the trap of the Satan and evil forces that takes us away from Allah and then urging us to protectors other than Allah to reach Him. This is pure shirk and has no place in Islam. We worship only and only One True God, we call Allah in Islam. 

You may refer to more Selected Verses from Sürah 39. Az-Zumar (The Throngs) already published.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Please refer to our exclusive reference pages: 

• Who are the Utter Losers (in worldly life and the Hereafter) in the light of Qur'an and help for more verses on the subject.
• Please refer to our Reference Page: Understanding Shirk - Grave sin of Associating Partners with Allah to know about Shirk and why it is the unpardonable act by Allah

In addition, for more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | 

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Don't let the Satan win

The life of believers is a severe test of test of tug of war between the good and the evil. No matter how pious a believer may be be, the Satanic enticements are so tempting and luring, that one sometimes slips and falls into the trap of evil by sinning. But remember, the Satan does not win by luring you to commit a sin, he wins when you think that Allah will not show His mercy to you and forgive you, even if you repent and seek Divine forgiveness.

In the Qur'an, and in many a Hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, believers are time and again reminded not to despair if they have sinned and always seek mercy of Allah and be rest assured that Allah will forgive their sins if His mercy is invoked, for Allah is Al-Ghafur (الغفور) - The Forgiving, The Pardoner and Ar Rahim (الرحيم) - The Most Merciful.

We share today the 53rd verse from Surah 39 Az Zumar, in which Allah directs His messenger, Muhammad ﷺ, to tell the believers never to despair of Allah's mercy for He would forgive their sins no matter whatever the size or enormity, for He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. This verse is meant to one should not seek the support of others while losing hope in God. If they repent after confessing their sin, He will forgive even the greatest of sins.

قُلۡ يٰعِبَادِىَ الَّذِيۡنَ اَسۡرَفُوۡا عَلٰٓى اَنۡفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُوۡا مِنۡ رَّحۡمَةِ اللّٰهِ​ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَغۡفِرُ الذُّنُوۡبَ جَمِيۡعًا​ ؕ اِنَّهٗ هُوَ الۡغَفُوۡرُ الرَّحِيۡمُ‏ 

(39:53) Tell them, (O Prophet): “My servants who have committed excesses against themselves, do not despair of Allah's Mercy. Surely Allah forgives all sins. He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.

The address here is to all mankind. There is no weighty argument to regard only the believers as the addressees. As has been observed by 'Allama Ibn Kathir, to address such a thing to the common men does not mean that Allah forgives all sins without repentance, but Allah Himself has explained in the following verses that sins are forgiven only when the sinner turns to Allah's worship and service and adopts obedience to the message sent down by Him. As a matter of fact, this verse brought a message of hope for those people who had committed mortal sins like murder, adultery, theft, robbery, etc. in the days of ignorance, and had despaired whether they would ever be forgiven. To them it has been said: "Do not despair of Allah's mercy: whatever you might have done in the past, if you sincerely turn to your Lord's obedience, you will be forgiven every sin." The same interpretation of this verse has been given by Ibn `Abbas, Qatadah, Mujahid and Ibn Zaid. (Ibn Jarir, Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Da'ud, Tirmidhi). For further explanation, see AI-Furqan: 70-71 and the E.N.'s thereof. 

Note: 

Some commentators have given a strange interpretation to these words. They say that Allah Himself has commanded the Holy Prophet to address the people as "My servants" therefore, all men are the servants of the Holy Prophet. This interpretation is no interpretation at all but a worst distortion of the meaning of the Qur'an and indeed tampering with the Word of Allah. If this interpretation were correct, it would falsify and negate the whole Qur'an.

