Table Of Contents

Meet the Key Figures in Surah Zumar: Roles, Significance & Takeaways

This Character Compendium provides a definitive resource on the key figures, archetypes, and powerful concepts within Surah Az-Zumar, the 39th chapter of the Holy Qur’an. A powerful Makkan Surah, its name, “The Troops,” is derived from its majestic and awe-inspiring depiction of the final, grand separation of humanity on the Day of Judgment into two distinct groups. The chapter is a sustained and eloquent argument for pure monotheism (Tawhid) and sincere devotion (ikhlas), repeatedly contrasting the psychology of the polytheist with that of the true believer. It culminates in a universal and profound call to repentance and hope in the boundless mercy of Allah. Each character card delves into the specific portrayal of these figures and archetypes, extracting the timeless lessons on sincerity, accountability, and the ultimate realities of the Hereafter.

---

Al-Haqq (The Truth)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Haqq is one of the most important concepts in the Qur’an, representing the ultimate Truth, Reality, and Justice. It is a name of Allah Himself, and it also refers to the revelation He sends down and the perfect justice He will establish.

Role in the Surah

The Truth is the standard by which all will be judged on the Last Day. The Surah describes the final scene of judgment: “And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord, and the record [of deeds] will be placed, and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought, and it will be judged between them with truth, and they will not be wronged.” (Az-Zumar, 39:69). The one who brings the truth (the Prophet ﷺ) and the one who believes in it are the ones who are identified as the righteous.

Personality & Attributes

The Truth is the archetype of **absolute certainty, perfect justice, and illuminating reality**. It is characterized by its solidity and permanence. On the Day of Judgment, its light will illuminate the entire earth, dispelling all the darkness of falsehood and doubt that clouded the worldly life.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The final judgment will be based on absolute and perfect truth, with no possibility of error or injustice.
• A believer’s goal is to align their life with “The Truth” (the Qur’an) in this world, so that they may be successful when “The Truth” (divine justice) is manifest in the next.
• The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the one who “has come with the truth,” and the believers are those who “confirm it.”

Supporting References

The imagery of the earth shining with the light of its Lord is a powerful metaphor. In this world, the earth is lit by the created light of the sun. On that Day, all created lights will vanish, and the only light will be the divine, uncreated light of The Truth and The Justice of the Lord of the worlds Himself, a reality that will be visible to all creation.

---

Al-Kafirun (The Disbelievers)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Kafirun, the disbelievers, are those who reject the clear message of Allah’s Oneness and deny the truth of His revelation. The word “kafir” also carries the meaning of being profoundly ungrateful, a key trait they exhibit.

Role in the Surah

The disbelievers are the ones who attribute lies to Allah and deny the truth when it comes to them. Their psychological state is explored: their hearts shrink in aversion when Allah alone is mentioned, but rejoice when partners are associated with Him. Their ultimate fate is described in the great scene that gives the Surah its name: they will be **”driven to Hell in troops”** (39:71). Their faces will be “blackened” on the Day of Judgment, and they will be utterly without helpers against the wrath of God.

Personality & Attributes

The Disbelievers are characterized by their **arrogance, their aversion to pure monotheism, their ingratitude, and their ultimate despair**. They are the “liars” and the “ungrateful.” Their state in the Hereafter is one of humiliation, regret, and eternal punishment.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Aversion to the pure message of Tawhid is a sign of a diseased heart.
• The path of disbelief, though it may have many followers (“troops”), culminates in a journey of shared humiliation.
• The arrogance of this world will be transformed into the blackening of faces in the next, a physical manifestation of inner shame and loss.

Supporting References

The Surah powerfully refutes their primary error of taking intercessors besides Allah. It challenges them with the reality that on the Day of Judgment, all power and all intercession will belong to Allah alone, leaving the disbelievers completely abandoned by the false hopes they clung to in this life.

---

Al-Kitab (The Book of Revelation)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Kitab, The Book, refers to the divine scripture and revelation sent down by Allah for the guidance of humanity. In this Surah, it refers specifically to the Qur’an, described as the best and most consistent of all messages.

Role in the Surah

The Book is presented as the primary source of guidance and the ultimate proof sent down “with truth.” Allah describes its profound effect on the true believers: “Allah has sent down the best statement: a consistent Book wherein is reiteration. The skins shiver therefrom of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts relax at the remembrance of Allah.” (Az-Zumar, 39:23). It is the Book that the Prophet ﷺ is commanded to recite and by which he must judge.

Personality & Attributes

The Book is the archetype of **perfect, consistent, and spiritually potent guidance**. It is described as “mutashabihan mathani” (consistent and paired/reiterated), signifying its internal coherence and the powerful way it repeats its core themes. It is a living message that has a direct, physical effect on the sincere listener.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The Qur’an is the “best statement,” the most beautiful and perfect of all speech.
• The proper way to engage with the Qur’an is to do so with a heart full of fear and awe, which then leads to a state of peace and tranquility.
• The physical and emotional reaction to the Qur’an is a sign of a living faith.

Supporting References

The description of the skin first shivering and then relaxing is a profound psychological and physiological depiction of the experience of engaging with the divine word. The initial shiver comes from the awe of God’s majesty and the fear of His warnings. The subsequent relaxation of the skin and heart comes from the tranquility and hope found in His remembrance and His promises of mercy.

---

Al-Muttaqin (The Pious)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Muttaqin, the pious or the God-conscious, are those who possess *Taqwa*. Taqwa is the state of being conscious and mindful of Allah in all of one’s affairs, which leads a person to perform righteous deeds and abstain from sin. They are the ultimate victors in the Hereafter.

Role in the Surah

The Pious are the second of the two great “troops” on the Day of Judgment. Their journey to Paradise is one of immense honor and dignity. “But those who feared their Lord will be led to Paradise in troops until, when they reach it and its gates are opened and its keepers say, ‘Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein.'” (Az-Zumar, 39:73).

Personality & Attributes

The Pious are the archetype of the **successful, honored, and eternally peaceful believer**. They are characterized by their God-consciousness (Taqwa), which was the defining feature of their earthly lives. In the Hereafter, they are defined by their purity, their state of peace (Salam), and their eternal success.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A life of Taqwa in this world leads to a journey of honor and a reception of peace in the next.
• The ultimate success is to be counted among the troops of the pious who are welcomed into Paradise by the angels.
• The state of being “pure” (tibt-tum) upon entry to Paradise signifies that the struggles of this life have purified the believer from all sins and sorrows.

