Quran Quote  :  They do not outstrip Him in speech and only act as He commands. - 21:27

Quran-39:9 Surah Az-zumar English Translation,Transliteration and Tafsir(Tafseer).

أَمَّنۡ هُوَ قَٰنِتٌ ءَانَآءَ ٱلَّيۡلِ سَاجِدٗا وَقَآئِمٗا يَحۡذَرُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَ وَيَرۡجُواْ رَحۡمَةَ رَبِّهِۦۗ قُلۡ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوِي ٱلَّذِينَ يَعۡلَمُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ

Transliteration:( Amman huwa qaanitun aanaaa'al laili saajidanw wa qaaa'imai yahzarul Aakhirata wa yarjoo rahmata Rabbih; qul hal yastawil lazeena ya'lamoona wallazeena laa ya'lamoon; innamaa yatazakkaru ulul albaab (section 1) )

9.Can someone who remains in the hours of the night in devotion [32], prostrating and standing in fear of the Hereafter and hoping for the Mercy of his Lord, be like the one who is disobedient? Please declare: "Are those who know equal to those who do not know[33] ? Surely, only those understand who are wise(34) (Kanzul Imaan Translation)

(9) Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding. (Saheen International Translation)

Surah Az-Zumar Ayat 9 Tafsir (Commentry)



  • Tafseer-e-Naeemi (Ahmad Yaar Khan)
  • Ibn Kathir
  • Ala-Madudi
  • Shaheen International

32. From this we understand the virtue and superiority of Salaatul Tahajjud. Furthermore, Qayaam (standing posture) and Sajdah (prostration) are the highest postures and essentials of Salaah. We also learn that the one offering Salaah and the one who is pious, both should have fear of Allah Almighty. He should not be proud of his worship, but instead should continue to fear Allah Almighty. 

Reason for its revelation:
This verse was revealed in honour of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq and Hazrat Umar Farooq (May Allah be pleased with them). Some have said that Hazrat Uthman Ghani (May Allah be pleased with him) too, is included in this, as he was extremely regular with the performance of Tahajjud Salash. He would not awaken any of his servants during this time. Whatever work had to be done during this time, he would do it himself.

33. This tells us that the scholar of religion is superior to the worshipper. The angels were worshippers, but Hazrat Adam (On whom be peace) was a scholar. The worshippers were made to bow down to the scholar. 

Here, an absolute command is given that a scholar is superior to one who is not a scholar; whether he is a worshipper or not. He is superior to a worshipper. It should be remembered that by 'scholar' is meant scholar of Islam. Their virtues are mentioned in the Holy Qur'aan and the Hadith. It is for this reason that Bibi Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) is not only superior to all the pure wives of the Holy Prophet ?  but to all the women of the world, because she was a great scholar of Islam 

34. In this it is hinted that an intelligent person is he who can derive benefit from the teachings of the Prophets. That intelligence which cannot lead to the way of the Holy Prophet ?  is ignorance and foolishness.

 

Ibn-Kathir

9. Is one who is obedient to Allah, Ana’a Al-Layl prostrating and standing fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord Say: “Are those who know equal to those who know not” It is only men of understanding who will remember.


The Obedient and the Sinner are not equal

Allah says, `is the one who is like this equal to one who associates others in worship with Allah and sets up rivals to Him’ They are not equal before Allah, as He says:

﴿لَيْسُواْ سَوَآءً مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ أُمَّةٌ قَآئِمَةٌ يَتْلُونَ ءَايَـتِ اللَّهِ ءَانَآءَ الَّيْلِ وَهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ ﴾

(Not all of them are alike; a party of the People of the Scripture stand for the right, they recite the Ayat of Allah Ana’a Al-Layl, prostrating themselves (in prayer).) (3:113). And Allah says here:

﴿أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَانِتٌ ءَانَآءَ الَّيْلِ سَـجِداً وَقَآئِماً﴾

(Is one who is obedient to Allah, Ana’a Al-Layl prostrating and standing) meaning, one who is humble and fears Allah when he prostrates and stands (in prayer). It was reported that Ibn Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “The obedient one is one who obeys Allah and His Messenger .” Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Al-Hasan, As-Suddi and Ibn Zayd said, Ana’a Al-Layl means in the depths of the night.

﴿يَحْذَرُ الاٌّخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُواْ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ﴾

(fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord.) means, in his worship he feels both fear and hope. Both are essential in worship, and fear should be stronger during one’s lifetime. Allah says:

﴿يَحْذَرُ الاٌّخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُواْ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ﴾

(fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord. ) At the time of death, hope is uppermost, as Imam `Abd bin Humayd recorded in his Musnad from Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said, “The Messenger of Allah entered upon a man who was dying, and said to him,

«كَيْفَ تَجِدُكَ؟»

(How do you feel) He said, `I am both afraid and hopeful.’ The Messenger of Allah said:

«لَا يَجْتَمِعَانِ فِي قَلْبِ عَبْدٍ فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا الْمَوْطِنِ إِلَّا أَعْطَاهُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الَّذِي يَرْجُو، وَأَمَّنَهُ الَّذِي يَخَافُه»

(These do not co-exist in a person’s heart at times such as this, but Allah will give him what he hopes for and protect him from that which he fears.)” This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i in Al-Yawm wal-Laylah, and Ibn Majah from the Hadith of Yasar bin Hatim from Ja`far bin Sulayman. At-Tirmidhi said, “Gharib.” Imam Ahmad recorded that Tamim Ad-Dari, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah said:

«مَنْ قَرَأَ بِمِائَةِ آيَةٍ فِي لَيْلَةٍ كُتِبَ لَهُ قُنُوتُ لَيْلَة»

(Whoever recites one hundred Ayat in one night, it will be recorded as if he prayed all night.) This was also recorded by An-Nasa’i in Al-Yawm wal-Laylah.

﴿قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ﴾

(Say: “Are those who know equal to those who know not”) means, is this one equal with the one who sets up rivals to Allah to mislead (men) from His path

﴿إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُواْ الأَلْبَـبِ﴾

(It is only men of understanding who will remember. ) means, the only one who will understand the difference between them is the one who has understanding. And Allah knows best.

(39:9) Is such a person (preferable or he) who is obedient, and prostrates himself in the watches of the night, stands (in Prayer), is fearful of the Hereafter, and looks forward to the mercy of His Lord? Ask them: “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?”[28] Only those endowed with understanding take heed.

Ala-Maududi

(39:9) Is such a person (preferable or he) who is obedient, and prostrates himself in the watches of the night, stands (in Prayer), is fearful of the Hereafter, and looks forward to the mercy of His Lord? Ask them: “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?”[28] Only those endowed with understanding take heed.


28. It should be noted that two kinds of the men are being contrasted here. First, those who turn to Allah when a calamity befalls them, but worship others than Allah normally. Second, those who have made it their permanent way of life to obey Allah and worship and serve Him, and their worshiping Him in solitude during the night is a proof of their sincerity. The first kind of the men have been called ignorant by Allah, even if they might have devoured whole libraries. And the second kind of the men have been called the learned, even if they might be illiterate. For the real supremely important thing is the knowledge of the truth and man’s action according to it, and on this depends his true success. Allah asks: How can these two be equal? How can they possibly follow the same way together in the world, and meet with the same end in the Hereafter?

(9) Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.

Surah Az-Zumar All Ayat (Verses)

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