The Quran

سورة الزُّمَر

Surah Al-Zumar 39:55

The Multitudes · Verse 55 of 75

وَاتَّبِعُوا أَحْسَنَ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ بَغْتَةً وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ

Abdul Mannan Omar

And follow the best (teaching suiting your condition) that has been revealed to you from your Lord before you receive the punishment which will come upon you all of a sudden and take you unawares.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And follow the best of (the courses) revealed to you from your Lord, before the Penalty comes on you - of a sudden while ye perceive not!-

Ahmed Ali

Follow the best of what has been revealed to you by your Lord before the punishment overtakes you suddenly and you are caught unawares,

12 more translations

Ali Unal

Follow in the best way possible what has been sent down to you from your Lord, before the punishment comes upon you all of a sudden, without your being aware (of its coming);

Daryabadi

And follow the best of that which hath been sent down Unto you from your Lord there cometh on you torment of a sudden, while ye perceive not.

Faridul Haque

“And follow this, the best among all, which has been sent down towards you from your Lord, before the punishment comes suddenly upon you whilst you are unaware.”

Maulana Muhammad Ali

And follow the best that has been revealed to you from your Lord before chastisement comes to you all of a sudden, while you perceive not --

Maulvi Sher Ali

And follow the best Teaching that has been revealed to you from your Lord, before the punishment comes upon you suddenly, while you perceive not.'

Muhammad Asad

And ere that suffering comes upon you of a sudden, without your being aware [of its approach], follow the most goodly [teaching] that has been revealed unto you by your Sustainer,

Muhammad Musin Khan

And follow the best of that which is sent down to you from your Lord (i.e. this Qur'an, do what it orders you to do and keep away from what it forbids), before the torment comes on you suddenly while you perceive not!

Muhammad Pickthall

And follow the better (guidance) of that which is revealed unto you from your Lord, before the doom cometh on you suddenly when ye know not,

Muhammad Sarwar

Follow the best of what is revealed to you from your Lord before the torment suddenly approaches you and you will not realize how it came about.

Muhammed ali Shakir

And follow the best that has been revealed to you from your Lord before there comes to you the punishment all of a sudden while you do not even perceive;

Rashad Khalifa

And follow the best path that is pointed out for you by your Lord, before the retribution overtakes you suddenly when you least expect it.

Shabbir Ahmed

And follow the best teaching (the Qur’an) that has been revealed to you by your Lord before the Doom comes upon you suddenly without your perceiving of the why, how and whence of it.

Commentary 39:55 The expression “follow the best that has been revealed” وَاتَّبِعُوا أَحْسَنَ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم, means that what Allâh has revealed is the best.…

وَاتَّبِعُوا أَحْسَنَ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ بَغْتَةً وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ

39:55 The expression “follow the best that has been revealed” وَاتَّبِعُوا أَحْسَنَ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم, means that what Allâh has revealed is the best. Another interpretation of this verse is possible if one takes into account the broader meaning of the word Ahsan (أَحْسَنَ). There are two ways to resolve an injustice done to someone. Either, the harsher principle of eye for an eye, which is allowed in some cases, or more mercifully, ihsân إحسان. The verse teaches us that the way that is good (Ahsan أَحْسَنَ) should be followed. Ahsan is the way of forgiveness, and of foregoing injustice (cf. 39:58).