Supporting References

The contrast between the two troops is stark. The disbelievers are “driven” (siqa), while the pious are “led” (zīqa, a different verb form implying a more honored procession). The gates of Hell are opened *upon* their arrival, as if in surprise, while the gates of Paradise are already opened *for* them, in eager anticipation of their arrival. These subtle linguistic details paint a powerful picture of the two destinies.

---

Al-Mukhlasin (The Sincere Worshippers)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Mukhlasin are the sincere worshippers, those who have purified their religion exclusively for Allah. Their devotion is free from any form of shirk (polytheism) or desire for worldly praise (riya). Sincerity (ikhlas) is the very essence and soul of worship.

Role in the Surah

The command to worship Allah with sincerity is the central and recurring command of the Surah. The Prophet ﷺ is commanded: “Indeed, We have sent down to you the Book in truth, so worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion.” (39:2), and again, “Say, ‘Indeed, I am commanded to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion.'” (39:11). The Surah contrasts this with the disbelievers who pray sincerely only in distress but revert to shirk in times of ease.

Personality & Attributes

The Sincere Worshippers are the archetype of the **true monotheist**. They are characterized by their pure intention and their consistent devotion to Allah in all circumstances, both in hardship and in ease. Their entire religion is for Allah alone.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Sincerity (ikhlas) is the absolute, non-negotiable condition for the acceptance of any act of worship.
• A believer must constantly check their intentions and purify their devotion for Allah alone.
• True sincerity is proven by consistency; worshipping Allah sincerely in all times, not just in moments of desperation.

Supporting References

The Surah’s powerful emphasis on sincere devotion is a cure for the primary disease of the polytheists, which was their divided loyalty. The Mukhlasin are those whose hearts are undivided, directed solely towards the Creator. This is why the religion is described as being “khalis” (pure) for Allah.

---

Allah (The One God)

Brief Biography / Background

Allah is the proper name for the One, True God, the sole Creator, Sustainer, and Sovereign of all existence. Surah Az-Zumar is a profound declaration of His absolute Oneness, His right to sincere worship, His justice, and His boundless mercy.

Role in the Surah

Allah is the ultimate reality and actor in the Surah. He is the one who sent down the “best of statements,” the Qur’an. He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and the fashioner of man. He is the one who takes the souls at death. He is the sole Owner of all intercession. He is the ultimate Judge who will resurrect all of creation and judge between them with truth. The Surah culminates with a universal call to His mercy: “Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'” (39:53).

Personality & Attributes

This Surah magnificently illustrates Allah’s attributes:

• Al-Wahid al-Qahhar (The One, the Prevailing): To whom belongs the dominion on the Day of Judgment.
• Al-‘Aziz al-Hakim (The Exalted in Might, the All-Wise): The source of the revelation.
• Al-Ghafur ar-Rahim (The Forgiving, the Merciful): His mercy encompasses all sins for those who repent.
• Al-Haqq (The Truth): He is the ultimate reality and will judge with truth.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The foundation of religion is the sincere and exclusive worship of the One God.
• A believer should never despair of Allah’s mercy, no matter how great their sins. The door to repentance is always open.
• Ultimate justice and sovereignty belong to Allah alone, a reality that will become manifest to all on the Last Day.

Supporting References

The verse of hope (39:53) is considered by many scholars to be the most hopeful verse in the entire Qur’an. It is a direct, personal, and universal call from Allah to “My servants,” offering a boundless ocean of mercy and forgiveness to anyone who is willing to turn back to Him before it is too late. It is the ultimate expression of His attribute Ar-Rahman.

---

The Angels surrounding the Throne

Brief Biography / Background

The Angels are beings of light who are the perfectly obedient servants of Allah. A specific group of them are the bearers of the Divine Throne (‘Arsh) and those who surround it, constantly engaged in the glorification of their Lord.

Role in the Surah

They are mentioned in the final, majestic scene of the Day of Judgment. After the judgment has been passed and the people of Paradise and Hell have been led to their destinations, the Surah gives a glimpse of the highest heaven. “And you will see the angels surrounding the Throne, exalting [Allah] with praise of their Lord. And it will be judged between them with truth, and it will be said, ‘Praise to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.'” (Az-Zumar, 39:75).

Personality & Attributes

The Angels are the archetype of **perfect, perpetual, and awe-inspired worship**. They are characterized by their constant tasbih (glorification) and hamd (praise). Their eternal activity is a testament to the infinite majesty of the Lord whom they serve.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The scene instills in the believer a profound sense of awe for the majesty of Allah and His kingdom.
• The praise of Allah is a cosmic and eternal reality, in which the believers in Paradise will join the angels.
• The final word after the completion of the divine judgment and the sorting of all creation is a universal declaration of praise: “Alhamdulillahi Rabbil ‘Alamin.”

Supporting References

This concluding verse provides a sense of ultimate finality and perfect order. The chaos of human history and the drama of the judgment are over. The truth has been established, justice has been served, and the only reality that remains is the eternal, peaceful praise of the Lord of the worlds by His pure and obedient servants. It is the ultimate and perfect end to the story of creation.

---

The ‘Arsh (The Throne)

Brief Biography / Background

The ‘Arsh, the Divine Throne, is the greatest of all of Allah’s creations, a symbol of His absolute sovereignty, majesty, and authority over the entire universe. Its exact nature is beyond human comprehension, but belief in it is part of the Islamic creed.

Role in the Surah

The Throne is mentioned in the final verse of the Surah as the center of the highest heaven and the focal point of the angels’ worship. “And you will see the angels surrounding the Throne, exalting [Allah] with praise of their Lord.” (Az-Zumar, 39:75). Its presence in the final scene of judgment signifies the complete and manifest establishment of divine authority and kingship.

Personality & Attributes

The Throne is the ultimate archetype of **divine majesty, sovereignty, and absolute authority**. It is the cosmic seat of the King of all kings. The angels surrounding it in praise is a depiction of the perfect and eternal royal court of the Lord of the worlds.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer should have a profound sense of awe for the majesty and grandeur of Allah’s kingdom.
• The Throne is a real creation and a symbol of the absolute power of Allah, which will be fully manifest on the Last Day.
• Contemplating the image of the Throne and the angels should increase a believer’s humility and their glorification of God.

Supporting References

The Qur’an mentions the Throne in several places, always in the context of Allah’s ultimate power and authority. The final scene in Surah Az-Zumar is one of the most majestic, providing a glimpse into the celestial reality after the judgment of the earthly realm has been concluded.

