Al-Qur'an Surah Az-Zumar Verse 3

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Remember, Allah alone deserves the exclusive submission. As for those who have adopted guardians other than Him (saying), “We worship them for no other reason but because they would bring us near to Allah closely”, Allah will judge between them in the matters in which they are differing. Surely, Allah does not guide anyone who is liar, highly infidel.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Indeed, sincere devotion is due ˹only˺ to Allah. As for those who take other lords besides Him, ˹saying,˺ “We worship them only so they may bring us closer to Allah,” surely Allah will judge between all[[ Those who are devoted to Allah alone and those who associate other gods with Him. ]] regarding what they differed about. Allah certainly does not guide whoever persists in lying and disbelief.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Indeed, sincere devotion is due to Allah alone. As for those who take others as guardians besides Him, [saying], “We only worship them so that they may bring us closer to Allah.” Allah will judge between them concerning that over which they differ. Allah does not guide anyone who is a liar and persistent disbeliever.

A. J. Arberry

Belongs not sincere religion to God? And those who take protectors, apart from Him -- 'We only serve them that they may bring us nigh in nearness to God' -- surely God shall judge between them touching that whereon they are at variance. Surely God guides not him who is a liar, unthankful.

Abdul Haleem

true devotion is due to God alone. [As for] those who choose other protectors beside Him, saying, ‘We only worship them because they bring us nearer to God,’ God Himself will judge between them regarding their differences. God does not guide any ungrateful liar.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

LO! for Allah is the religion exclusive. And those who take patrons beside Him, saying: We Worship them not save in order that they may bring us nigh Unto God in approach - -verily Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Verily Allah guideth not him who is a liar and ingrate.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion is due? But those who take for protectors other than Allah (say); "We only serve them in order that they may bring us nearer to Allah." Truly Allah will judge between them in that wherein they differ. But Allah guides not such as are false and ungrateful.

Abul Ala Maududi

Lo, religion is exclusively devoted to Allah. Your religion is entirely consecrated to Him. As for those who have taken others than Allah for their guardians, (they say): “We worship them only that they may bring us nearer to Allah.” Allah will judge between them concerning what they differ about. Verily Allah does not guide anyone who is given to sheer lying, is an utter unbeliever.

Ahmed Ali

Remember that devotion is exclusively for God. Those who have taken protectors other than Him, say: "We worship them that they may bring us nearer to God." Surely God will judge between them in what they are differing about. Verily God does not show the way to an ungrateful liar.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Pay heed! Worship is for Allah only; and those who have taken others as their supporters beside Him say; “We worship* them only so that they get us closer to Allah”; Allah will surely judge between them regarding the matter in which they dispute; indeed Allah does not guide one who is a big liar, extremely ungrateful. (*The pagans regarded their idols as smaller Gods and worshipped them. So did the Christians. This does not apply to Muslims who only respect their elders, and ask for their blessings.)

Ali Quli Qarai

Indeed, only exclusive faith is worthy of Allah, and those who take other as awliya besides Him [claiming,] ‘We only worship them so that they may bring us near to Allah,’ Allah will judge between them concerning that about which they differ. Indeed Allah does not guide someone who is a liar and an ingrate.

Ali Ünal

Beware! it is to God alone that all sincere faith, worship, and obedience are due. Yet, those who take, apart from Him, others (angels, jinn, or humans) for guardians and confidants (to entrust their affairs to) say: "We worship them for no other reason than they may bring us nearer to God." God will judge between them (between those who worship and obey God exclusively and those who associate partners with Him) concerning all on which they differ. God does not guide anyone who is a determined liar and ingrate.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Beware! sincere and true obedience is due to Allâh alone. Those who choose others as a patron beside Him (say), `We serve them only that they may bring us near to Allâh in station.´ (It is absolutely wrong.) Allâh will judge the differences between these (believers and disbelievers). Indeed, Allâh does not guide him to success who is a liar, highly ungrateful.

English Literal

Is not to God the religion the clear/pure? And those who took from other than Him guardians/allies (they say): We do not worship them except to near/approach us to God, (an) approachment/ degree ." That truly God judges/rules between them in what they are in it differing/disputing , that truly God does not guide who he is lying/denying/falsifying , (an insistent) disbeliever.

Faridul Haque

Pay heed! Worship is for Allah only; and those who have taken others as their supporters beside Him say; “We worship * them only so that they get us closer to Allah”; Allah will surely judge between them regarding the matter in which they dispute; indeed Allah does not guide one who is a big liar, extremely ungrateful. (*The pagans regarded their idols as smaller Gods and worshipped them. So did the Christians. This does not apply to Muslims who only respect their elders, and ask for their blessings.)

Hamid S. Aziz

Now, surely, sincere obedience (or pure religion) is due to Allah alone and those who take guardians besides Him, say, "We serve them only that they may bring us nearer to Allah". Surely Allah will judge between them in that in which they differ; surely Allah does not guide him aright who is a liar, ungrateful.

Hilali & Khan

Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only. And those who take Auliya' (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say): "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah." Verily, Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Surely We have revealed to thee the Book with truth, so serve Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Now, surely, sincere obedience is due to Allah (alone) and (as for) those who take guardians besides Him, (saying), We do not serve them save that they may make us nearer to Allah, surely Allah will judge between them in that in which they differ; surely Allah does not guide him aright who is a liar, ungrateful.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Surely pure religion is for Allah only. And those who choose protecting friends beside Him (say): We worship them only that they may bring us near unto Allah. Lo! Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Lo! Allah guideth not him who is a liar, an ingrate.

