Tafsir of Az-Zumar 39:9

"Or is he who is devoutly obedient..." It is read as aman huwa qānit (أمن هو قانت) with a light nūn (takhfīf), by prefixing the interrogative hamza to man (who). It is also read with a heavy nūn (tashdīd), by prefixing am (or) to it.

Man (who) is the subject (mubtada’), and its predicate (khabar) is omitted. The implied meaning is: "Is he who is devoutly obedient like the other [the disbeliever]?" It was omitted because the context indicates it, specifically the mention of the disbeliever preceding it, and the subsequent verse: "Say, 'Are those who know equal to those who do not know?'"

It is also said that the meaning is: "Is he who is devoutly obedient better, or is he who is a disbeliever?" Or: "Is this one better, or is he who is devoutly obedient?"—as a connected interrogation.

"Devoutly obedient" (al-qānit): One who fulfills what is required of him in terms of obedience. From this is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "The best prayer is the longest in Qunūt," meaning the standing (qiyām) within it. From this also is the Qunūt in the Witr prayer, because it is the supplication of the one praying while standing.

"Prostrating" (sājidan): This is a state (ḥāl). It is also read as sājidun wa-qā’imun (prostrating and standing), as a predicate following a predicate, with the wāw (and) used to combine the two attributes.

"And he fears the punishment of the Hereafter" By "those who know," he meant those who act upon their knowledge among the scholars of religion. It is as if he deemed those who do not act as not knowing. This contains a great disparagement of those who acquire knowledge but do not act upon it, and who are tempted and then seduced by the world; in the sight of God, they are ignorant, as He made the devoutly obedient the only ones who are truly "the scholars."

It is also permissible that it is intended as a simile: just as the knowing and the ignorant are not equal, so too are the devoutly obedient and the disobedient not equal.

It is said that this was revealed regarding ‘Ammār ibn Yāsir (may God be pleased with him) and Abū Ḥudhayfah ibn al-Mughīrah al-Makhzūmī.

Al-Ḥasan was asked about a man who persists in sins while hoping [for mercy], and he said: "This is mere wishing, not hope," and he recited this verse.

It is read as innamā dhukkira (with assimilation of the nūn into the dhāl).

"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.'"