Benefits and Virtues of Surah 39 Az-Zumar

virtues-benefits-surah-az-zumar

39. Az-Zumar

39.1 Narrated ‘Aishah (رضي الله عنها)

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) would not sleep until he recited Surat Bani Isra’il and Az-Zumar.

Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 2920

39.2 Shutayr bin Shakal said he heard Ibn Mas’ud (رضي الله عنهم) say,

The greatest Ayah in the Book of Allah is:

“Allah! None has the right to be worshiped but He, the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists (2:255)”.

The most comprehensive Ayah in the Qur’an concerning good and evil is:

“Verily, Allah enjoins justice and Al-Ihsan (16:90)”.

The Ayah in the Qur’an which brings the most relief is in Surah Az-Zumar:

“Say: ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not of the mercy of Allah’ (39:53).”

And the clearest Ayah in the Qur’an about reliance on Allah is:

“And whosoever has Taqwa of Allah, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. (65:2-3)”

Masruq said to him; `You have spoken the truth.”’

(At-Tabarani)

39.3 Abu’d-Duha said (رضي الله عنه)

“Masruq and Shutayr ibn Shakal met in the mosque. The people sitting in circles in the mosque moved towards them. Masruq said, ‘I can only think that these people are gathering around us in order to hear good from us. If you relate from ‘Abdullah, I will confirm you. If I relate from ‘Abdullah, you can confirm me.’ He said, ‘Abu ‘A’isha, relate!’ He said, ‘Did you hear ‘Abdullah say, “The eyes commit fornication. The hands commit fornication. The feet commit fornication, and then the genitals either confirm or deny that?”‘ ‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘I have heard it.’ He said, ‘Did you hear ‘Abdullah say, “There is no ayat in the Qur’an which is greater in combining the halal and the haram and the command and the prohibition than this ayat:

إن الله يأمر بالعدل والإحسان وإيتاء ذي القربى

‘Indeed Allah commands to justice and doing good and giving to relatives’ (16.90)?”‘

‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘I have heard it.’ He said, ‘Did you hear ‘Abdullah say, “There is no ayat in the Qur’an swifter in bringing relief than His words,

ومن يتق الله يجعل له مخرجا

“Whoever has taqwa of Allah – He will give him a way out” (65:2)?’

‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘I have heard it.’ He said, ‘Did you hear ‘Abdullah say, “There is no ayat in the Qur’an stronger in entrusting things to Allah than His words,

قل يا عبادي الذين أسرفوا على أنفسهم لا تقنطوا من رحمة الله

“My slaves, you have transgressed against yourselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah” (39:53)?’

‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘I heard that.'”

Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 489

39.4 Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) related about

قل أفرأيتم ما تدعون من دون الله إن أرادني الله بضرّ هل هن كاشفات ضره أو أرادني برحمة هل هن ممسكات رحمته

Say, “Then have you considered what you invoke besides Allah ? If Allah intended me harm, are they removers of His harm; or if He intended me mercy, are they withholders of His mercy?” (39:38)

Ibn Abi Hatim (رحمه الله) recorded a narration from Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه) attributing it to the Prophet(صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم), “Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him ever with you. Turn to Allah in times of ease and He will turn to you in times of difficulty. If you ask anyone for anything, then ask Allah. If you seek help from anyone, then seek help from Allah. Know that even if the entire nation were to come together to do you some harm that Allah has not decreed for you, they will never be able to harm you, and if they were to come together to do you some good that Allah has not decreed for you, they will never be able to do that. The pages have dried and the pens have been lifted. Strive for the sake of Allah with thankfulness and firm conviction, and know that in patiently persevering with regard to something that you dislike there is much goodness. Victory comes with patience, a way out comes from difficulty and with hardship comes ease.”

(Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

39.5 It is narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه)

That some persons amongst the polytheists had committed a large number of murders and had excessively indulged in fornication. Then they came to Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) and said: Whatever you assert and whatever you call to is indeed good. But if you inform us that there is atonement of our past deeds (then we would embrace Islam). Then it was revealed:

والذين لا يدعون مع الله إلها آخر ولا يقتلون النفس التي حرم الله إلا بالحق ولا يزنون ومن يفعل ذلك يلق أثاما

And those who call not unto another god along with Allah and slay not any soul which Allah has forbidden except in the cause of justice nor commit fornication; and he who does this shall meet the requital of sin

يضاعف له العذاب يوم القيامة ويخلد فيه مهانا

Multiplied for him shall be the torment on the Day of Resurrection, and he shall therein abide disgraced

إلا من تاب وآمن وعمل عملا صالحا فأولئك يبدل الله سيئاتهم حسنات وكان الله غفورا رحيما

Except him who repents a believes and does good deeds. Then these! for the Allah shall change their vices into virtues. Verily Allah is Ever Forgiving, Merciful (25:68-70).

