Tafseer of The Groups · Az-Zumar · 39:54
And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The exposition of the interpretation of His exalted word: وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لا تُنْصَرُونَ (And turn in repentance to your Lord and submit to Him, before the punishment comes upon you, whereafter you will not be helped.)
The Exalted, whose mention is blessed, says: Turn, O people, to your Lord in repentance, and return to Him in obedience to Him, and respond to Him in that to which He has called you of His oneness, the exclusive ascription of divinity to Him, and the pure devotion of worship to Him.
As Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, from Qatāda, concerning His word: وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ (And turn in repentance to your Lord): that is to say: turn to your Lord.
Muḥammad related to us, saying: Aḥmad related to us, saying: Asbāṭ related to us, from al-Suddī: وَأَنِيبُوا (And turn in repentance) — he said: respond.
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His word وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ (And turn in repentance to your Lord): the ināba is the return to obedience and the turning away from that which they were upon. Do you not see that He says: مُنِيبِينَ إِلَيْهِ وَاتَّقُوهُ (Turning in repentance to Him, and fear Him)?
And His word: وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ (and submit to Him) — He says: and submit to Him in obedience and acknowledgment of the pure faith — مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ (before the punishment comes upon you) from Him on account of your disbelief in Him.
ثُمَّ لا تُنْصَرُونَ (whereafter you will not be helped) — He says: then no helper will help you, so that he might save you from His punishment that descends upon you.
