39. Surah Az-Zumar (The Throngs)

Mecca Period 59 [75 verses]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

قُلْ إِنِّي أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُ الدِّينَ ﴿١١﴾

39:11. Say:

"Verily, I am commanded to serve Allah with sincere devotion;

وَأُمِرْتُ لِأَنْ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿١٢﴾

39: 12. "And I am commanded to be the first of those who bow to Allah in Islam."

C4262. Cf. 6:14.

"The first" need not necessarily be chronological: it may also refer to the first rank in zeal, and in readiness to suffer for the Cause.

قُلْ إِنِّي أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَيْتُ رَبِّي عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿١٣﴾

39: 13. Say:

"I would, if I disobeyed my Lord, indeed have fear of the Penalty of a Mighty Day."

C4263. Cf. 6:15.

The worst penalty in a spiritual sense is the Displeasure of Allah, just as the highest achievement, the fulfilment of all desire, is the attainment of Allah's Good Pleasure: 6:16.

قُلِ اللَّهَ أَعْبُدُ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُ دِينِي ﴿١٤﴾

39: 14. Say:

"It is Allah I serve, with my sincere (and exclusive) devotion:

Asad’s Version:

39:11 Say [O Muhammad]: "Behold, I am bidden to worship God, sincere in my faith in Him alone;

(39:12) and I am bidden to be foremost among those who surrender themselves unto God."

(39:13) Say: "Behold, I would dread, were I to rebel against my Sustainer, the suffering [which would befall me] on that awesome Day [of Judgment]."

39:14 Say: "God alone do I worship, sincere in my faith in Him alone