قل يا عبادي الذين أسرفوا على أنفسهم لا تقنطوا من رحمة الله

إن الله يغفر الذنوب جميعا إنه هو الغفور الرحيم

Say thou: O my bondsmen woo have committed extravagance against themselves despair not of the Mercy of Allah I Verily Allah will forgive the sins altogether. He is indeed the Forgiving, the Merciful (39:53).

Sahih Muslim 122

39.6 Abdullah b. Mas’ud (رضي الله عنه) reported

That a Jewish scholar came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace he upon him) and said:Muhammad, or Abu al-Qasim, verily, Allah, the Exalted and Glorious would carry the Heavens on the Day of Judgment upon one finger and earths upon one finger and the mountains and trees upon one finger and the ocean and moist earth upon one finger, and in fact the whole of the creation upon one finger, and then He would stir them and say: I am your Lord, I am your Lord. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم)
smiled testifying what that scholar had said. He then recited this verse:

وما قدروا الله حق قدره والأرض جميعا قبضته يوم القيامة

والسماوات مطويات بيمينه سبحانه وتعالى عما يشركون

“And they honor not Allah with the honor due to Him; and the whole earth will be in His grip on the Day of Resurrection and the heaven rolled up in His right hand. Glory be to Him I and highly Exalted is He above what they associate (with Him)” (39:67).

Sahih Muslim 2786 a

39.7 Narrated Mujahid (رضي الله عنه)

That Ibn ‘Abbas said: “Do you know what is the width of Jahannam?” I said: “No.” He said: “Yes, and by Allah I do not know. ‘Aishah narrated to me that she asked the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) about Allah’s saying:

والأرض جميعا قبضته يوم القيامة والسماوات مطويات بيمينه

‘On the Day of Resurrection the whole earth will be grasped by His Hand and the heavens will be rolled up in his Right Hand (39:67).’

She said: ‘I said “Where will the people be on that day O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Upon the bridge over Jahannam.”

Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3241

39.8 Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Az-Zubair (رضي الله عنه)

From his father who said: “When (the following) was revealed:

ثم إنكم يوم القيامة عند ربكم تختصمون

‘Then, on the Day of Resurrection, you will be disputing before your Lord (39:31).’

Az-Zubair said “O Messenger of Allah! We will repeat our disputes after what happened between us in the world?” He said: “Yes.” So he said: “Indeed this is a very serious matter.”

Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3236

39.9 It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) said

“A Jewish man said in the marketplace of Al-Madinah: ‘By the One Who chose Musa above all of mankind.’ An Ansari man raised his hand and slapped him. He said: ‘How dare you say this when the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) is among us?’ Mention of that was made to the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم), and he said: ‘Allah says:

ونفخ في الصور فصعق من في السماوات ومن في الأرض إلا من شاء الله

ثم نفخ فيه أخرى فإذا هم قيام ينظرون

“And the trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth will swoon away, except him whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown a second time, and behold they will be standing, looking on (waiting).” (39:68)

I will be the first one to raise his head, and I will see Musa holding on to one of the pillars of the Throne, and I do not know whether he will have raised his head before me, or he will be one of those whom Allah exempts. And whoever says that I am better than Yunus bin Matta, he is lying.”

Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4274

39.10 Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) related about

قل اللهم فاطر السماوات والأرض عالم الغيب والشهادة أنت تحكم بين عبادك في ما كانوا فيه يختلفون

Say, “O Allah , Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, You will judge between your servants concerning that over which they used to differ.” (39:46)

In his Sahih, Muslim recorded that Abu Salamah bin Abdur-Rahman (رضي الله عنه) said, “I asked A’ishah (رضي الله عنها) how the Messenger of Allah started his prayer when he stood up to pray at night.” She (رضي الله عنها) said, “When the Messenger of Allah stood up to pray at night, he would start his prayer with the words:

اللْهُمَّ رَبَّ جِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ وَإِسْرَافِيلَ، فَاطِرَ السَّموَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ، عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ، أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ، اهْدِنِي لِمَا اخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِكَ، إِنَّكَ تَهْدِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ إِلى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيم

O Allah, Lord of Jibril, Mika’il and Israfil, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, You will judge between Your servants concerning that wherein they differ. Guide me with regard to that wherein there is dispute concerning the truth by Your leave, for You guide whomsoever You will to the straight path.”

(Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

39.11 Duas and Invocations

أليس الله بكاف عبده

Is not Allah sufficient for His Servant (39:36)

أليس الله بعزيز ذي انتقام

Is not Allah Exalted in Might and Owner of Retribution? (39:37)

حسبي الله عليه يتوكل المتوكلون

Sufficient for me is Allah ; upon Him [alone] rely the [wise] reliers (39:38)

اللهم فاطر السماوات والأرض عالم الغيب والشهادة أنت تحكم بين عبادك في ما كانوا فيه يختلفون

O Allah , Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, You will judge between your servants concerning that over which they used to differ (39:46)