Surah Az-Zumar

الزمر

Surah 39 · Makki · 75 ayahs · Juz 23–24 · pages 458–467 · 8 rukus

Revealed: Makki
Ayahs: 75
Juz: 23–24
Mushaf pages: 458–467
Words: 1,172
Order revealed: 59th (according to Ibn Abbas)
Year: 9th year of Prophethood

About Surah Az-Zumar (039)

The Surah talks about the true religion. It is to serve Allah sincerely and to avoid Shirk. Tawhid (monotheism) brings the blessings of Allah, while…

The Surah talks about the true religion. It is to serve Allah sincerely and to avoid Shirk. Tawhid (monotheism) brings the blessings of Allah, while Shirk (polytheism) has terrible consequences. The Believers are told not to despair and lose heart. If it is difficult for them to practice their religion in one place, they can migrate from that land. The unbelievers are told that they can do whatever they wish, but they cannot turn the Believers away from the path of faith.

The Surah takes its name from the mention of “az-Zumar” in (39:71) and (39:73) and these are the only mention of the words “Zumar” in the whole Qur’an.

There are 88 Ayat in this Surah.

This surah is published a ruku at a time — the Quran's own reading portion — so each page stays short enough to study properly. Pick where you want to begin.

The 8 rukus of Surah Az-Zumar

Each ruku is a reading portion. This is what each one covers — click any line to open it.

Ruku	What it covers	Ayahs
1	The mushrikeen try to justify their worship of saints saying that it may bring them closer to Allah On the Day of Judgment, no bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another	1–9
2	Believers who cannot practice their faith (Islam) should migrate to other places where they can do so The real losers are those who shall lose their souls and their families on the Day of Judgment No one can rescue the one against whom the sentence of punishment has been decreed	10–21
3	The Qur'an is consistent in its verses though it repeats its teachings in different ways Allah has cited every kind of parable in the Qur'an so that people may learn a lesson	22–31
4	Who can be more wicked than the one who invents a lie against Allah? If Allah intends to harm you, no one can save you and if He intends to bestow His blessings, no one can withhold it	32–41
5	It is Allah Who recalls the souls of people upon their death and of the living people during their sleep If the wrong doers possess all the treasures of the earth and much more besides it, they will gladly offer it as a ransom to redeem themselves on the Day of Judgment	42–52
6	Those who have transgressed against their souls should not despair of Allah's mercy, they should repent while they can	53–63
7	Worship Allah and be among His thankful servants and On the Day of Judgment, the Book of Deeds will be laid open and justice will be done with all fairness	64–70
8	After Judgment, unbelievers will be driven to Hell and the righteous will be led to	71–75

Themes of Surah Az-Zumar (039)

Tawhid al-Khalis (Pure Monotheism). The entire Surah is a most eloquent and effective address which was given some time before the emigration to…

Tawhid al-Khalis (Pure Monotheism).

The entire Surah is a most eloquent and effective address which was given some time before the emigration to Abyssinia, in an environment filled with tyranny and persecution, ill-will and antagonism, in Makkah. It is a sermon whose addresses mainly are the unbelieving Quraysh, although here and there the Believers also have been addressed. In it the real aim of the invitation of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is this; Man should adopt Allah’s servitude sincerely and should not pollute his worship with the service of any other. Presenting this cardinal principle in different ways over and over again, the truth of Monotheism (Tawhid) and the falsehood of polytheism (Shirk) and the evil consequences of following it, have been explained in a most forceful way, and the people exhorted to give up their wrong way of life and return to the mercy of their Lord.

In this very connection, the Believers have been instructed, as if to say: “If a place has become narrow for the worship and service of Allah, His earth is vast: you may emigrate to some other place in order to save your faith: Allah will reward you for your patience.” On the other hand, the Prophet ﷺhas been encouraged, so as to say: “Tell the disbelievers plainly that they may do whatever they like, but their persecutions and tyrannies will never deter you from the way of Islam; that they may go on doing their utmost to obstruct your way, but you will continue to perform your mission in spite of the adverse conditions and circumstances.”

Connection between the beginning and the ending of the Surah “With the truth” ﻖ ِ ّ ِﺑ ْال َح- In the beginning, it is mentioned that the Qur’an was revealed “with the truth” and the last Ayat, the people will be judged “with the truth”; “Indeed, We have sent down to you the Book, (O Muhammad )ﷺ, in truth.

So worship Allah, (being) sincere to Him in religion.” (39:2) “...And it will be judged between them in truth, and it will be said, “(All) praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds.” (39:75)

Key words of Surah Az-Zumar

Arabic builds its words from a three-letter root; change the pattern around the root and the meaning changes with it. These are the roots this surah keeps returning to, and the words built on each — every word links to the ayah it sits in. More in the Grammar Guide.

Root	Times	Words in this surah
اله	61	اللَّهِAllah لِلَّهِFor Allah
قول	29	قُلْSay الْقَوْلَThe word وَقِيلَAnd it will be said
ربب	18	رَبُّكُمْYour Lord رَبَّهُHis Lord
كون	18	كُنْتُمْYou used to كَانَHe used to call أَكُونَI be
عبد	16	فَاعْبُدِSo worship نَعْبُدُهُمْWe worship them لِعِبَادِهِIn his slaves
ارض	12	وَالْأَرْضَAnd the earth الْأَرْضِThe earth
علم	12	عَلِيمٌIs the all knower يَعْلَمُونَKnow تَعْلَمُونَYou will know
قوم	12	وَقَائِمًاAnd standing الْقِيَامَةِOf the resurrection يَاقَوْمِO my people
زمر	2	زُمَرًاIn groups
قشعر	1	تَقْشَعِرُّShiver
شكس	1	مُتَشَاكِسُونَQuarreling
شمز	1	اشْمَأَزَّتْShrink with aversion

Introduction and themes from The Qur’an Companion (Qur’an Wiki), Institute of Qur’anic Studies, reproduced unchanged. Key roots are their selection; every word, meaning and count shown here is from ILMHUB’s own Quran database.

Published 21 August 2026