---

As-Sur (The Trumpet)

Brief Biography / Background

As-Sur, the Trumpet, is the celestial instrument that will be blown by an angel (traditionally identified as Israfil) to signal the end of the world and the beginning of the Day of Resurrection. The Qur’an describes two primary blasts with cataclysmic effects.

Role in the Surah

The blowing of the Trumpet is described as the event that will initiate the universal death and subsequent resurrection of all creation. “And the Horn will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will fall dead except whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown again, and at once they will be standing, looking on.” (Az-Zumar, 39:68).

Personality & Attributes

The Trumpet is the archetype of the **Great Announcement, cosmic death, and universal resurrection**. It is the signal that will shatter the foundations of the current reality and usher in the final, eternal reality. Its blast is the single command that brings about the death and rebirth of the entire cosmos.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Belief in the blowing of the Trumpet and the subsequent resurrection is a fundamental article of faith.
• The events of the Last Day will be of a cosmic scale, affecting all that is in the heavens and the earth.
• The power of Allah is absolute; a single command from Him is sufficient to cause the end and the beginning of all of creation.

Supporting References

This verse provides a clear and concise timeline of the final events. The first blast is for the “swooning” or death of all creation. There is a period of stillness. The second blast is for the resurrection, where all will be standing and looking on, waiting for the judgment to begin. It is a moment of profound and universal awe.

---

The Creator of Man

Brief Biography / Background

This is an archetype representing Allah in His specific role as the originator of human life. The creation of every human being, both the first man and all his descendants, is a profound sign of His power and wisdom.

Role in the Surah

The creation of humanity is presented as a proof of God’s Oneness and a reason for sincere devotion. The Surah states: “He created you from one soul and created from it its mate and sent down for you of pasture animals eight pairs. He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation, in three veils of darkness.” (Az-Zumar, 39:6). This detailed description of embryology is presented as a sign of the mastery of the Creator.

Personality & Attributes

This archetype represents **masterful, meticulous, and purposeful creative power**. The Creator is an artist who fashions the human being through intricate stages in a protected environment. The process is orderly and precise (“creation after creation”).

Major Lessons & Morals

• Reflecting on one’s own creation, from a single soul to the complex stages in the womb, is a powerful proof of God’s existence and power.
• The creation of man and woman from a single source is a sign of our shared humanity and the sacredness of the marital bond.
• The God who so masterfully creates us in the darkness of the womb can surely bring us forth for judgment.

Supporting References

The “three veils of darkness” is considered a scientific miracle of the Qur’an. It is a precise and accurate description of the three layers that protect the fetus in the womb: the abdominal wall, the uterine wall, and the amniotic sac. This level of biological insight is a testament to the divine origin of the revelation.

---

The Day of Judgment

Brief Biography / Background

The Day of Judgment is the inevitable day when all of humanity will be resurrected and held accountable for their deeds before Allah. Surah Az-Zumar provides some of the most vivid and majestic descriptions of this day in the entire Qur’an.

Role in the Surah

The Day of Judgment is the ultimate horizon towards which the entire Surah points. It is the day when the Trumpet will be blown, and all will be resurrected. It is the day when the earth will **”shine with the light of its Lord.”** The Book of deeds will be laid open, and the prophets and witnesses will be brought forth. It is the day when the final judgment will be passed “with truth,” and the troops of the wicked will be driven to Hell, while the troops of the pious are led in honor to Paradise. It is the culmination of the entire divine plan.

Personality & Attributes

The Day of Judgment is the archetype of **absolute justice, ultimate truth, and final accountability**. It is a day of awesome majesty and perfect order. It is the day when all falsehoods will vanish and the true sovereignty of Allah, the One, the Prevailing, will be manifest to all.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Belief in the Day of Judgment is a powerful motivator for righteous conduct in this life.
• One should live their life with the constant awareness that a day of perfect and transparent accounting is coming.
• The scenes from this Day should fill a believer’s heart with a healthy balance of fear of God’s justice and hope in His mercy.

Supporting References

The Surah’s depiction of the Day of Judgment is comprehensive. It covers the resurrection (the blowing of the Trumpet), the setting (the earth shining with God’s light), the evidence (the Book and the witnesses), the verdict (judgment with truth), and the final sentencing (the procession of the troops to their final abodes). It is a complete and awe-inspiring picture of the final day.

---

The Despairing Sinner

Brief Biography / Background

The Despairing Sinner is the archetype of the person who has transgressed and sinned to such an extent that they begin to lose hope in the possibility of forgiveness. They are overwhelmed by their own guilt and feel that they are too far gone to be saved.

Role in the Surah

This character is the direct addressee of the most hopeful verse in the Qur’an. Allah, in His boundless mercy, sends a direct and personal message to this specific individual: “Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'” (Az-Zumar, 39:53).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **guilt, transgression, and a state of despair (qunut)**. They are on the brink of losing all hope. Allah’s message to them is a powerful intervention, designed to pull them back from the abyss of hopelessness and into the ocean of divine mercy.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Despairing of the mercy of Allah is a grave sin. No matter how many sins one has committed, the mercy of Allah is greater.
• The door to repentance is always open for the one who is willing to turn back to God before it is too late.
• A believer should never make another person despair of Allah’s mercy, but should always share this message of boundless hope.

Supporting References

This verse is a divine cure for the disease of despair. It is a direct and universal call to every sinner, in every age, to never give up. The conditions for receiving this mercy are mentioned in the verses that follow: to “return in repentance to your Lord and submit to Him” before the punishment comes suddenly.

---

The Devout Worshipper in the Night

Brief Biography / Background

This is the archetype of the sincere believer whose devotion to Allah is not a public show, but a private and intimate reality. This is the person who sacrifices their sleep to stand in the quiet hours of the night, prostrating and standing in worship.

Role in the Surah

This character is presented in a powerful rhetorical question that contrasts them with the heedless disbeliever. “Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who is not]? Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?'” (Az-Zumar, 39:9).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by their **sincere devotion, their humility, and their balanced spiritual state**. Their worship is driven by two profound motivations: “fearing the Hereafter” and “hoping for the mercy of his Lord.” They are the ones who truly “know,” in contrast to the ignorant who are heedless of these realities.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The voluntary night prayer is a key characteristic of the most sincere and knowledgeable servants of Allah.
• True knowledge is that which translates into action, especially the act of humble worship.
• A believer’s worship should be motivated by a healthy balance of both fear of God’s justice and hope in His mercy.