Muhammad Sarwar

The religion of God is certainly pure. Concerning those whom they consider as their guardians besides God, they say, "We only worship them so that they may make our positions nearer to God." God will certainly issue His decree about their differences. God does not guide the liars and the disbelievers.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Is it not that the sincere religion belongs to Allah? As for those who choose guardians, other than Him, (saying): 'We only worship them so that they will bring us near to Allah' Indeed, Allah will judge between them concerning their differences. Indeed, Allah does not guide he who is an unthankful liar.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Surely, the religion is for Allah only. And those who take protectors besides Him (say): "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah." Verily, Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever.

Wahiduddin Khan

it is to God alone that sincere obedience is due. And those who take other guardians besides Him say, "We serve them only that they may bring us nearer to God." Surely, God will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. God does not guide anyone who is bent on lying and is a disbelieving liar.

Talal Itani

Is not to God that sincere faith is due? As for those who take guardians besides Him, “We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to God.” God will judge between them regarding their differences. God does not guide the lying blasphemer.

Tafsir jalalayn

Surely to God belongs pure religion, none other than Him being deserving of it. And those who take besides Him, the idols [as], patrons; and they are the disbelievers of Mecca -- they say; `We only worship them so that they may bring us near to God' (zulf, a verbal noun, with the sense of taqrban, `for the sake of nearness'). God will indeed judge between them, and the Muslims, concerning that about which they differ, of religion, and so admit the believers into Paradise, and the disbelievers into the Fire. Truly God does not guide one who is a liar, attributing a child to Him, a disbeliever, worshipping other than God.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

أَلَا لِلَّهِ الدِّينُ الْخَالِصُ

Surely, the religion is for Allah only.

meaning, He will not accept any deed unless it is done purely and sincerely for Him Alone, with no partner or associate.

وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاء

And those who take protectors besides Him (say);

Allah tells us that the idolators say;

مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلاَّ لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلْفَى

"We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah."

meaning what motivates them to worship them is the fact that they made their idols in the image of the angels -- or so they claim -- and when they worship those images it is like worshipping the angels, so that they will intercede with Allah for them to help and give them provision and other worldly needs. As far as the resurrection is concerned, they denied it and did not believe in it.

Qatadah, As-Suddi and Malik said, narrating from Zayd bin Aslam and Ibn Zayd;
إِلاَّ لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلْفَى
(only that they may bring us near to Allah), means,

"So that they may intercede for us and bring us closer to Him."

During Jahiliyyah, they used to recite the following for their Talbiyah when they performed Hajj;

"At Your service, You have no partner except the partner You have; he and all that he owns belong to You."

This pretentious argument which the idolators of all times, ancient and modern, used as evidence is what the Messengers, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon them all, came to refute and forbid, and to call people to worship Allah Alone with no partner or associate. This is something that the idolators themselves invented; Allah did not give them permission for it, nor does He approve of it; indeed, He hates it and forbids it.

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولاً أَنِ اعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ الْطَّـغُوتَ

And verily, We have sent among every Ummah a Messenger (proclaiming);"Worship Allah, and avoid Taghut." (16;36)

وَمَأ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلاَّ نُوحِى إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنَاْ فَاعْبُدُونِ

And We did not send any Messenger before you but We revealed to him (saying);"None has the right to be worshipped but I (Allah), so worship Me." (21;25)

And Allah tells us that the angels in the heavens, those who are close to Him and others, are all servants who submit humbly to Allah. They do not intercede with Him except by His leave for the one with whom He is pleased. They are not like the princes and ministers of their (the idolators') kings who intercede with them without their permission for both those whom the kings like and those whom they hate.

فَلَ تَضْرِبُواْ لِلَّهِ الاٌّمْثَالَ

So put not forward similitudes for Allah. (16;74)

Exalted be Allah far above that.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ

Verily, Allah will judge between them,

means, on the Day of Resurrection,

فِي مَا هُمْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ

concerning that wherein they differ.

means, He will judge between His creation on the Day of Resurrection and will reward or punish each person according to his deeds.

وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعاً ثُمَّ يَقُولُ لِلْمَلَـيِكَةِ أَهَـوُلَاءِ إِيَّاكُمْ كَانُواْ يَعْبُدُونَ

قَالُواْ سُبْحَـنَكَ أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا مِن دُونِهِمْ بَلْ كَانُواْ يَعْبُدُونَ الْجِنَّ أَكْـثَرُهُم بِهِم مُّوْمِنُونَ

And (remember) the Day when He will gather them all together, then He will say to the angels;"Was it you that these people used to worship?"

They (the angels) will say;"Glorified be You! You are our Wali (Lord) instead of them.

Nay, but they used to worship the Jinn; most of them were believers in them." (34;40-41)

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي مَنْ هُوَ كَاذِبٌ كَفَّارٌ



Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever.

means, He will not show true guidance to one who deliberately tells lies about Allah and whose heart rejects the signs and proof of Allah.

Then Allah states that He does not have any offspring, as the ignorant idolators claim the angels to be, and as the stubborn Jews and Christians claim `Uzayr and `Isa to be.

Allah, may He be blessed and exalted, says