سُوْرَةُ الزُّمَرِ
Surah Az-Zumar (39) — Ayah 18
ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ ٱلْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُۥٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمْ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿18﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Those who listen to the Word [good advice Lâ ilâha illallâh - (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh) and Islâmic Monotheism] and follow the best thereof (i.e. worship Allâh Alone, repent to Him and avoid Tâghût) those are (the ones) whom Allâh has guided and those are men of understanding.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
Those who
يَسْتَمِعُونَ
yastamiʿūna
they listen (to)
ٱلْقَوْلَ
l-qawla
the Word
فَيَتَّبِعُونَ
fayattabiʿūna
then follow
أَحْسَنَهُۥٓ ۚ
aḥsanahu
the best thereof
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ
ulāika
those
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
(are) they whom
هَدَىٰهُمُ
hadāhumu
Allah has guided them
ٱللَّهُ ۖ
l-lahu
Allah has guided them
وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ
wa-ulāika
and those
هُمْ
hum
are [they]
أُو۟لُوا۟
ulū
the men of understanding
ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ
l-albābi
the men of understanding
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
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.
[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.