Supporting References

The verse definitively states that the one who has this quality and the one who does not are “not equal.” It establishes a clear criterion for true worth and knowledge. The true scholar (‘alim) is not the one who has memorized the most information, but the one whose knowledge leads them to forsake their bed at night to worship their Lord.

---

The Disbeliever who Prays in Distress

Brief Biography / Background

This is the archetype of the hypocritical polytheist. This is the person who, in times of ease and prosperity, arrogantly associates partners with Allah, but in moments of severe hardship and distress, their innate primordial nature (fitrah) takes over and they call upon the One True God with sincerity.

Role in the Surah

This character’s hypocrisy is exposed to highlight the illogical nature of shirk. “And when adversity touches man, he calls upon his Lord, turning to Him in repentance. Then when He bestows on him a favor from Himself, he forgets him whom he had called upon before and sets up rivals to Allah…” (Az-Zumar, 39:8). A similar description is given for those at sea in a storm.

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by their **inconsistency, their hypocrisy, and their forgetfulness**. Their sincerity is temporary and conditional, lasting only as long as the hardship. As soon as the blessing of relief comes, their ingratitude and polytheism return. They are a model of a weak and wavering faith.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The human fitrah (primordial nature) instinctively knows the truth of Tawhid, a fact that becomes manifest in moments of absolute desperation.
• True faith is not just turning to Allah in hardship, but remaining grateful and obedient to Him in times of ease as well.
• A believer should strive for consistency in their devotion, so that their relationship with Allah is not dependent on their external circumstances.

Supporting References

This is a recurring theme and a powerful argument in the Qur’an. It uses the polytheists’ own behavior in moments of crisis as a proof against them. It essentially says, “In your moment of truth, you yourselves act like perfect monotheists. Why then do you return to your falsehood as soon as you are safe?”

---

The Face that is Blackened

Brief Biography / Background

The Blackened Face is a powerful and terrifying archetype of the state of the liar and the disbeliever on the Day of Judgment. The blackening of the face is a physical manifestation of the inner state of shame, loss, and the darkness of their disbelief.

Role in the Surah

This is the specific state of those who “tell a lie against Allah.” “And on the Day of Resurrection you will see those who lied about Allah [with] their faces blackened. Is there not in Hell a residence for the arrogant?” (Az-Zumar, 39:60).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype represents **ultimate humiliation, disgrace, and divine condemnation**. It is the opposite of the radiant, shining faces of the people of Paradise. The blackness is a physical sign of their inner corruption and the evil of their greatest sin: attributing lies (such as the claim that He has a son or partners) to God.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Telling lies about Allah is one of the gravest sins and its consequence is public humiliation on the Day of Judgment.
• A person’s physical state in the Hereafter will be a direct reflection of their spiritual state in this world.
• The root cause of telling lies about Allah is arrogance, and the fitting residence for the arrogant is Hellfire.

Supporting References

This verse is contrasted with the next verse, which describes Allah saving the pious (muttaqin) who will not be touched by evil or grief. The two verses together paint a picture of the two destinies: one of faces blackened with shame, destined for Hell, and the other of souls saved in triumph, destined for peace.

---

The False Intercessors (Shufa’a’)

Brief Biography / Background

The False Intercessors (Shufa’a’) are the idols, angels, or righteous beings that the polytheists worship under the pretext that these beings will act as intermediaries or intercessors for them with Allah. This was the primary justification for idolatry among the Arabs of Makkah.

Role in the Surah

The entire concept of taking intercessors besides Allah is completely demolished by the Surah. “Or have they taken other than Allah as intercessors? Say, ‘Even though they do not possess a thing, nor do they reason?’ Say, ‘To Allah belongs all intercession. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth.'” (Az-Zumar, 39:43-44).

Personality & Attributes

The False Intercessors are the archetype of **powerless and false hope**. They are characterized by their complete inability to act. They do not own anything, they cannot reason, and they have absolutely no share in the authority of intercession. They are a complete and utter delusion.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The authority for intercession belongs absolutely and exclusively to Allah. No one can intercede with Him except by His permission.
• The belief in unauthorized intercessors is a form of shirk and is based on a complete fallacy.
• A believer should direct all their hopes, prayers, and worship directly to Allah, the sole owner of all power and dominion.

Supporting References

This is one of the most powerful and direct refutations of the concept of shirk in the entire Qur’an. It systematically dismantles the primary justification used by the polytheists. It teaches that the path to Allah is a direct one, and there is no need for, nor is there any power in, the intermediaries they had invented.

---

The First of the Muslims

Brief Biography / Background

The First of the Muslims is the archetype of the leader and forerunner in submission to Allah. To be the “first” to submit is a station of immense honor, signifying a person who leads the way for others in accepting the truth.

Role in the Surah

This title is what the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is commanded to declare as his own personal state. After being commanded to worship Allah with sincere devotion, he is told to say: “And I am commanded to be the first of the Muslims.” (Az-Zumar, 39:12). This is a declaration of his role as the leader and perfect exemplar of the community of submission (Islam).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by its **leadership in submission, its sincerity, and its role as a pioneer of faith**. It is the one who sets the example for the entire community to follow. The Prophet is not just a teacher of submission; he is the foremost of those who submit.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A leader, especially a religious leader, must be the first and best exemplar of the message they are calling to.
• A believer should have a sense of righteous ambition, striving to be among the first and foremost in all good deeds and in their submission to Allah.
• The essence of the Prophet’s mission is encapsulated in this title: he is the leader of the Ummah of Muslims.

Supporting References

This declaration is a powerful statement of the Prophet’s identity and mission. It affirms that the religion he is calling to, Islam, is not just a set of beliefs, but a state of being—a complete submission to the Lord of the worlds—and he is the first and foremost model of that state.

---

The Heedless (Al-Ghafilun)

Brief Biography / Background

The Heedless (Al-Ghafilun) are those who are engrossed in the transient affairs of this world, forgetful of Allah, and completely unaware of their purpose and their ultimate return to Him. It is the state of being spiritually asleep.

Role in the Surah

The state of heedlessness is presented as the reason why people are not prepared for the Day of Judgment. The Surah paints a picture of people living their lives, only to be seized by the punishment suddenly. The final judgment will be established, and the heedless will be left with no excuse. The entire Surah, with its parables and warnings, is a divine attempt to awaken this group from their slumber.

