al-Zumar is the 39th sura of the Qur’an, which means ‘The [Successive] Groups or Crowds’. The sura belongs to the Meccan period and comprises 75 verses, 1,170 words, 4,708 letters, and 8 segments. It is the 59th sura in chronological order, revealed after Sura Saba’. al-Zumar derives its name from verses 71–73 whiche state that the disbelievers will be driven to Hell in groups or crowds. Similarly, the pious will be led to Paradise in successive groups, receiving, from the keepers, the salutations of peace upon them. This sura begins by referring to the revelation of the Qur’an and surveys God Almighty’s divine power and its benefit to humans. The central theme of the sura is one of pure and sincere devotion to God Almighty, and sub-mitting entirely to Allah’s religion. The sura, referring to the biological creation of humans, states that God has created them from a single soul or a single cell.Thereafter a similar pair is made from it, developing in the wombs of mothers in stages, one phase after another, in three-fold germinal layers of darkness. That is Allah, your Lord, and to Him belongs all Power and Authority. Furthermore, the sura mentions eight pairs of cattle among the wonders of creation. The sura presents the excellence of the Qur’an, its best message, perfect consistency and wisdom of repeated lessons. The chapter gives a parable for polytheists and mon-otheists, explaining the reward for the believers and the punishment for disbelievers. The sura lays down the essential principle of freedom of choice of Faith, and further explains that the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) has not been sent to coerce the people to adopt his religion. Instead, whoever follows the path of the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him), it is for his own good, and whoever chooses to stray from it, is to his own loss. The sura emphasises that after receiving the Prophetic message, everyone is free to select his path. In the end, the sura refers to the Last Day of Judgement, when the People of Paradise will see the angels circling around the Throne of God, glorifying His praise.