Az-Zumar (The Groups)
Verse 1 - 2
Table of Contents
Sections (juz’) 23-24
Number of Verses: 75
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The Chapter has 75 Verses and is revealed in Mecca. Like other Meccan Chapters, it mainly treats of God Almighty and Resurrection.
The word zumar indicates “groups” and the title of the Chapter, as mentioned in Verses 71 and 73, alludes to the ingress of the peoples of Hell and Paradise into their assigned dwellings. The Chapter mainly focuses on the Unity of the Creator, Lordship, and worshipping Him particularly sincere worshipping and humble veneration of Him.
The presence of people on the Day of Judgment and their being judged on the basis of the records of their deeds and the testimony of the witnesses and the ingress of sinners and the pious into Hell and Paradise receive further emphasis and detail.
Merits of the Recitation of the Chapter
Recitation of Chapter 39 receives remarkable significance in Islamic traditions and instance of which is the Prophetic tradition saying:
“One who recites Surah al-Zumar shall not lose hope of Divine Mercy and shall be recompensed the rewards of the God fearing.”1
According to a tradition narrated from Imam Sadiq (as):
“One who recites Surah al-Zumar shall be accorded honor and dignity in this world and the Hereafter even if he lacks in worldly possessions and family support in such manner that others shall stand in awe upon meeting him and his body shall not be burned in Hell.”2
A comparison of the aforementioned merits with the contents of the Chapter concerning fear of God, setting one’s hope on His Mercy, sincerity in worshipping Him, and absolute submission to the Pure Essence of Truth clearly indicates that such rewards shall be reaped by those for whom the recitation of Divinely revealed Verses serve as a prelude to reflection based upon which they have faith and do righteous good deeds.
In other words, the contents of the Chapter find their way into their heart and they turned into their permanent disposition of mind whose reflection may be fully noticed in their life. Such people deserve to reap such great rewards and Divine Boundless Bounties and Favors.
Surah al-Zumar - Verses 1-2
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ تَنْزِيلُ الْكِتابِ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ (1) إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتابَ بِالْحَقِّ فَاعْبُدِ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصاً لَهُ الدِّينَ (2)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
1. The Revelation of the Book [unto you in portions at certain times] is from Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.
2. Indeed We have sent down this [Revealed] Book unto you in truth; So worship Allah by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah’s sake.
The words:
tanzil (“sending down in portions at certain times”)
and
inzal (“sending down in whole at one time”)
are both mentioned in these two blessed Verses, opening with the Revelation of the Holy Qur’an, the former and the latter allude to the Pure Divine Essence as the Origin of Revelation and the content as well as the final goal of the Holy Qur’an respectively.
The first Verse says that this Book is Revealed by God, the All-Mighty and All-Wise.
Any book is known by its revealer or author. Being apprised of the Divine Origin of Revelation of this Glorious Revealed Book and the fact that the Omniscience of God Almighty, the Omnipotent and the All-Wise, is the Origin of the Revelation of the Book thanks to Whose Omnipotence nothing is impossible and His Boundless Knowledge embraces all things, we come to comprehend the Gloriousness of Its contents.
It will suffice to acquire certitude concerning the veracity of Its contents abounding in Wisdom, Light, and Guidance.
It is worthy of note that such expressions opening Qur’anic Chapters bear witness to the fact that the contents of this Glorious Book is wholly Revealed by God Almighty; in other words, the contents of the Holy Qur’an constitute Divine Word rather than that of the Noble Prophet (S), even though his word is also exalted and full of wisdom.
The second Verse treats of the contents and the goal of the Revelation of the Holy Qur’an saying:
“We have sent down this [Revealed] Book unto you in truth.”
The significant point is that there is nothing but Truth in the Divinely Revealed Book; that is why seekers of Truth proceed toward it and those thirsty of finding their way to the valley of Truth are after Its contents.
The goal behind the Revelation of the Holy Qur’an is to provide humanity with pure religion as a consequence of which the Verse closes thus:
“So worship Allah by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah’s sake.”
The word religion may ad hoc designate worshipping God Almighty, since it is preceded by:
“So worship Allah”
which is followed by:
“by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah’s sake,”
making a reference to the fact that the prerequisite of the verity of worship lies in sincerity of heart and its purity from polytheism and dissimulation.
Yet, taking into account the wide range of the meaning of the word:
“religion” (din)
and its lack of restrictions one may notice that it signifies a wider range of meaning embracing worship, other deeds, as well as beliefs.
In other words, the word:
“religion”
encompasses the corporeal and spiritual dimensions of man. In this vein, sincere servants of God Almighty are supposed to refine all the aspects of life from impurities, reject other entities besides God Almighty from their hearts, souls, words, and deeds, reflect upon Him, love for His sake, speak and act for Him, and take steps for His satisfaction - this is
“religious sincere devotion.” Therefore, there would be no need to restrict the meaning of the Verse to the declaration of faith by uttering “There is no god but Allah,” nor is there any firm ground to delimit the meaning to “worship.”