سُوْرَةُ الزُّمَرِ
Surah Az-Zumar (39) — Ayah 29
ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلًا فِيهِ شُرَكَآءُ مُتَشَـٰكِسُونَ وَرَجُلًا سَلَمًا لِّرَجُلٍ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ مَثَلًا ۚ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿29﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Allâh puts forth a similitude: a (slave) man belonging to many partners (like those who worship others along with Allâh) disputing with one another, and a (slave) man belonging entirely to one master (like those who worship Allâh Alone). Are those two equal in comparison? All the praises and thanks be to Allâh! But most of them know not.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ضَرَبَ
ḍaraba
Allah sets forth
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah sets forth
مَثَلًۭا
mathalan
an example
رَّجُلًۭا
rajulan
a man
فِيهِ
fīhi
about him
شُرَكَآءُ
shurakāu
partners
مُتَشَـٰكِسُونَ
mutashākisūna
quarreling
وَرَجُلًۭا
warajulan
and a man
سَلَمًۭا
salaman
(belonging) exclusively
لِّرَجُلٍ
lirajulin
to one man
هَلْ
hal
are
يَسْتَوِيَانِ
yastawiyāni
they both equal
مَثَلًا ۚ
mathalan
(in) comparison
ٱلْحَمْدُ
l-ḥamdu
All praise
لِلَّهِ ۚ
lillahi
(be) to Allah
بَلْ
bal
Nay
أَكْثَرُهُمْ
aktharuhum
most of them
لَا
lā
(do) not
يَعْلَمُونَ
yaʿlamūna
know
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 29) ➊ { ضَرَبَ اللّٰهُ مَثَلًا …:’’رَجُلٌ شَكِسٌ‘‘} A stubborn, ill-tempered, argumentative person. {’’ مُتَشٰكِسُوْنَ ‘‘} is a masculine plural active participle from the form "tafā‘ul," which implies mutual participation; those who oppose each other, those who argue with each other. This is the example of a polytheist and a monotheist: the polytheist who worships many deities is like a man who is a slave to many masters, who share ownership of him, and all are ill-natured, stubborn, and quarrelsome with each other. Each one wants the slave to be engaged in his own work, and each commands him according to his own needs, unconcerned with the others’ affairs. The slave is bewildered as to whose command he should obey. Moreover, none of these masters is willing to take responsibility for the slave’s needs; rather, each refers him to the other. As a result, he can neither please any of them nor fulfill any of his own needs or necessities. The extent to which his life becomes constrained is quite evident. In contrast, the example of a monotheist is like that of a man who is a slave to only one master; he serves only him and presents all his needs and necessities before him. It is clear that such a man will live a life of utmost peace and tranquility. Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) says: “A slave who belongs to many, none of them considers him their own, so none takes full care of him; and a slave who belongs entirely to one, he considers him his own and takes full care of him. This is the example of those who are servants of one Lord and those who are servants of many lords.” (Muwaddih)
➋ { اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ:} Here, {’’ اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ ‘‘} means that none of these polytheists can say that these two are equal; rather, either they will admit that these two cannot be equal, or they will remain silent. In both cases, the excellence of monotheism and the evil of polytheism are established. Upon this, it is said: All praise is for Allah, who clarified the matter of monotheism with such an excellent and simple example.
➌ { بَلْ اَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُوْنَ :} That is, despite acknowledging the difference between being a slave to one master and being a slave to many masters, most people do not understand the difference between worshiping one Allah and worshiping many deities; therefore, they remain entangled in polytheism.
➋ { اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ:} Here, {’’ اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ ‘‘} means that none of these polytheists can say that these two are equal; rather, either they will admit that these two cannot be equal, or they will remain silent. In both cases, the excellence of monotheism and the evil of polytheism are established. Upon this, it is said: All praise is for Allah, who clarified the matter of monotheism with such an excellent and simple example.
➌ { بَلْ اَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُوْنَ :} That is, despite acknowledging the difference between being a slave to one master and being a slave to many masters, most people do not understand the difference between worshiping one Allah and worshiping many deities; therefore, they remain entangled in polytheism.
