Volume Sixteen
Book of Quranic Commentary
Part Three
From Sūrah al-Zumar to Sūrah al-Ikhlās

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.

All praise belongs to Allah alone, and may blessings and peace be upon the one after whom there is no prophet.

Sūrah al-Zumar

Shaykh al-Islām Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah—may Allah sanctify his soul—said:

Section

Allah Most High says:

“Those who listen to the Word and follow the best of it”

“The Word” here means the Quran, as explained by the early generations of this community and its leading scholars. Likewise, Allah Most High says:

“Have they not pondered the Word, or has there come to them something that did not come to their forefathers?”

The definite article identifies the particular discourse already known, for the entire surah is devoted to commending the Quran and listening to it. We have discussed this at length elsewhere and demonstrated the error of those who cite this verse as evidence for listening to singing and the like, construing it as general in scope. We have also shown that extending it to every kind of speech is invalid by the consensus of the Muslims.

A well-known question arises here concerning His words:

“They listen to the Word and follow