سُوْرَةُ الزُّمَرِ
Surah Az-Zumar (39) — Ayah 23
ٱللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ ٱلْحَدِيثِ كِتَـٰبًا مُّتَشَـٰبِهًا مَّثَانِىَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ يَهْدِى بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِنْ هَادٍ ﴿23﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Allâh has sent down the Best Statement, a Book (this Qur’ân), its parts resembling each other (in goodness and truth) (and) oft-repeated. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it (when they recite it or hear it). Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allâh. That is the guidance of Allâh. He Guides therewith whom He wills; and whomever Allâh sends astray, for him there is no guide.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ٱللَّهُ
al-lahu
Allah
نَزَّلَ
nazzala
has revealed
أَحْسَنَ
aḥsana
(the) best
ٱلْحَدِيثِ
l-ḥadīthi
(of) [the] statement
كِتَـٰبًۭا
kitāban
a Book
مُّتَشَـٰبِهًۭا
mutashābihan
(its parts) resembling each other
مَّثَانِىَ
mathāniya
oft-repeated
تَقْشَعِرُّ
taqshaʿirru
Shiver
مِنْهُ
min'hu
from it
جُلُودُ
julūdu
(the) skins
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
(of) those who
يَخْشَوْنَ
yakhshawna
fear
رَبَّهُمْ
rabbahum
their Lord
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
تَلِينُ
talīnu
relax
جُلُودُهُمْ
julūduhum
their skins
وَقُلُوبُهُمْ
waqulūbuhum
and their hearts
إِلَىٰ
ilā
at
ذِكْرِ
dhik'ri
(the) remembrance
ٱللَّهِ ۚ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
هُدَى
hudā
(is the) guidance
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
يَهْدِى
yahdī
He guides
بِهِۦ
bihi
with it
مَن
man
whom
يَشَآءُ ۚ
yashāu
He wills
وَمَن
waman
And whoever
يُضْلِلِ
yuḍ'lili
Allah lets go astray
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah lets go astray
فَمَا
famā
then not
لَهُۥ
lahu
for him
مِنْ
min
any
هَادٍ
hādin
guide
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.
23. Allah has sent down the best statement [36], a Book whose verses resemble each other [37] and are repeated [38]. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it, then their skins and their hearts soften towards the remembrance of Allah [39]. That is Allah’s guidance; He guides with it whom He wills. And whoever Allah lets go astray, for him there is no guide.
[36]
How is the Quran the Best Speech?
The Quran is the best speech in the sense that its verses are based on solid realities. Its style of expression is captivating. Its arguments are easy to understand, from which even a villager can benefit just as much as a learned scholar, and its commands and instructions show the way to live the best life in this world. Moreover, its commands are not merely theoretical but all are practicable, and if acted upon, they guarantee success in the Hereafter. And all these qualities cannot be found in anyone's speech except the speech of Allah.
[37]
What is Meant by Similar Verses?
That is, if a subject appears in the Quran at twenty places, even then there is no contradiction or inconsistency in it. Despite the difference in style and variation in words, the subject of one place confirms and authenticates the subject of another place. This makes the matter fully settle in the mind. That is why it is said: ﴿إنَّ الْقُرْآنَ يُفَسِّرُ بَعَضَه بَعْضًا﴾ It is possible that at one place there is brevity and at another place detail, but there is no contradiction or inconsistency. For example, the Quran has given the command that no non-Muslim should be taken as an intimate friend and confidant, so you will not find anywhere that in politics, no matter or principle is final.
[38]
What Kind of Verses are Meant by Mathani:
Mathani refers, firstly, to those verses which are recited and repeated again and again. In this sense, Surah Al-Fatiha is called "Sab‘ al-Mathani" because this Surah is recited in every unit of prayer at the very least. Then, apart from prayer, it is also recited. The second meaning is those verses which are repeatedly mentioned in the Quran. For example, ﴿وَيْلٌ يَّوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِيْنَ﴾, or ﴿وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآن للذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِنْ مُدَّكِرٍ﴾, or ﴿فَبِايِّ اٰلاَءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبٰنِ﴾, and there are many such verses which are mentioned two or three times. The third meaning is the verses that warn about the fate of previous nations or the stories of the Prophets, which are mentioned repeatedly in various styles in the Quran. Likewise, the refutation of polytheism and the arguments for monotheism are mentioned in countless verses of every Surah. All of these support each other. The fourth meaning is those verses in which there is a kind of comparison. For example, where the people of Paradise are mentioned, the people of Hell are also mentioned, and vice versa. Where the night is mentioned, the day is also mentioned. Where the attribute of Allah as "Qahhar" (the Subduer) is mentioned, in the next verse the attribute "Ghaffar" or "Ghafoor" (the Forgiving) is also mentioned.
