سُوْرَةُ الزُّمَرِ
Surah Az-Zumar (39) — Ayah 17
وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱجْتَنَبُوا۟ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ أَن يَعْبُدُوهَا وَأَنَابُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ لَهُمُ ٱلْبُشْرَىٰ ۚ فَبَشِّرْ عِبَادِ ﴿17﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Those who avoid At-Tâghût (false deities) by not worshipping them and turn to Allâh (in repentance), for them are glad tidings; so announce the good news to My slaves -
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَٱلَّذِينَ
wa-alladhīna
And those who
ٱجْتَنَبُوا۟
ij'tanabū
avoid
ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ
l-ṭāghūta
the false gods
أَن
an
lest
يَعْبُدُوهَا
yaʿbudūhā
they worship them
وَأَنَابُوٓا۟
wa-anābū
and turn
إِلَى
ilā
to
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
لَهُمُ
lahumu
for them
ٱلْبُشْرَىٰ ۚ
l-bush'rā
(are) glad tidings
فَبَشِّرْ
fabashir
So give glad tidings
عِبَادِ
ʿibādi
(to) My slaves
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 17) ➊ For the literal explanation of {وَ الَّذِيْنَ اجْتَنَبُوا الطَّاغُوْتَ …:’’ الطَّاغُوْتَ ‘‘}, see Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah (256). Ustadh Muhammad Abduh writes, the original word {’’ الطَّاغُوْتَ ‘‘ } (on the pattern of {فَعْلُوْتٌ لَا فَاعُوْلٌ أَصْلُهُ طَغْيُوْتٌ أَوْ طَغْوُوْتٌ}) is derived from {’’طُغْيَانٌ‘‘}, therefore it refers to Satan, and also to idols, and to every person who, crossing the limits of servitude, places himself in the position of divinity. Worship of it does not merely mean prostrating to it, but also obeying its commands considering it as an independent authority and obeyed one. Jawhari writes: {’’اَلطَّاغُوْتُ الْكَاهِنُ وَالشَّيْطَانُ وَ كُلُّ رَأْسٍ فِي الضَّلَالِ‘‘} that it refers to Satan, soothsayer, and everything that becomes a source of misguidance. Imam Raghib says: {’’ هُوَ عِبَارَةٌ عَنْ كُلِّ مَعْبُوْدٍ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ‘‘} that it refers to everything that is worshipped besides Allah. (Ruh) (Ashraf al-Hawashi)
➋ It is understood that for monotheism, merely worshipping Allah is not sufficient, but abstaining from Taghut is also necessary, that is why in the Kalimah of Tawheed {’’لَا اِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ‘‘} first there is negation of all deities, then affirmation of worship of the One Allah.
➌ { لَهُمُ الْبُشْرٰى :} For its explanation, see Surah Yunus, Ayah (64).
➍ { لَهُمُ الْبُشْرٰى …: ’’ عِبَادِ ‘‘} is originally {’’عِبَادِيْ‘‘}, for the sake of the rhyme of the verses, the ya was omitted and the kasrah was kept on the dal, and the translation is “to My servants.”
➋ It is understood that for monotheism, merely worshipping Allah is not sufficient, but abstaining from Taghut is also necessary, that is why in the Kalimah of Tawheed {’’لَا اِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ‘‘} first there is negation of all deities, then affirmation of worship of the One Allah.
➌ { لَهُمُ الْبُشْرٰى :} For its explanation, see Surah Yunus, Ayah (64).
➍ { لَهُمُ الْبُشْرٰى …: ’’ عِبَادِ ‘‘} is originally {’’عِبَادِيْ‘‘}, for the sake of the rhyme of the verses, the ya was omitted and the kasrah was kept on the dal, and the translation is “to My servants.”