For the Qur'an, from the beginning to the end, establishes the concept that men are the servants of Allah alone, and its whole message revolves around the point that they should serve none but One Allah alone. The Holy Prophet (upon whom be Allah's peace) himself was Allah's servant. Allah had sent him not as rabb (sustainer, providence) but as a Messenger so that he should himself serve Him and teach the other people also to serve Him alone. After all, how can a sensible person believe that the Holy Prophet might have one day stood up before the disbelieving Quraish of Makkah and made the sudden proclamation: "You are in fact the slaves of Muhammad and not of al- `Uzzah and ash-Shams." (We seek Allah's refuge from this) 

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: 

Verse 53 opens with the words: قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَ‌فُوا (0 servants of Mine who have acted recklessly against their own selves, do not despair of Allah's mercy. Surely, Allah will forgive all sins.). Taba` i, Said Ibn Jubayr reports from Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ that there were some people who had killed a lot of people unjustly and had committed a lot of shameful acts. They came to the Holy Prophet ﷺ and submitted before him, 'The religion you invite us to is, no doubt, very good, but we have a problem. We think about all those major sins we have already committed. Now if we were to become Muslims, do you hope that our repentance will be accepted?' Thereupon, Allah Ta’ ala revealed this verse to the Holy Prophet ﷺ - reported by al-Bukhari in that sense (al-Qurtubi).

Therefore, the outcome of the subject taken up in the verse comes to be that, well before death arrives, the repentance made from sins, no matter how serious, even from kufr (disbelief) and shirk (ascribing of partners to Allah), gets to be accepted. And by virtue of a genuine taubah (repentance), all sins will be forgiven, therefore, no one should lose hope in the mercy of Allah.

Sayyidna ` Abdullah Ibn ` Umar ؓ said that, out of all verses of the Qur'an, this verse brings the strongest message of hope for sinners. But, Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ said that the strongest such verse is: إِنَّ رَ‌بَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَ‌ةٍ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ ظُلْمِهِمْ (And surely, your Lord is the lord of forgiveness for the people against their wrongdoings - Ar-Ra'd, 13:6)

Qur'an Wiki explanation:

It is divine mercy that will erase every transgression, whatever it happens to be. It is an invitation to all those who have gone far into error and led a life that has taken them far astray, telling them hope still remains available and God’s mercy and forgiveness are not far from them. God is most merciful to His servants. He knows their weaknesses and the factors that work on them, whether these are within themselves or in society. He is aware that Satan sets traps for them at every corner, using a great variety of forces, never tiring of his attempt to seduce them. Moreover, God knows that man can easily fall when he lets his bond to the truth weaken, and that his desires and aspirations can easily disturb his equilibrium, pulling him this way or that, leading him into error.

As God knows all this about man, He provides him with ample help, opening the gates of His mercy. He does not take him to task for his sin until He has facilitated for him all the ways and means to rectify his error and mend his ways. Nevertheless, when man goes deep into sin, thinking that he is totally rejected by God and that all is lost, he hears at this point of utter despair a fine address expressing the unlimited mercy available to him: “Say: [Thus speaks God]: You servants of Mine who have transgressed against their own souls! Do not despair of God’s mercy: God forgives all sins; He alone is Much-Forgiving, Merciful.” (Verse 53)

This means that despite his repeated sins, going far into disobedience of God, all he needs to receive God’s grace that revives all that is good in him is to repent. All he needs to do is turn back to God through the gate that is left wide open, without a guard, and with no need for any special permission.

Alhamdulillah, we have such a forgiving and merciful Lord. His Mercy extends to all who seek it. Even the most hardened sinner is told to never lose hope in Allah’s Infinite Mercy.

You may refer to more Selected Verses from Sürah 39. Az-Zumar (The Throngs) already published.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may  read the explanation of the same verse by other scholars in one of our earlier posts 39:53. You may read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Compiled verses on specific subjects from Qur'an: Repentance and Seeking Divine Forgiveness

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from the following sources: 

• Tafsir Ibn Khatir
• Muhammad Asad Translation
• Yusuf Ali Translation
• Translation Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
• Qur'an Wiki
• Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
• Towards Understanding the Quran

In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

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