Surah Zumar ayat 23 Tafsir Quran 39:23

﴿اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُّتَشَابِهًا مَّثَانِيَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِي بِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ﴾
[ الزمر: 23]

39:23 Allah 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 of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah by which He guides whom He wills. And one whom Allah leaves astray - for him there is no guide.

God has revealed the best of discourses a Book kitāban substitutes for ahsana ‘the best’ namely a Qur’ān consimilar in other words some of its parts are similar to others in terms of their arrangement and otherwise in coupled phrases — a Book in which the Promise of reward is coupled with the Threat of punishment together with other such couplings — whereat quiver at the mention of whose Threat shiver the skins of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts soften to they are reassured by the remembrance of God that is at the mention of His Promise. That Book is God’s guidance by which He guides whomever He will of His servants; and whomever God leads astray for him there is no guide.

In complete glory did Allah reveal the best discourse -the Quran, a Book conformable in its various parts, a Book that both illustrates and ennobles the subject and imparts cognition and belief which in act evoke a quiver of the skins of those who entertain the profound reverence dutiful to Allah their Creator, then it accords peace of the soul and the mind conducing their hearts to their settled calmness and their skins to softness at the thought of Allah. This is the spirit of truth whereby Allah guides whom He will into all truth. And he whom Allah gives enough rope and leaves to deviate from sense and from the path of righteousness never will he find any one to guide him thereto

The Description of the Qur'an Here Allah praises His Book, the Noble Qur'an, which was revealed to His noble Messenger ﷺ.
Allah says, اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَـباً مُّتَشَـبِهاً مَّثَانِيَ ( Allah has sent down the Best Statement, a Book, its parts resembling each other (and ) oft-repeated.) Mujahid said, "This means that the entire Qur'an's parts resemble each other and are oft-repeated." Qatadah said, "One Ayah resembles another and one letter resembles another." Ad-Dahhak said, "It is oft-repeated so that people will understand what their Lord tells them." `Ikrimah and Al-Hasan said, "There may be an Ayah in one Surah, and another Ayah in another Surah that resembles it." Sa`id bin Jubayr narrated from Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him: "Oft-repeated means that parts of the Qur'an resemble one another and repeat one another." Some of the scholars said that it was narrated from Sufyan bin `Uyaynah that مُّتَشَـبِهاً مَّثَانِيَ ( its parts resembling each other (and ) oft-repeated.) means that some passages of the Qur'an may sometimes refer to one thing, so they resemble one another, and sometimes they mention a thing and its opposite.
Such as when the believers then the disbelievers are mentioned, or when Paradise then Hell are described, and so on, and this is the meaning of oft-repeated.
Examples include the Ayat: إِنَّ الاٌّبْرَارَ لَفِى نَعِيمٍ - وَإِنَّ الْفُجَّارَ لَفِى جَحِيمٍ ( Verily, the most righteous will be in delight; and verily, the most wicked will be in the blazing Fire (Hell ).) ( 82:13-14 ) كَلاَّ إِنَّ كِتَـبَ الْفُجَّارِ لَفِى سِجِّينٍ ( Nay! Truly, the Record of the most wicked is (preserved ) in Sijjin) until كَلاَّ إِنَّ كِتَـبَ الاٌّبْرَارِ لَفِى عِلِّيِّينَ ( Nay! Verily, the Record of the most righteous is (preserved ) in `Illiyyin) ( 83: 7-18 ) هَـذَا ذِكْرٌ وَإِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ لَحُسْنَ مَـَابٍ ( This is a Reminder.
And verily, for those who have Taqwa is a good final return (Paradise )) until; هَـذَا وَإِنَّ لِلطَّـغِينَ لَشَرَّ مَـَابٍ ( This is so! And for those who transgress, there will be an evil final return (Fire ).) ( 38:49-55 ).
And there are other similar passages.
All of this has to do with it being oft-repeated, i.e., when two meanings are referred to.
But when a passage is about one thing, with some parts of it resembling others, this is "its parts resembling each other." This is not the same as the Mutashabihat mentioned in the Ayah: مِنْهُ آيَـتٌ مُّحْكَمَـتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَـبِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَـبِهَـتٌ ( In it are Ayat that are entirely clear, they are the foundations of the Book; and others not entirely clear ) ( 3:7 ).
that refers to something else altogether. تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ( The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it.
Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah. ) means, this is the description of the righteous, when they hear the Words of the Compeller, the Protector, the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving, because they understand the promises and warnings contained therein.
The frightening words and threats make their skin shiver from fear. ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ( Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah. ) because of their hope for His mercy and kindness.
They are unlike others, the wicked, immoral sinners, in a number of ways: First They listen to the recitation of the Ayat of the Qur'an, while those ( sinners ) listen to poetic verse recited by female singers.
Second When the Ayat of Ar-Rahman are recited to them, they fall down in prostration weeping, with the proper attitude of fear, hope, love, understanding and knowledge, as Allah says: إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَـناً وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ - الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَوةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ - أُوْلـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقّاً لَّهُمْ دَرَجَـتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ ( The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Ayat are recited unto them, they increase their faith; and they put their trust in their Lord; Who perform the Salah and spend out of that We have provided them.
It is they who are the believers in it.
For them are grades of dignity with their Lord, and forgiveness and a generous provision (i.e., Paradise ).) ( 8:2-4 ), وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُواْ بِـَايَـتِ رَبِّهِمْ لَمْ يَخِرُّواْ عَلَيْهَا صُمّاً وَعُمْيَاناً ( And those who, when they are reminded of the Ayat of their Lord, fall not on them (as if they were ) deaf and blind) ( 25:73 ).
When they hear the Ayat of Allah, they are not too busy to pay attention to them; they listen to them and understand their meanings.
So they act upon them and prostrate when they hear them, out of understanding, not out of ignorance and blind following of others.
Third They adhere to the correct etiquette when they listen to them.
As the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, used to do when they listened to the words of Allah recited by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Their skin Would shiver, and their hearts would soften to the remembrance of Allah.
They did not shout or do other actions that are not natural; on the contrary, they would sit quietly with the proper attitude of fear, in an unparalleled fashion.
they attained the victory of praise from their Lord in this world and the Hereafter.
`Abdur-Razzaq said, "Ma`mar told us that Qatadah, may Allah have mercy on him, recited, تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ( The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it.
Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah. ) and said, `This is the characteristic of the friends of Allah; Allah has described them in this manner, saying that their skin shivers, their eyes weep and their hearts find rest to the remembrance of Allah.
He did not say that they lose their minds and swoon; that is the characteristic of the followers of innovation, and that comes from the Shaytan."' Allah's saying: ذلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِى بِهِ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ( That is the guidance of Allah.
He guides therewith whom He wills; ) means, this is the characteristic of those whom Allah has guided, and anyone who does anything different is one of those whom Allah has sent astray. وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ ( and whomever Allah sends astray, for him there is no guide. )

