Az-Zumar 39:9 · The Groups · Arabic, translation, recitation

Other English translations

Abdel Haleem (Oxford)+

"What about someone who worships devoutly during the night, bowing down, standing in prayer, ever mindful of the life to come, hoping for his Lord’s mercy? Say, ‘How can those who know be equal to those who do not know?’ Only those who have understanding will take heed."

Pickthall (classic)+

"Is he who payeth adoration in the watches of the night, prostrate and standing, bewaring of the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, (to be accounted equal with a disbeliever)? Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Are those who know equal with those who know not? But only men of understanding will pay heed."

Yusuf Ali (classic)+

"Is one who worships devoutly during the hour of the night prostrating himself or standing (in adoration), who takes heed of the Hereafter, and who places his hope in the Mercy of his Lord - (like one who does not)? Say: "Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition."

Tafsīr · classical commentary

Ibn Kathir

Abridged English, public domain

The Obedient and the Sinner are not equal

Allah says, `is the one who is like this equal to one who associates others in worship with Allah and sets up rivals to Him' They are not equal before Allah, as He says:

لَيْسُواْ سَوَآءً مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ أُمَّةٌ قَآئِمَةٌ يَتْلُونَ ءَايَـتِ اللَّهِ ءَانَآءَ الَّيْلِ وَهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ

(Not all of them are alike; a party of the People of the Scripture stand for the right, they recite the Ayat of Allah Ana'a Al-Layl, prostrating themselves (in prayer).) (3:113). And Allah says here:

أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَانِتٌ ءَانَآءَ الَّيْلِ سَـجِداً وَقَآئِماً

(Is one who is obedient to Allah, Ana'a Al-Layl prostrating and standing) meaning, one who is humble and fears Allah when he prostrates and stands (in prayer). It was reported that Ibn Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "The obedient one is one who obeys Allah and His Messenger ." Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Al-Hasan, As-Suddi and Ibn Zayd said, Ana'a Al-Layl means in the depths of the night.

يَحْذَرُ الاٌّخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُواْ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ

(fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord.) means, in his worship he feels both fear and hope. Both are essential in worship, and fear should be stronger during one's lifetime. Allah says:

يَحْذَرُ الاٌّخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُواْ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ

(fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord. ) At the time of death, hope is uppermost, as Imam `Abd bin Humayd recorded in his Musnad from Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered upon a man who was dying, and said to him,

«كَيْفَ تَجِدُكَ؟»

(How do you feel) He said, `I am both afraid and hopeful.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

«لَا يَجْتَمِعَانِ فِي قَلْبِ عَبْدٍ فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا الْمَوْطِنِ إِلَّا أَعْطَاهُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الَّذِي يَرْجُو، وَأَمَّنَهُ الَّذِي يَخَافُه»

(These do not co-exist in a person's heart at times such as this, but Allah will give him what he hopes for and protect him from that which he fears.)" This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i in Al-Yawm wal-Laylah, and Ibn Majah from the Hadith of Yasar bin Hatim from Ja`far bin Sulayman. At-Tirmidhi said, "Gharib." Imam Ahmad recorded that Tamim Ad-Dari, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

«مَنْ قَرَأَ بِمِائَةِ آيَةٍ فِي لَيْلَةٍ كُتِبَ لَهُ قُنُوتُ لَيْلَة»

(Whoever recites one hundred Ayat in one night, it will be recorded as if he prayed all night.) This was also recorded by An-Nasa'i in Al-Yawm wal-Laylah.

قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ

(Say: "Are those who know equal to those who know not") means, is this one equal with the one who sets up rivals to Allah to mislead (men) from His path

إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُواْ الأَلْبَـبِ

(It is only men of understanding who will remember. ) means, the only one who will understand the difference between them is the one who has understanding. And Allah knows best.

Аллах указал на огромную разницу между покорными рабами и ослушниками, а также между учеными мужами и невеждами. Воистину, эта разница очевидна для каждого благоразумного человека. Грешник, который отказывается от поклонения Аллаху и потакает своим низменным желаниям, не может быть равен праведнику, который исправно выполняет повеления Господа и поклоняется Ему самым совершенным образом, то есть совершает лучший обряд поклонения в самое лучшее время суток. Речь идет о необязательном намазе, который совершается глубокой ночью. Этот праведник поклоняется Аллаху со страхом и надеждой. Он страшится наказания в Последней жизни за совершенные им грехи и упущения, но не теряет надежды на милость своего Господа. Таким образом, Аллах описал не только деяния, но и внутренний мир своих праведных рабов, которые совершенно не похожи на непокорных грешников. Неужели равны знающие и невежды? Речь идет о познании Аллаха, исламской религии, ее таинств и мудрых законоположений. Правоверные, которые обладают этим ценным знанием, не имеют ничего общего с невеждами, которые лишены этого знания. Разница между ними столь же велика, что и разница между днем и ночью, светом и тьмой, водой и огнем. Воистину, внемлют наставлениям только люди, обладающие непорочным и здравым рассудком. Они отдают предпочтение более важному перед менее важным, ценят полезные знания и покорность Всевышнему Аллаху, и все это благодаря здравому разуму, который заставляет их задумываться о неизбежных последствиях человеческих деяний. Они совершенно не похожи на невежд, которые лишены способности здраво мыслить и поклоняются своим низменным желаниям.