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Names

This surah is called Surat Az-Zumar. [264] See: Tafsir Al-Qasimi, 8/278; Tafsir Ibn ?Ashur, 23/311.
It was narrated that ?A?ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not go to sleep on his bed until he recited Bani Isra?il and Az-Zumar every night. [265] Narrated by At-Tirmidhi, 2920; Ahmad, 24388.

Virtues and characteristics

The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to recite it every night.

Makki or Madani?

Surat Az-Zumar is Makki, and it was narrated that there was consensus regarding that. [266] Those who narrated that there was consensus regarding that include: Ibn ?Atiyyah. See: Tafsir Ibn ?Atiyyah, 4/587.

Objectives

The most important objectives of this surah include:
Affirming that only Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, is deserving of worship, and declaring the association of partners with Him (shirk) to be false. [267] See: Tafsir Ibn ?Ashur, 23/312.

Topics

The most significant topics addressed in Surat Az-Zumar include:
Highlighting the high status of the Qur?an, and praise of Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, Who sent it down to His Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in truth.
The command to devote all worship to Allah alone; highlighting the specious argument of those who worshipped others and refutation thereof; some evidence for Allah?s oneness, such as the creation of the heavens and the earth, His subjugating the sun and moon, the creation of man, and so on.
Comparing the attitude of the disbelievers and of the believers, and highlighting the good consequences for those who are patient.
Some advice to the believers, and highlighting the good consequences that will be theirs; warning those who worship anything other than Allah, and highlighting what has been prepared for them of punishment.
Highlighting some of the evidence for the oneness and might of Allah.
Allah?s sending down of the Qur?an and His praising it; the attitude of the believers towards it.
Some of the manifestations of Allah?s might; the argument of the polytheists, and describing what they follow of misguidance, and the bad consequences that will be theirs.
The attitude of man in times of ease and of hardship.
Evidence for the vastness of Allah?s mercy to His slaves; calling them to turn to Allah before the punishment is sent down; regret for negligence at the time when regret will be to no avail.
Some of the events and terrors of the Day of Resurrection; the condition of the disbelievers and the believers, and what has been prepared for both; glorification and praise of Allah by the angels who surround the Throne of their Lord; and the surah ends with praise of Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

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