Personality & Attributes

The Heedless are the archetype of the **distracted and spiritually unaware**. They are characterized by their focus on the superficial and their forgetfulness of the ultimate reality. Their lives are lived without a moral compass, a state that will be shattered by the final reckoning.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Heedlessness (ghaflah) is a dangerous spiritual disease that is the root cause of disbelief and sin.
• The primary purpose of the Qur’an is to awaken humanity from this state of heedlessness.
• A believer must constantly struggle against their own tendency towards heedlessness by engaging with the divine reminder.

Supporting References

The Surah consistently challenges the heedless by asking them to reflect: to look at the signs in the heavens and the earth, to consider their own creation, and to ponder the parables set forth. The cure for heedlessness is active and conscious reflection (tafakkur).

---

The Heart that Shrinks from Tawhid

Brief Biography / Background

This is the archetype of the heart of the polytheist. It is a heart that is so accustomed to the complexity and comfort of worshipping multiple deities that the pure, simple, and demanding truth of the Oneness of God (Tawhid) causes it to shrink in aversion.

Role in the Surah

This psychological state is described with profound accuracy. “And when Allah is mentioned alone, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter shrink with aversion, but when those [worshipped] besides Him are mentioned, immediately they rejoice.” (Az-Zumar, 39:45).

Personality & Attributes

This heart is characterized by its **aversion to truth and its affinity for falsehood**. It is a diseased heart that finds the pure remembrance of the One God to be distasteful, but finds joy and comfort in the complicated and baseless world of polytheism. It is a heart that is upside down.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A key sign of a diseased and polytheistic heart is feeling an aversion or boredom when Allah alone is mentioned, but feeling excitement when worldly or false objects of devotion are mentioned.
• A believer, on the other hand, is one whose heart finds its ultimate joy and tranquility in the remembrance of Allah alone.
• One should test their own heart: does it rejoice in the pure message of Tawhid, or does it need the “entertainment” of other attachments?

Supporting References

This verse is a powerful psychological mirror. It was a direct description of the Quraysh, who would become agitated and bored when the Prophet ﷺ recited the parts of the Qur’an dealing with pure monotheism, but would become animated and engaged when the stories or other topics were discussed. It is a timeless diagnostic tool for the health of the human heart.

---

The Ignorant (who are not equal to the knowledgeable)

Brief Biography / Background

The Ignorant in this context are not those who are illiterate, but those who are ignorant of the ultimate realities of existence. They are the heedless disbelievers who live their lives without any knowledge of their Creator or their final purpose.

Role in the Surah

Their state is contrasted with that of the devout and knowledgeable worshipper. After describing the one who prays at night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for God’s mercy, the Surah poses a definitive rhetorical question: “Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?'” (Az-Zumar, 39:9). The obvious answer is that they are not equal.

Personality & Attributes

The Ignorant are the archetype of the **spiritually unaware and the heedless**. They are characterized by their lack of knowledge concerning the most important of all subjects: God, the purpose of life, and the Hereafter. They are the ones who are spiritually blind.

Major Lessons & Morals

• There is a fundamental inequality between a person who possesses true, beneficial knowledge and one who is ignorant of it.
• True knowledge is not the accumulation of worldly facts, but the knowledge that leads to the fear and hope of God and to righteous action.
• A believer should always strive to be among “those who know” and to flee from the state of ignorance.

Supporting References

The verse concludes, “Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.” This links true knowledge directly to the possession of a sound intellect and a reflective heart (Ulul-albab). The truly intelligent are those who use their minds to move from the state of ignorance to the state of knowledge and worship.

---

The Keepers of Hell (Khazanatuha)

Brief Biography / Background

The Keepers of Hell are a specific group of powerful and stern angels who are tasked with guarding the gates of Hell and managing its inhabitants. They are the agents of divine justice who carry out their duties without flaw.

Role in the Surah

Their role is to be the first to meet the troops of the disbelievers as they arrive at their final destination. They will open the gates and greet them not with peace, but with a powerful and damning rebuke. They will ask a question that will leave the disbelievers with no excuse: “…its keepers will say, ‘Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?’ They will say, ‘Yes…'” (Az-Zumar, 39:71).

Personality & Attributes

The Keepers of Hell are the archetype of the **stern and just warden**. They are characterized by their formidable nature and their role as the first to confirm the justice of the disbelievers’ punishment. Their questioning is not for information, but for establishing the proof against the criminals from their own mouths.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The justice of Allah is so perfect that even at the gates of Hell, the proof will be established against the disbelievers from their own testimony.
• The dialogue with the Keepers serves to remove any possibility of a person claiming they were unaware or that no warning came to them.
• This scene should motivate a believer to heed the warnings of the messengers in this life, to avoid having to face this terrible questioning in the next.

Supporting References

Their question is a pivotal part of the process of divine justice. It forces the disbelievers to admit, with their own tongues, that they had received the message and the warning, and that their presence in this wretched place is a direct consequence of their own choices. This confession seals their fate and justifies their punishment.

---

The Keepers of Paradise (Khazanatuha)

Brief Biography / Background

The Keepers of Paradise are a specific group of angels who are tasked with guarding the gates of Paradise and welcoming the righteous believers into their eternal home. They are the agents of divine honor and mercy.

Role in the Surah

Their role is to provide a beautiful and honorable reception for the troops of the pious as they arrive. In stark contrast to the Keepers of Hell, their greeting is one of peace, honor, and joyous welcome. “…and its gates are opened and its keepers will say, ‘Peace be upon you; you have become pure, so enter it to abide eternally therein.'” (Az-Zumar, 39:73).

Personality & Attributes

The Keepers of Paradise are the archetype of the **gracious and welcoming host**. They are characterized by their joyful and peaceful nature. Their words are the first taste of the bliss of Paradise, confirming the believer’s success, acknowledging their purity, and inviting them into their eternal home.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A life of piety and God-consciousness is rewarded with a reception of the highest honor in the Hereafter.
• The greeting of “Salamun ‘alaykum” (Peace be upon you) is the official greeting of Paradise, signifying that it is an abode of perfect and absolute peace.
• The statement “you have become pure” (tibt-tum) is the ultimate confirmation that the struggles and trials of the worldly life have successfully purified the believer’s soul.

Supporting References

The contrast between the two receptions is a central lesson of the Surah. One group is met with a harsh rebuke that confirms their guilt. The other is met with a beautiful greeting of peace that confirms their success. The Surah forces the reader to reflect on which of these two receptions they are working towards.

---

The Knowledgeable (‘Ulama)

Brief Biography / Background

The Knowledgeable (‘Ulama) are the archetype of those who possess true, beneficial knowledge (‘ilm). In the Qur’anic context, this refers not just to the accumulation of facts, but to the deep understanding that leads to the fear of God and to righteous action.

