Az-Zumar (Surah 39)

Introduction

This Meccan sûrah builds on the story of the creation of Adam in the previous sûrah by referring to the creation of Adam’s spouse, and how their descendants were created in the womb, developing in successive stages. Some of those descendants choose to be faithful and grateful to their Creator, while others choose not to. Eventually, following a fair judgment, the former will be led to their places in Paradise and the latter to their places in Hell—each in successive groups (hence the sûrah’s name). Allah’s willingness to forgive sins is highly emphasized in the last part of this sûrah and the beginning of the next.