سُوْرَةُ الزُّمَرِ
Surah Az-Zumar (39) — Ayah 55
وَٱتَّبِعُوٓا۟ أَحْسَنَ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ بَغْتَةً وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ ﴿55﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
"And follow the best of that which is sent down to you from your Lord (i.e. this Qur’ân, do what it orders you to do and keep away from what it forbids), before the torment comes on you suddenly while you perceive not!"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَٱتَّبِعُوٓا۟
wa-ittabiʿū
And follow
أَحْسَنَ
aḥsana
(the) best
مَآ
mā
(of) what
أُنزِلَ
unzila
is revealed
إِلَيْكُم
ilaykum
to you
مِّن
min
from
رَّبِّكُم
rabbikum
your Lord
مِّن
min
before
قَبْلِ
qabli
before
أَن
an
[that]
يَأْتِيَكُمُ
yatiyakumu
comes to you
ٱلْعَذَابُ
l-ʿadhābu
the punishment
بَغْتَةًۭ
baghtatan
suddenly
وَأَنتُمْ
wa-antum
while you
لَا
lā
(do) not
تَشْعُرُونَ
tashʿurūna
perceive
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 55) ➊ {وَ اتَّبِعُوْۤا اَحْسَنَ مَاۤ اُنْزِلَ اِلَيْكُمْ … :} Here, the annexation of {’’ اَحْسَنَ ‘‘} to {’’ مَاۤ اُنْزِلَ اِلَيْكُمْ ‘‘} is an explanatory annexation, meaning: follow the revelation sent down by Allah, the Qur’an and Hadith, all of which are the best and superior to every other speech. He said: «اَللّٰهُ نَزَّلَ اَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيْثِ كِتٰبًا مُّتَشَابِهًا مَّثَانِيَ » [ الزمر : ۲۳ ] “Allah has sent down the best statement, a Book consistent within itself.” For further details, see the commentary of Surah Az-Zumar, verses (17, 18).
➋ { مِنْ قَبْلِ اَنْ يَّاْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ بَغْتَةً :} The warning of a sudden punishment is given because, in that case, there will be no opportunity to recover or to repent. Therefore, hasten to follow the commands of Allah before His seizure comes upon you suddenly, while you are unaware, because repentance made after the punishment arrives will not be accepted. See also Surah An-Nisa (18), Yunus (51 and 90, 91), and Surah Al-Mu’min (84, 85).
➋ { مِنْ قَبْلِ اَنْ يَّاْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ بَغْتَةً :} The warning of a sudden punishment is given because, in that case, there will be no opportunity to recover or to repent. Therefore, hasten to follow the commands of Allah before His seizure comes upon you suddenly, while you are unaware, because repentance made after the punishment arrives will not be accepted. See also Surah An-Nisa (18), Yunus (51 and 90, 91), and Surah Al-Mu’min (84, 85).
