Surah Az-Zumar — Verse 23
The Troops · 39:23 · 23/75
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
Allahu nazzala ahsana alhadeethikitaban mutashabihan mathaniya taqshaAAirruminhu juloodu allatheena yakhshawna rabbahum thummataleenu julooduhum waquloobuhum ila thikri Allahithalika huda Allahi yahdee bihi man yashaowaman yudlili Allahu fama lahu min had
Translations of this verse 7
Saheeh International
Allāh has sent down the best statement: a consistent Book wherein is reiteration. The skins shiver therefrom of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts relax at the remembrance [i.e., mention] of Allāh. That is the guidance of Allāh by which He guides whom He wills. And one whom Allāh sends astray - for him there is no guide.
M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
God has sent down the most beautiful of all teachings: a Scripture that is consistent and draws comparisons; that causes the skins of those in awe of their Lord to shiver. Then their skins and their hearts soften at the mention of God: such is God’s guidance. He guides with it whoever He will; no one can guide those God leaves to stray.
Marmaduke Pickthall
Allah hath (now) revealed the fairest of statements, a Scripture consistent, (wherein promises of reward are) paired (with threats of punishment), whereat doth creep the flesh of those who fear their Lord, so that their flesh and their hearts soften to Allah's reminder. Such is Allah's guidance, wherewith He guideth whom He will. And him whom Allah sendeth astray, for him there is no guide.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Allah has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful Message in the form of a Book, consistent with itself, (yet) repeating (its teaching in various aspects): the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble thereat; then their skins and their hearts do soften to the celebration of Allah's praises. Such is the guidance of Allah: He guides therewith whom He pleases, but such as Allah leaves to stray, can have none to guide.
Mufti Taqi Usmani
Allah has sent down the best discourse, a book containing subjects resembling each other, mentioned again and again, shivered from which are the skins of those who have awe of their Lord. Then, their skins and their hearts become soft enough to tend to the remembrance of Allah. This is the Guidance of Allah with which He brings to the right path whomsoever He wills. As for the one whom Allah lets go astray, for him there is no one to guide.
Al-Hilali & Khan
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.
Abul A'la Maududi (Tafhim)
Allah has revealed the best teaching, a self-consistent Book which repeats its contents in manifold forms whereat shiver the skins of those that hold their Lord in awe, and then their skins and their hearts soften for Allah's remembrance. That is Allah's Guidance wherewith He guides whosoever He pleases. And he whom Allah does not guide to the Right Path has none to guide him.
Reason for Revelation Asbāb al-Nuzūl
Arabic source: al-Wāḥidī / al-Suyūṭī, via Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies (CC BY 4.0)
قال تعالى: {اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُتَشَابِهًا مَثَانِيَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِي بِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ (23)} [الزمر: 23].
269 - عن سعد -رضي الله عنه- قال: أنزل على النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- القرآن، قال: فتلاه عليهم زمانا، فقالوا: يا رسول الله لو قصصت علينا؟ فأنزل الله عزَّ وجلَّ: {الر تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ}، إلى قوله: {لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ}، ثم تلاه عليهم زمانا، فقالوا: يا رسول الله، لو حدثتنا. فأنزل الله عزَّ وجلَّ: {اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ} الآية وذكر الحديث ¬أخرجه الحاكم: 2/ 345، والواحدي في أسباب النزول: ص 248، وابن حبان: 6209، وابن جرير: 12/ 150، برقم: 18776 (شاكر)، وأبو يعلى برقم: 740، والبزار برقم: 3218، وانظر مشكل الآثار برقم: 1157، وإسناده قوي؛ رجاله ثقات رجال الصحيح، وحسنه شيخ الإسلام في مجموع الفتاوى: 17/ 40.¥.