Which Surah and Juz is Quran 39:29 from?

This ayah is from Surah Az-Zumar (The Groups), the 39th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 23.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 39:29?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Sahih Muslim, Sahih al-Bukhari.

What tafsir is available for Quran 39:29?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Al-Jalalayn, Ibn Abbas — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

What topics does Quran 39:29 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Allah, Shirk (Associating Partners with Allah), Tawhid, Gratitude, Taqwa.

Ayah 28

قُرْءَانًا عَرَبِيًّا غَيْرَ ذِى عِوَجٍۢ لَّعَلَّه...

39:29Az-Zumar

Q: What does Quran 39:29 mean?

Quran 39:29 (Surah Az-Zumar, Ayah 29) translates to: "Allah presents an example: a slave owned by quarreling partners and another belonging exclusively to one man - are they equal in comparison? Praise be to Allah! But most of them do not know."

Ayah 30

إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌۭ وَإِنَّهُم مَّيِّتُونَ...

ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًۭا رَّجُلًۭا فِيهِ شُرَكَآءُ مُتَشَٰكِسُونَ وَرَجُلًۭا سَلَمًۭا لِّرَجُلٍ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ مَثَلًا ۚ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Darabal laahu masalar rajulan feehi shurakaaa'u mutashaakisoona wa rajulan salamal lirajulin hal tastawi yaani masalaa; alhamdu lillaah; bal aksaruhum laa ya'lamoon

Allah presents an example: a slave owned by quarreling partners and another belonging exclusively to one man - are they equal in comparison? Praise be to Allah! But most of them do not know.

Themes in this ayah

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Oneness of Allah84 Knowledge & reflection68

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39:29Ayah 175

16 ayahs in Az-Zumar are strongly about the oneness of Allah. This is one of them.

← Previous on Oneness of Allah39:17But those who have avoided Taghut, lest they worship it, and turned back to Allah - for them are good tidings. So give good tidings to My servants Next on Oneness of Allah →39:38And if you asked them, "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they would surely say, "Allah." Say, "Then have you considered what you invoke besides Allah?

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 39:29→

God strikes for the idolater and the believer in God’s Oneness a similitude a man rajulan substitutes for mathalan ‘a similitude’ shared by several masters quarrelling disputing ill-mannered and a man belonging exclusively to one man. Are the two equal in comparison? mathalan for specification in other words the slave of many masters is not the same as the slave of a single person. For in the case of the former if all of his masters were to demand his service simultaneously he would be confused as to whom of them he should serve — which is the similitude of the idolater; the latter the slave of one is the similitude of the one who believes in the One God. Praise be to God! alone. Nay but most of them that is the people of Mecca do not know the chastisement in which they will end up and so they associate others with God.

"How wonderful it is for one of them that he obeys Allah and fulfills the rights of his master." Meaning the slave. And Ka'b said: "Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth."

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #3249Narrated 'Aishah:Sahih

that a man came and sat in front of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! I have two slaves who lie to me, deceive me, and disobey me, and I scold them and hit them. So what is my case because of them?" He said: "The extent to which they betrayed you, disobeyed you and lied to you will be measured against how much you punish them. If your punishing them is equal to their sins, then the two will be the same, nothing for you and nothing against you. If your punishing them is above their sin, some of your rewards will be taken from you and given to them." So the man left, and began weeping and crying aloud. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "You should read what Allah said in His Book: 'And We shall set up the Balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything...' to the rest of the Ayah (21:47). So the man said: "By Allah, O Messenger of Allah! I see nothing better for myself, than me parting with them. Bear witness that they are all free."

Sahih Muslim #4188Ibn Umar reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:Sahih

When a slave looks to the welfare of his master and worships Allah well, he has two rewards for him.

Sahih Muslim #4192Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:Sahih

When a slave fulfils obligation of Allah and obligation of his master, he has two rewards for him. I narrated this to Ka'b, and Ka'b said: (Such a slave) has no accountability, nor has a poor believer.

Sahih al-Bukhari #2184Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar bin Al-Khattab:Sahih

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Your example and the example of Jews and Christians is like the example of a man who employed some laborers to whom he said, 'Who will work for me up to midday for one Qirat each?' The Jews carried out the work for one Qirat each; and then the Christians carried out the work up to the `Asr prayer for one Qirat each; and now you Muslims are working from the `Asr prayer up to sunset for two Qirats each. The Jews and Christians got angry and said, 'We work more and are paid less.' The employer (Allah) asked them, 'Have I usurped some of your right?' They replied in the negative. He said, 'That is My Blessing, I bestow upon whomever I wish.' "