(39:23) Allah has revealed the best teaching, a self-consistent Book *43 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.

Allah has sent down the best statement: meaning

*43) That is, there is no contradiction and disagreement between them.
The whole Book, from the beginning to the end, projects one and the same aim, one and the same belief, and one and the same system of thought and action.
Each of its parts confirms and supports and explains the other themes; and there is perfect consistency in it both in meaning and in style.

 

The Description of the Qur'an Here Allah praises His Book, the Noble Qur'an, which was revealed to His noble Messenger ﷺ.
Allah says, اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَـباً مُّتَشَـبِهاً مَّثَانِيَ ( Allah has sent down the Best Statement, a Book, its parts resembling each other (and ) oft-repeated.) Mujahid said, "This means that the entire Qur'an's parts resemble each other and are oft-repeated." Qatadah said, "One Ayah resembles another and one letter resembles another." Ad-Dahhak said, "It is oft-repeated so that people will understand what their Lord tells them." `Ikrimah and Al-Hasan said, "There may be an Ayah in one Surah, and another Ayah in another Surah that resembles it." Sa`id bin Jubayr narrated from Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him: "Oft-repeated means that parts of the Qur'an resemble one another and repeat one another." Some of the scholars said that it was narrated from Sufyan bin `Uyaynah that مُّتَشَـبِهاً مَّثَانِيَ ( its parts resembling each other (and ) oft-repeated.) means that some passages of the Qur'an may sometimes refer to one thing, so they resemble one another, and sometimes they mention a thing and its opposite.
Such as when the believers then the disbelievers are mentioned, or when Paradise then Hell are described, and so on, and this is the meaning of oft-repeated.
Examples include the Ayat: إِنَّ الاٌّبْرَارَ لَفِى نَعِيمٍ - وَإِنَّ الْفُجَّارَ لَفِى جَحِيمٍ ( Verily, the most righteous will be in delight; and verily, the most wicked will be in the blazing Fire (Hell ).) ( 82:13-14 ) كَلاَّ إِنَّ كِتَـبَ الْفُجَّارِ لَفِى سِجِّينٍ ( Nay! Truly, the Record of the most wicked is (preserved ) in Sijjin) until كَلاَّ إِنَّ كِتَـبَ الاٌّبْرَارِ لَفِى عِلِّيِّينَ ( Nay! Verily, the Record of the most righteous is (preserved ) in `Illiyyin) ( 83: 7-18 ) هَـذَا ذِكْرٌ وَإِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ لَحُسْنَ مَـَابٍ ( This is a Reminder.
And verily, for those who have Taqwa is a good final return (Paradise )) until; هَـذَا وَإِنَّ لِلطَّـغِينَ لَشَرَّ مَـَابٍ ( This is so! And for those who transgress, there will be an evil final return (Fire ).) ( 38:49-55 ).
And there are other similar passages.
All of this has to do with it being oft-repeated, i.e., when two meanings are referred to.
But when a passage is about one thing, with some parts of it resembling others, this is "its parts resembling each other." This is not the same as the Mutashabihat mentioned in the Ayah: مِنْهُ آيَـتٌ مُّحْكَمَـتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَـبِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَـبِهَـتٌ ( In it are Ayat that are entirely clear, they are the foundations of the Book; and others not entirely clear ) ( 3:7 ).
that refers to something else altogether. تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ( The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it.
Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah. ) means, this is the description of the righteous, when they hear the Words of the Compeller, the Protector, the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving, because they understand the promises and warnings contained therein.
The frightening words and threats make their skin shiver from fear. ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ( Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah. ) because of their hope for His mercy and kindness.
They are unlike others, the wicked, immoral sinners, in a number of ways: First They listen to the recitation of the Ayat of the Qur'an, while those ( sinners ) listen to poetic verse recited by female singers.