Role in the Surah

Their state is contrasted with that of the ignorant. After describing the devout worshipper who prays at night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for God’s mercy, the Surah poses a definitive rhetorical question: “Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?'” (Az-Zumar, 39:9). The knowledgeable are thus identified as the ones whose knowledge has translated into a life of sincere worship.

Personality & Attributes

The Knowledgeable are characterized by their **piety, their humility, and their action**. They are the ones who truly “know,” and this knowledge is manifest in their devotion. They are the “people of understanding” (ulul-albab) who take heed from the signs of God.

Major Lessons & Morals

• There is a fundamental inequality between a person who possesses true, beneficial knowledge and one who is ignorant of it.
• True knowledge is not an abstract concept, but is a light that should lead to a life of worship and God-consciousness.
• A believer should always strive to be among “those who know” and to flee from the state of spiritual ignorance.

Supporting References

This verse defines true scholarship in Islam. The measure of a true scholar (‘alim) is not the size of their library or the number of books they have memorized, but the degree to which their knowledge has instilled in them the fear and hope of their Lord, and has motivated them to act upon that knowledge.

---

The Liar against Allah (Kadhib)

Brief Biography / Background

The Liar against Allah is the archetype of the person who commits the greatest of injustices: either by inventing falsehoods and attributing them to God, or by denying the clear truth that has come from Him. It is the ultimate form of spiritual and intellectual dishonesty.

Role in the Surah

This character is defined in a powerful question that establishes the hierarchy of wrongdoing. “So who is more unjust than one who lies about Allah and denies the truth when it has come to him? Is there not in Hell a residence for the disbelievers?” (Az-Zumar, 39:32). This is contrasted with the one who “brings the truth” (the Prophet) and the one who “confirms it” (the believers), who are the truly righteous.

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **injustice, arrogance, and dishonesty**. They are the ones whose faces will be “blackened” on the Day of Judgment. Their lie against Allah can be in attributing partners or a son to Him, or in denying His promise of resurrection. Their crime is the greatest of all injustices.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Telling lies about Allah or denying His truth is the greatest of all sins.
• The consequence for this crime is public humiliation on the Day of Judgment and a residence in Hellfire.
• A believer must be the opposite: the one who brings the truth (if they have knowledge) and, at a minimum, the one who always confirms and believes in the truth.

Supporting References

The Surah establishes a clear and simple division of humanity. On one side are those who bring the truth and those who confirm it. On the other side are those who lie about the truth and those who deny it. This fundamental choice is what determines one’s eternal destiny.

---

Musa (Moses) `عليه السلام` (alluded to)

Brief Biography / Background

While not mentioned by name, Musa (Moses) (عليه السلام) is alluded to as the preeminent example of a prophet to whom Allah spoke directly, and to whom a great Book of guidance was given. He is a central figure in the history of revelation.

Role in the Surah

He is alluded to as the one who was given the Book that served as a guide and a mercy before the Qur’an. The Qur’an is described as confirming the revelations that came before it. More specifically, Allah’s act of speaking from behind a veil or sending a messenger is His way of communicating with mortals, a direct reference to how He spoke to Musa at Mount Tur. The Surah says Allah gave Musa the Book to guide his people, and from them came leaders who were patient and certain.

Personality & Attributes

Musa is the archetype of the **recipient of the Book and the founder of a guided community**. His story is the historical precedent for the divine act of sending a scripture to a people to serve as the basis of their law and guidance.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The sending of divine books is a consistent pattern in Allah’s mercy to humanity.
• The purpose of a divine Book is to be a source of guidance for a nation.
• A righteous community is one that produces its own leaders who guide according to the principles of the Book they have been given.

Supporting References

The mention of Musa’s Book (the Torah) serves as a powerful parallel to the Qur’an. Just as the Torah was a guidance for the Children of Israel, the Qur’an is a guidance for all of humanity. And just as the Torah produced patient and certain leaders, the Qur’an is meant to produce the same quality of leadership within the Muslim Ummah.

---

The One whose Breast is Expanded for Islam

Brief Biography / Background

This is the archetype of the rightly guided believer. Their heart and mind (“breast”) have been opened and expanded by Allah to receive the light of Islam. This is a divine gift and the ultimate sign of being on the right path.

Role in the Surah

This character is presented in a rhetorical question that contrasts their blessed state with the state of the hard-hearted. “So is one whose breast Allah has expanded for Islam and he is upon a light from his Lord [like one whose heart is hardened]? Then woe to those whose hearts are hardened from the remembrance of Allah.” (Az-Zumar, 39:22).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by being in a state of **light, guidance, and receptivity**. Their “expanded breast” is a metaphor for a heart that is open, at peace, and readily accepts the truth. They are upon a “light from their Lord,” meaning their entire life is illuminated by the guidance of Islam.

Major Lessons & Morals

• True guidance is a divine gift, an “expansion” of the heart that Allah bestows upon whomever He wills.
• A believer should be profoundly grateful for this gift and pray that Allah keeps their heart expanded for the truth.
• The opposite of this state, a “hardened heart,” is a cause for “woe” and is a sign of being in manifest error.

Supporting References

This verse connects beautifully with the verse that follows, which describes the effect of the Qur’an on the heart. The heart that is “expanded for Islam” is the one whose skin will shiver and then relax at the remembrance of Allah. The two verses together paint a complete picture of the physiology and psychology of a living, receptive faith.

---

The Patient (As-Sabirin)

Brief Biography / Background

The Patient (As-Sabirin) are the archetype of the believers who exhibit *Sabr*—a comprehensive quality that includes patience, perseverance, and steadfastness in the face of hardship, temptation, and the long struggle of obedience.

Role in the Surah

The Patient are mentioned as those who will receive a reward that is beyond all measure. After commanding the believers who are being persecuted to migrate from their land, Allah gives them a powerful motivation: “Say, ‘O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good, and the earth of Allah is spacious. Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account.'” (Az-Zumar, 39:10).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by its **fortitude, resilience, and unwavering resolve**. They are the ones who endure the hardships of persecution and migration for the sake of their faith. Their patience is so great and so beloved to Allah that its reward cannot be calculated.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Patience is a foundational virtue of the Islamic character, essential for navigating the trials of this life.
• The reward for patience is unique and unlimited; Allah will give it “without account” (bighayri hisab).
• This immense promise should be the ultimate comfort and motivation for any believer who is facing difficulty.

