Sūrah 39 · Meccan

How Sūrah Az-Zumar was revealed.

Where and when it came down, what it teaches, and the hadith about it — all on one calm page.

Read Az-Zumar → The revelation story
Where revealed Meccan

Revealed in the Meccan period, before the migration to Madīnah.

Order of revelation #59

Its place in the traditional order in which the sūrahs were revealed.

Length 75 ayahs

8 reading sections in the Muṣḥaf.

The revelation story

How and when it came down.

This Makkan surah is dedicated to proving Monotheism and the Resurrection through the signs of creation and human nature. It systematically refutes shirk and idolatry, while offering the Prophet (ﷺ) consolation. It is most famous for its universal call to repentance and its central theme of the final gathering of souls on the Day of Judgment.

Themes and purpose:

This Makkan surah is dedicated to proving Monotheism and the Resurrection through the signs of creation and human nature. It systematically refutes shirk and idolatry, while offering the Prophet (ﷺ) consolation. It is most famous for its universal call to repentance and its central theme of the final gathering of souls on the Day of Judgment.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Makkan according to most scholars.

Context: The context is the intense period of rejection in Makkah. The surah contains encouragement to migrate for Allah’s sake [10], suggesting a revelation date around the 5th year of Prophethood, shortly before the migration of some Companions to Abyssinia.

Chronology: It is counted as the 59th surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat Sabā’ and before Ghāfir/al-Mu’min.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: "Sūrat al-Zumar" (The Groups), named for the final destination of souls, who will be driven to Paradise and Hell in distinct groups. It has also been called "Sūrat al-Ghuraf" (The Chambers/Rooms) due to the mention of elevated chambers in Paradise [20].

Virtue: The Prophet (ﷺ) habitually recited al-Zumar (along with Sūrat al-Isra’) before sleeping.

Ayah Count: 72 ayahs (Madīnah/Makkah/Baṣrah) or 75 (Kūfah).

Surah Overview:

  • Monotheism and Prophethood: Praising the Quran and asserting the singular authority of Allah, proved by His creation and administration of the upper and lower worlds. [1-8]
  • Consolation and Steadfastness: Consoling the Prophet (ﷺ) and commanding the believers to adhere to taqwā (piety) and to emigrate from the land of disbelief. [9-20]
  • Contrast: Highlighting the difference between the state of the sincere believers (people of knowledge) and the state of the heedless polytheists, often through parables (e.g., the water cycle). [21-31]
  • Refutation of Shirk: Invalidating the polytheists' excuses and refuting the claim that Allah has partners or sons. [32-47]
  • Warning and Reckoning: Proving the Resurrection and detailing the horrors of the Last Hour, where the disbelievers will regret their choices. [48-52]
  • The Universal Invitation to Repentance: Contains the famous āyah calling those who have wronged themselves not to despair of Allah's mercy. [53-61]
  • The Final Gathering: Describing the Day of Judgment, where souls will be driven in distinct groups to their respective places in Paradise or Hell. [62-73]
  • Conclusion: a final scene of praise and glory to Allah, who has absolute dominion over all things. [74-75]

Sūrah background — via the Quran Foundation Content API. Shown as supplied by the provider. We do not edit, summarise or generate it.

Hadith about this sūrah

What the hadith say.

These 3 narrations in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī are connected to specific āyāt of this sūrah — a linkage reviewed by the Quran Foundation. Open any one to read it in full, in Arabic and English.

  1. Relates to āyah30
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3667, 3668
  2. Relates to āyah53
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4810

    حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَنَّ ابْنَ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَهُمْ قَالَ يَعْلَى إِنَّ سَعِيدَ بْنَ جُبَيْرٍ أَخْبَرَهُ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ نَاسًا، مِنْ أَهْلِ الشِّرْكِ كَانُوا قَدْ قَتَلُوا وَأَكْثَرُوا وَزَنَوْا وَأَكْثَرُوا، فَأَتَوْا مُحَمَّدًا صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالُوا إِنَّ الَّذِي تَقُولُ وَتَدْعُو إِلَيْهِ لَحَسَنٌ لَوْ تُخْبِرُنَا أَنَّ لِمَا عَمِلْنَا كَفَّارَةً‏.‏ فَنَزَلَ ‏﴿‏وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ وَلاَ يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ وَلاَ يَزْنُونَ‏﴾‏ وَنَزَلَ ‏﴿‏قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لاَ تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ‏﴾‏

    Narrated Ibn `Abbas: Some pagans who committed murders in great number and committed illegal sexual intercourse excessively, came to Muhammad and said, "O Muhammad! Whatever you say and invite people to, is good: but we wish if you could inform us whether we can make an expiration for our (past evil) deeds." So the Divine Verses came: 'Those who invoke not with Allah any other god, not kill such life as Allah has forbidden except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse.' (25.68) And there was also revealed:-- 'Say: O My slaves who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah.' (39.53)

    Open at Sunnah.com →

  3. Relates to āyah67
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4811

The link between each āyah and these narrations is the Quran Foundation's reviewed reference map. The wording is reproduced verbatim from a public-domain edition of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and is not edited, summarised or generated; every narration also opens at Sunnah.com so it can be checked against another copy.

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