Surah Az-Zumar (39) — Ayah 18

(Ayah 18) ➊ {الَّذِيْنَ يَسْتَمِعُوْنَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُوْنَ اَحْسَنَهٗ :} There are three interpretations of this sentence: one is that give glad tidings to My servants who listen to every word, but follow only the Qur’an and Sunnah, because the best of all words is the word revealed by Allah, as is coming ahead in verse (23): « اَللّٰهُ نَزَّلَ اَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيْثِ» “Allah has sent down the best statement.” And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ أَحْسَنُ الْكَلاَمِ كَلاَمُ اللّٰهِ وَ أَحْسَنُ الْهَدْيِ هَدْيُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ] [ نسائي، السھو، باب نوع من الذکر بعد التشھد : ۱۳۱۲، عن جابر رضی اللہ عنہ ] “The best speech is the speech of Allah, and the best way is the way of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).” The second interpretation is that they listen to the Qur’an, in which some rulings are good (hasan) and some are better (ahsan), then they follow the better. For example, taking retribution or forgiving, taking revenge for excess or being patient, giving respite in collecting a debt or waiving it; although in all three matters both actions mentioned are good, but the second action is better than the first. The third interpretation is that they listen to all good and bad things, but do only that word or deed which is the best. Ibn Atiyyah said in “Al-Muharrar Al-Wajiz”: {’’هُوَ عَامٌّ فِيْ جَمِيْعِ الْأَقْوَالِ وَالْقَصْدُ الثَّنَاءُ عَلٰی هٰؤُلَاءِ بِبَصَائِرَ وَ نَظْرٍ سَدِيْدٍ يُفَرِّقُوْنَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْحَقِّ وَ الْبَاطِلِ وَ بَيْنَ الصَّوَابِ وَالْخَطَإِ فَيَتَّبِعُوْنَ الْأَحْسَنَ مِنْ ذٰلِكَ‘‘} “This is general for all statements; the purpose is to praise the insight and correct reflection of those people with which they distinguish between truth and falsehood, and between right and wrong, then follow the best among them.” Due to the generality of the words, the third interpretation is more apparent.

➋ { اُولٰٓىِٕكَ الَّذِيْنَ هَدٰىهُمُ اللّٰهُ …:} Only those who, after listening to all kinds of statements, seek out the best word and act upon it, have been declared by Allah as those whom He has guided, and only they have been called people of understanding.

➌ This verse contains a clear refutation of blind following (taqlid), because taqlid means: {’’أَخْذُ قَوْلِ الْغَيْرِ بِلَا دَلِيْلٍ‘‘} that is, to accept the statement of anyone other than Allah and His Messenger without evidence. The blind follower is not even willing to listen to anyone except his self-made leader; even if he does listen, he remains firm on his leader’s statement. The other statement, even if it is a verse of the Qur’an or a hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and no matter how good it is, he neither tries to understand it nor accepts it. Whereas a believer listens to every word attentively, examines its goodness or badness, and acts upon the best. Those who will enter Hell will wish that, if only they had listened or understood in the world, but at that time there will be no way for their wish to be fulfilled. It is said: « وَ قَالُوْا لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ اَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِيْۤ اَصْحٰبِ السَّعِيْرِ » [ الملک : ۱۰ ] “And they will say, if only we had listened or understood, we would not be among the companions of the blazing Fire.” Such people are neither guided by Allah nor can they be counted among the “people of understanding” (ulul albab).

18. 1 By اَحسَنُ is meant a firm and solid statement, or the best statement, or that they choose forgiveness instead of punishment.
18. 2 Because they have benefited from their intellect, whereas others have not benefited from their intellects.

18. Those who listen to the word attentively and follow the best [28] of it—these are the ones whom Allah has guided, and these are the people of understanding.

[28]
What is Meant by Following the Best?

Another quality of these people is that they follow the commands and instructions of Allah Almighty in the best possible manner. For example, when performing prayer, it should be done with sincerity of intention, seeking Allah’s pleasure and out of love for Him. It should be performed on time and in congregation. Purification should be done thoroughly. There should be humility and submissiveness in the prayer, and the outward actions and etiquettes should also be correct. This is the best possible way of performing prayer. Now, if someone performs prayer in congregation but his thoughts remain occupied with worldly matters, he is inattentive in prayer, keeps making unnecessary movements, and stands lazily and sluggishly, then he too has performed the prayer and obeyed Allah’s command, but this is not the best way. There is a great difference between his prayer and the former. The same applies to all deeds. Another meaning could be that they listen to everything, but only accept that which is better among them, and then act upon it.