[39]
Falling into a State Upon Hearing the Quran is Mere Ostentation:
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Zubairؓ asked his mother, Sayyida Asma bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her), what was the state of the Companions of the Messenger of Allahﷺ when the Quran was recited. She replied, "Tears would come to their eyes and their bodies would shiver." Abdullah ibn Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "In our time, there are some people who faint upon hearing the Quran." Sayyida Asma said, "Allah's refuge from the accursed Satan." The effect of the softening of skins and hearts is that they perform Allah's worship with great happiness and eagerness. These are the qualities of the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and those people who truly accept the effect of the Quran. Then some people, with affectation, invented such ways that upon hearing the Quran, they would faint and fall, which in our language is called "hal parna" or "hal khelna" (falling into a state). Ostentatious and artificial spiritualists do such things to impress ordinary people with their piety. Thus, Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) passed by a man in Iraq who was lying unconscious. He asked, "What happened to him?" People said, "When he hears the Quran, this is what happens to him." Sayyiduna Abdullah said, "We also fear Allah, but we do not fall, and such people have Satan in their bellies." This was not the way of the Companions of the Messenger of Allahﷺ. And someone asked Ibn Sirin, "Some people fall upon hearing the Quran." He said, "Seat such people on a roof so that their legs hang down the wall, then recite the Quran to them. If they fall down, then they are true; otherwise, they are liars and pretenders."
[36]
How is the Quran the Best Speech?
The Quran is the best speech in the sense that its verses are based on solid realities. Its style of expression is captivating. Its arguments are easy to understand, from which even a villager can benefit just as much as a learned scholar, and its commands and instructions show the way to live the best life in this world. Moreover, its commands are not merely theoretical but all are practicable, and if acted upon, they guarantee success in the Hereafter. And all these qualities cannot be found in anyone's speech except the speech of Allah.
[37]
What is Meant by Similar Verses?
That is, if a subject appears in the Quran at twenty places, even then there is no contradiction or inconsistency in it. Despite the difference in style and variation in words, the subject of one place confirms and authenticates the subject of another place. This makes the matter fully settle in the mind. That is why it is said: ﴿إنَّ الْقُرْآنَ يُفَسِّرُ بَعَضَه بَعْضًا﴾ It is possible that at one place there is brevity and at another place detail, but there is no contradiction or inconsistency. For example, the Quran has given the command that no non-Muslim should be taken as an intimate friend and confidant, so you will not find anywhere that in politics, no matter or principle is final.
[38]
What Kind of Verses are Meant by Mathani:
Mathani refers, firstly, to those verses which are recited and repeated again and again. In this sense, Surah Al-Fatiha is called "Sab‘ al-Mathani" because this Surah is recited in every unit of prayer at the very least. Then, apart from prayer, it is also recited. The second meaning is those verses which are repeatedly mentioned in the Quran. For example, ﴿وَيْلٌ يَّوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِيْنَ﴾, or ﴿وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآن للذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِنْ مُدَّكِرٍ﴾, or ﴿فَبِايِّ اٰلاَءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبٰنِ﴾, and there are many such verses which are mentioned two or three times. The third meaning is the verses that warn about the fate of previous nations or the stories of the Prophets, which are mentioned repeatedly in various styles in the Quran. Likewise, the refutation of polytheism and the arguments for monotheism are mentioned in countless verses of every Surah. All of these support each other. The fourth meaning is those verses in which there is a kind of comparison. For example, where the people of Paradise are mentioned, the people of Hell are also mentioned, and vice versa. Where the night is mentioned, the day is also mentioned. Where the attribute of Allah as "Qahhar" (the Subduer) is mentioned, in the next verse the attribute "Ghaffar" or "Ghafoor" (the Forgiving) is also mentioned.
[39]
Falling into a State Upon Hearing the Quran is Mere Ostentation:
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Zubairؓ asked his mother, Sayyida Asma bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her), what was the state of the Companions of the Messenger of Allahﷺ when the Quran was recited. She replied, "Tears would come to their eyes and their bodies would shiver." Abdullah ibn Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "In our time, there are some people who faint upon hearing the Quran." Sayyida Asma said, "Allah's refuge from the accursed Satan." The effect of the softening of skins and hearts is that they perform Allah's worship with great happiness and eagerness. These are the qualities of the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and those people who truly accept the effect of the Quran. Then some people, with affectation, invented such ways that upon hearing the Quran, they would faint and fall, which in our language is called "hal parna" or "hal khelna" (falling into a state). Ostentatious and artificial spiritualists do such things to impress ordinary people with their piety. Thus, Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) passed by a man in Iraq who was lying unconscious. He asked, "What happened to him?" People said, "When he hears the Quran, this is what happens to him." Sayyiduna Abdullah said, "We also fear Allah, but we do not fall, and such people have Satan in their bellies." This was not the way of the Companions of the Messenger of Allahﷺ. And someone asked Ibn Sirin, "Some people fall upon hearing the Quran." He said, "Seat such people on a roof so that their legs hang down the wall, then recite the Quran to them. If they fall down, then they are true; otherwise, they are liars and pretenders."