Second When the Ayat of Ar-Rahman are recited to them, they fall down in prostration weeping, with the proper attitude of fear, hope, love, understanding and knowledge, as Allah says: إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَـناً وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ - الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَوةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ - أُوْلـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقّاً لَّهُمْ دَرَجَـتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ ( The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Ayat are recited unto them, they increase their faith; and they put their trust in their Lord; Who perform the Salah and spend out of that We have provided them.
It is they who are the believers in it.
For them are grades of dignity with their Lord, and forgiveness and a generous provision (i.e., Paradise ).) ( 8:2-4 ), وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُواْ بِـَايَـتِ رَبِّهِمْ لَمْ يَخِرُّواْ عَلَيْهَا صُمّاً وَعُمْيَاناً ( And those who, when they are reminded of the Ayat of their Lord, fall not on them (as if they were ) deaf and blind) ( 25:73 ).
When they hear the Ayat of Allah, they are not too busy to pay attention to them; they listen to them and understand their meanings.
So they act upon them and prostrate when they hear them, out of understanding, not out of ignorance and blind following of others.
Third They adhere to the correct etiquette when they listen to them.
As the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, used to do when they listened to the words of Allah recited by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Their skin Would shiver, and their hearts would soften to the remembrance of Allah.
They did not shout or do other actions that are not natural; on the contrary, they would sit quietly with the proper attitude of fear, in an unparalleled fashion.
they attained the victory of praise from their Lord in this world and the Hereafter.
`Abdur-Razzaq said, "Ma`mar told us that Qatadah, may Allah have mercy on him, recited, تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ( The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it.
Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah. ) and said, `This is the characteristic of the friends of Allah; Allah has described them in this manner, saying that their skin shivers, their eyes weep and their hearts find rest to the remembrance of Allah.
He did not say that they lose their minds and swoon; that is the characteristic of the followers of innovation, and that comes from the Shaytan."' Allah's saying: ذلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِى بِهِ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ( That is the guidance of Allah.
He guides therewith whom He wills; ) means, this is the characteristic of those whom Allah has guided, and anyone who does anything different is one of those whom Allah has sent astray. وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ ( and whomever Allah sends astray, for him there is no guide. )

( Allah hath (now ) revealed the fairest of statements) the best speech, i.e. the Qur’an, ( a Scripture consistent ) the verses of promise, mercy, victory and forgiveness are consistent with each others, and the verses of threat, chastisement, rebuke and warning are consistent with each other, wherein the mention of mercy and chastisement, promises and threats, the abrogating and abrogated, etc., are ( paired ), it is also said that this means: they are repeated, ( whereat ) from the verses of chastisement and threats ( doth creep the flesh of those who fear their Lord, so that their flesh ) soften through the verses of mercy ( and their hearts soften ) and their hearts return ( to Allah’s reminder ) i.e. the Qur’an. ( Such ) i.e. the Qur’an ( is Allah’s guidance ) is the clarification of Allah, ( wherewith He guideth whom He will ) to His religion. ( And him whom Allah sendeth astray ) from His religion, ( for him there is no guide ) to lead him to Allah’s religion.

Allah has sent down the best statement, a Book (this Quran), its parts resembling each other in goodness and truth, 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 Allah. That is the guidance of Allah. He Guides therewith whom He pleases and whomever Allah sends astray, for him there is no guide.

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