وَٱتَّبِعُوٓا۟ أَحْسَنَ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ بَغْتَةً وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ 55
Translations
And follow the best of what was revealed to you from your Lord [i.e., the Qur’ān] before the punishment comes upon you suddenly while you do not perceive,
Transliteration
Wa-ittabi'oo ahsana ma unzila ilaykum min rabbikum min qabli an ya'tiakumu al-'adhaabu baghtatan wa-antum la tash'uroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands believers to follow the best of what has been revealed to them from their Lord before punishment comes upon them suddenly and unexpectedly. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret 'the best of what was revealed' (ahsan ma unzila) as referring to the Qur'an itself, particularly its guidance toward righteous conduct and tawhid (monotheism). The emphasis on following before sudden punishment serves as an urgent call to repentance and obedience, highlighting that divine punishment may come without warning to those who delay in their submission to Allah's guidance.
Revelation Context
Surah Az-Zumar is entirely Meccan, revealed during the early period when the Quraysh were actively rejecting the Prophet's message. This ayah appears in the context of warnings to idolaters and those who turn away from Allah's signs. The thematic focus is on the urgency of accepting the message before it is too late, reflecting the broader Meccan emphasis on monotheism, resurrection, and accountability.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim (2858) where the Prophet ﷺ said, 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it,' relates to the importance of following the Qur'an's guidance. Additionally, the hadith in Jami' at-Tirmidhi (2915) concerning the sudden arrival of the Hour emphasizes the theme of unexpected divine consequences for those who delay in obedience.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that following Allah's guidance should not be postponed, as punishment may arrive suddenly and without warning to those who neglect their religious obligations. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of immediately implementing Quranic teachings in daily life rather than delaying repentance or reform.
Related Ayahs
ٱللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى ٱلْأَنفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا وَٱلَّتِى لَمْ تَمُتْ فِى مَنَامِهَا ۖ فَيُمْسِكُ ٱلَّتِى قَضَىٰ عَلَيْهَا ٱلْمَوْتَ وَيُرْسِلُ ٱلْأُخْرَىٰٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Allāh takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die [He takes] during their sleep. Then He keeps those for which He has decreed death and releases the others for a specified term. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.
لَّهُۥ مَقَالِيدُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ
To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth. And they who disbelieve in the verses of Allāh - it is those who are the losers.
إِن تَكْفُرُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنكُمْ ۖ وَلَا يَرْضَىٰ لِعِبَادِهِ ٱلْكُفْرَ ۖ وَإِن تَشْكُرُوا۟ يَرْضَهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
If you disbelieve - indeed, Allāh is Free from need of you. And He does not approve for His servants disbelief. And if you are grateful, He approves [i.e., likes] it for you; and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you about what you used to do. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ ٱشْمَأَزَّتْ قُلُوبُ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِذَا هُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ
And when Allāh is mentioned alone, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter shrink with aversion, but when those [worshipped] other than Him are mentioned, immediately they rejoice.