Supporting References

The context of this verse is the command to perform Hijra (migration) if necessary. This shows that the act of leaving one’s home and enduring the hardships of being a refugee for the sake of God is one of the highest forms of patience, and its reward is therefore immeasurable.

---

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)

Brief Biography / Background

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is the final messenger of Allah, to whom the Qur’an was revealed. Surah Az-Zumar was revealed to him in Makkah to provide him with powerful arguments against the polytheists and to reassure him of the truth of his mission and the certainty of Allah’s promise.

Role in the Surah

He is the one to whom the “best of statements,” the Qur’an, is revealed. He is commanded to worship Allah with pure and sincere devotion and to declare, “Indeed, I am commanded to be the first of the Muslims.” (39:12). He is the one who “brings the truth.” The Surah comforts him by reminding him that he will die and his opponents will die, and they will all dispute before their Lord on the Day of Judgment. His ultimate role is to be the warner and the guide to the path of pure monotheism.

Personality & Attributes

As the addressee of the Surah, the Prophet ﷺ is the archetype of the **sincere warner and the perfect exemplar of Tawhid**. He is the one who must convey the profound truths about creation and resurrection to an arrogant and heedless people. The Surah equips him with the divine arguments and the spiritual solace needed for this task.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The core of the Prophet’s mission was to establish the sincere and exclusive worship of the One God.
• A caller to Islam must be the first and foremost in practicing the message they preach.
• Death is the ultimate equalizer, and the final arbitration of all disputes will be with Allah on the Day of Judgment.

Supporting References

The Surah consistently frames the Prophet’s mission as being rooted in truth and sincerity, in direct opposition to the lies and shirk of his opponents. It provides him with a complete intellectual and spiritual framework to confidently deliver his message, knowing that the ultimate judgment is with Allah.

---

The Prophets and Witnesses (An-Nabiyyin wash-Shuhada’)

Brief Biography / Background

This is a collective group that will be brought forth on the Day of Judgment to participate in the divine court. The Prophets (An-Nabiyyin) are the messengers sent to each nation. The Witnesses (Ash-Shuhada’) can refer to the angels who recorded the deeds, the scholars who upheld the truth, the martyrs who died for the faith, or the limbs of a person that testify against them.

Role in the Surah

Their role is to be the primary evidence in the divine court on the Day of Judgment. They will be brought forth to ensure that the judgment is perfectly just and transparent. “And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord, and the record [of deeds] will be placed, and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought, and it will be judged between them with truth…” (Az-Zumar, 39:69).

Personality & Attributes

This group is the archetype of **irrefutable proof and perfect testimony**. They are the ones who will bear witness to what occurred on earth, ensuring that no one can deny that the message reached them or that their deeds were their own. They are the agents of divine transparency.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The justice of Allah on the Day of Judgment will be open and based on clear evidence, with all parties present.
• The prophets will be brought to testify against their nations, leaving the disbelievers with no excuse.
• A believer should live their life in such a way that they would be pleased to have the prophets and the angels as witnesses for them, not against them.

Supporting References

This scene of the great court is one of the most majestic in the Qur’an. The presence of the Book, the prophets, and the witnesses all serve to highlight the perfect and unassailable nature of the divine judgment. It is a court from which there is no appeal and in which there is no doubt.

---

The Repentant Believer

Brief Biography / Background

The Repentant Believer is the archetype of the servant who, after having transgressed, heeds the call to repentance and turns back to Allah with hope and sincerity before it is too late.

Role in the Surah

This character is the hero of the final section of the Surah. They are the ones who respond to the universal call to not despair of God’s mercy. Allah commands them: “And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped.” (Az-Zumar, 39:54). They are the ones who “follow the best of what was revealed,” and who will be guided and counted among the righteous.

Personality & Attributes

The Repentant Believer is characterized by their **humility, their hope in God’s mercy, and their proactive response to the divine call**. They do not procrastinate. They seize the opportunity to repent and submit before the door is closed. They are the ultimate success story.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Repentance is an urgent matter that must be acted upon before the punishment arrives.
• True repentance involves both turning back to Allah (inabah) and submitting to His will (islam).
• The path to salvation for a sinner is to listen to the call of mercy and to immediately follow the best of the guidance in the Qur’an.

Supporting References

The verses on repentance provide a complete and merciful roadmap for the sinner. It begins with a call not to despair, then a command to turn back and submit, then a command to follow the best of the revelation. It is a step-by-step guide from a state of transgression to a state of salvation, all rooted in the boundless mercy of Ar-Rahman.

---

The Servants who have Transgressed

Brief Biography / Background

The Servants who have Transgressed against themselves (‘Ibadi alladhina asrafu ‘ala anfusihim) is the archetype of the sinners, the believers who have fallen into sin and gone to extremes in wronging their own souls. This is a term of immense mercy and intimacy.

Role in the Surah

They are the direct addressees of the most hopeful verse in the Qur’an. Despite their transgressions, Allah still calls them “My servants” (‘Ibadi), a title of honor and closeness. He gives them a direct and compassionate command: “Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'” (Az-Zumar, 39:53).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by their **sinfulness but also by their potential for redemption**. They are the ones who have “transgressed,” but they are not cast out. They are the lost sheep whom the Shepherd is calling back with the most gentle and hopeful of calls.

Major Lessons & Morals

• No matter how much a person has sinned, they should never despair of the mercy of Allah.
• The title “My servants” is a reminder that even when we sin, our bond with our Lord is not completely severed, and He is eager for our return.
• The door to the complete forgiveness of all sins is open to anyone who is willing to turn back in sincere repentance.

Supporting References

This verse is a divine cure for the disease of despair. It is a powerful refutation of the satanic whisper that tells a sinner, “You have gone too far; there is no hope for you.” The Qur’an responds with this universal declaration of boundless mercy, a call for every transgressor to come home.

---

The Soul taken at Death (Nafs)

Brief Biography / Background

The Soul (Nafs) is the essence of a person’s consciousness and life. The Qur’an describes its departure from the body as a precise and divinely-commanded event, not a random biological process.

Role in the Surah

The taking of the soul is described as a direct act of Allah, which occurs both in the final death and in the “minor death” of sleep. “Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die [He takes] in their sleep. Then He keeps those for which He has decreed death and releases the others for a specified term.” (Az-Zumar, 39:42).

Personality & Attributes

The Soul is the archetype of the **entity that is completely dependent on the divine decree**. It has no independent power over its own state of consciousness or life. It is “taken” by Allah every night and either “kept” or “released” according to His will. This is the ultimate proof of our complete submission to Him.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Sleep is a “minor death” and a profound daily sign of Allah’s power over our souls.
• A believer should reflect on this reality every night when they go to sleep and every morning when they wake up, showing gratitude for being “released” for another day.
• This daily rehearsal of death and “resurrection” should serve as a powerful reminder of the certainty of the final, great death and Resurrection.

Supporting References

This verse provides the theological basis for the prophetic Sunnah of making specific supplications upon sleeping and waking. The prayer upon sleeping is an act of submitting one’s soul to Allah, and the prayer upon waking is an act of thanking Him for returning the soul to the body. It turns the mundane act of sleeping into a profound act of conscious worship.

---

The Troops driven to Hell

Brief Biography / Background

This is the archetype of the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment, gathered together and driven like a herd towards their final, wretched destination. The name of the Surah, Az-Zumar (“The Troops”), is derived from this scene and its counterpart.

Role in the Surah

Their journey to Hell is described with profound humiliation. “And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in troops until, when they reach it, its gates are opened…” (Az-Zumar, 39:71). They are not welcomed or guided, but “driven” (siqa), a word used for herding animals. Their arrival is met with a harsh rebuke from the Keepers of Hell, who question them about their denial.

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by its **defeat, humiliation, and regret**. They are the ones who followed falsehood in this life and are now being led in a disgraced procession in the next. They are a “troop” or a “crowd,” signifying their large numbers.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The path of disbelief, though it may have many followers, culminates in a journey of shared humiliation.
• On the Day of Judgment, the disbelievers will be confronted with the reality that messengers *did* come to them, leaving them with no excuse.
• The imagery of being “driven” is a powerful warning against following the crowd in disobedience to Allah.

Supporting References

Tafsir literature contrasts this “driving” of the disbelievers with the honored reception of the pious, who are “led” as a respected delegation to Paradise. The difference in the verb used highlights the profound difference in their status. The dialogue with the Keepers of Hell serves as the final confirmation of the justice of their punishment.

---

The Troops led to Paradise

Brief Biography / Background

This is the archetype of the pious believers on the Day of Judgment, gathered together and led in an honored procession to their final, blissful home. The name of the Surah, Az-Zumar (“The Troops”), is derived from this scene and its counterpart.

Role in the Surah

Their journey to Paradise is described with immense honor and dignity. “But those who feared their Lord will be led to Paradise in troops until, when they reach it and its gates are opened and its keepers say to them, ‘Peace be upon you; you have become pure…'” (Az-Zumar, 39:73). They are not driven, but “led” in an orderly and respected fashion. Their arrival is a moment of joyous celebration.

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by its **success, its honor, and its purity**. They are the ones who lived a life of Taqwa and are now receiving their reward. They are a “troop” not of a disorganized mob, but of a disciplined and honored delegation arriving at the court of the King.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A life of piety leads to a journey of honor and a reception of peace in the Hereafter.
• The believers will enter Paradise in groups, reunited with their righteous companions and fellow travelers on the straight path.
• The ultimate success is to be counted among the troops of the pious who are welcomed into Paradise by the angels.

Supporting References

The contrast with the troops of Hell is stark. The gates of Hell are opened *upon* their arrival. The gates of Paradise are already opened *for* them, in eager anticipation. Their keepers rebuke them. The keepers of Paradise greet them with “Peace.” The entire scene is designed to showcase the profound difference between the outcome of a life of Taqwa and a life of Kufr.

---

The Ungrateful (Kaffar)

Brief Biography / Background

The Ungrateful (Kaffar) is the archetype of the person who is profoundly and habitually ungrateful. The word is an intensive form, signifying one who actively denies and covers up the blessings of God. This ingratitude is the very essence of disbelief (kufr).

Role in the Surah

This quality is mentioned as a defining characteristic of the disbelievers. The Surah describes the one who lies against Allah and denies the truth as a “kafir.” The one who sets up rivals to Allah is told, “Enjoy your disbelief for a little; indeed, you are of the companions of the Fire.” (39:8). The entire Surah, with its catalogue of blessings from the creation of man to the signs in the heavens, is an argument against this state of ingratitude.

Personality & Attributes

The Ungrateful are characterized by their **arrogance, their heedlessness, and their spiritual blindness**. They are unable to see the source of their blessings and therefore feel no need to show thanks. They are the ones who take the countless favors of Allah for granted.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Profound ingratitude is a major sin that is equated with disbelief and leads to the Fire.
• A believer must constantly struggle against the human tendency towards ingratitude and actively cultivate a state of thankfulness (shukr).
• The enjoyment of the ungrateful in this world is temporary and insignificant compared to the eternal punishment they will face.

Supporting References

The Surah provides the cure for ingratitude: sincere devotion. The one who is “devoutly obedient during periods of the night,” fearing and hoping, is the opposite of the ungrateful one. The consciousness of the Hereafter is what transforms a person from a state of kufr (ingratitude) to a state of shukr (gratitude).

---

The Wrongdoers (Az-Zalimun)

Brief Biography / Background

Az-Zalimun, the wrongdoers, is a comprehensive term for those who transgress divine limits. It is a state of injustice, primarily against one’s own soul by choosing disbelief, but also against others through oppression and corruption.

Role in the Surah

The term is used to describe those who reject the clear signs of God. When the earth shines with the light of its Lord on the Day of Judgment, it will be judged with truth, and the people “will not be wronged” (la yuzlamun). This implies that the disbelievers’ punishment is a just recompense for the “wrongdoing” (zulm) they themselves committed. The liars against Allah are described as the most unjust. After the final judgment, the believers will praise Allah for having inherited the Garden, a place far from the “wrongdoers.”

Personality & Attributes

The Wrongdoers are the archetype of those who are **unjust and destined for a just punishment**. They are characterized by their refusal to submit to the divine law and their persistence in a state of opposition to the truth. They are the ones who fail the trial of this worldly life.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Wrongdoing and injustice are the primary causes for the punishment of individuals.
• The justice of Allah is perfect; no soul will be wronged in the slightest on the Day of Judgment. The punishment will be an exact match for the crime.
• A believer must strive to avoid all forms of injustice, whether against God, others, or their own soul.

Supporting References

The Qur’an makes it clear that Allah is never unjust to His servants; rather, it is the people who are unjust to themselves. The state of being a “zalim” is a self-inflicted condition, a result of one’s own free choices to reject guidance and persist in sin. The punishment is simply the just and natural consequence of those choices.