Sūrat al-Ṣaff
سورۃ الصف
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَوَلَّوْا قَوْمًا غَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ قَدْ يَئِسُوا مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ كَمَا يَئِسَ الْكَافِرُونَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْقُبُورِ
yā ayyuhā lladhīna āmanū lā tatawallaw qawman ghaḍiba llāhu ʿalayhim qad yaʾisū mina l-ākhirati kamā yaʾisa l-kāfirūna min aṣḥābi l-qubūr.
"O you who believe, do not take as allies a people with whom Allah is angry — they have despaired of the Hereafter just as the disbelievers have despaired of those in the graves." (al-Mumtaḥina 60:13)
Qad yaʾisū mina l-ākhira — they have utterly despaired of the Hereafter, losing all hope in any reward or salvation. Kamā yaʾisa l-kāfirūna min aṣḥābi l-qubūr — just as the disbelievers among those in the graves have lost all hope of resurrection — because they do not believe in the afterlife.
Translation: "O believers, do not befriend a people upon whom Allah's wrath has fallen — they have despaired of the Hereafter just as disbelievers among the dead have despaired."
Sūrat al-Ṣaff was revealed in Madina al-Munawwara and contains fourteen verses and two sections (rukūʿ).
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
sabbaḥa li-llāhi mā fī l-samāwāti wa-mā fī l-arḍi wa-huwa l-ʿazīzu l-ḥakīm.
"Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth glorifies Allah, and He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." (al-Ṣaff 61:1)
Everything in creation declares the absolute holiness and transcendence of Allah. Wa-huwa l-ʿazīzu l-ḥakīm — He is the All-Mighty whose honour cannot be diminished, and the All-Wise whose every act and decree is perfectly ordered.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ
yā ayyuhā lladhīna āmanū lima taqūlūna mā lā tafʿalūn.
"O you who believe, why do you say what you do not do?" (al-Ṣaff 61:2)
Lima taqūlūna mā lā tafʿalūn — why do you say "we shall do such-and-such" and then not do it? What is gained from such hollow promises?
Translation: "O believers, why do you claim what you do not act upon?"
كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِندَ اللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُوا مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ
kabura maqtan ʿinda llāhi an taqūlū mā lā tafʿalūn.
"It is most hateful in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do." (al-Ṣaff 61:3)
Kabura maqtan ʿinda llāh — it is a matter of great hatred and displeasure at Allah's side. An taqūlū mā lā tafʿalūn — that you say what you do not do.
Translation: "It is greatly hateful to Allah that you say what you do not act upon."
Esteemed readers, in today's world — today's leaders and the lowly alike — nobody's action and word match. We are a people who say but do not do — and have no shame in this whatsoever. The only straight way is straight action.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُم بُنْيَانٌ مَّرْصُوصٌ
inna llāha yuḥibbu lladhīna yuqātilūna fī sabīlihi ṣaffan ka-annahum bunyānun marṣūṣ.
"Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in a rank, as though they were a single cemented structure." (al-Ṣaff 61:4)
Inna llāha yuḥibbu — indeed Allah loves without any doubt. Alladhīna yuqātilūna fī sabīlihi — those who fight in His path — who engage in jihād for the sake of making Allah's Word supreme. Ṣaffan — standing in a rank, in an orderly row. Ka-annahum bunyānun marṣūṣ — as though they were a single building, firm and solid, well-joined with molten lead poured into every joint — so that it stands as one impenetrable wall.
Translation: "Truly, Allah loves those who fight in His cause standing in rank, as though they were a single cemented structure."
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ لِمَ تُؤْذُونَنِي وَقَد تَّعْلَمُونَ أَنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ فَلَمَّا زَاغُوا أَزَاغَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ
wa-idh qāla mūsā li-qawmihi yā qawmi lima tuʾdhūnanī wa-qad taʿlamūna annī rasūlu llāhi ilaykum fa-lammā zāghū azāgha llāhu qulūbahum wa-llāhu lā yahdī l-qawma l-fāsiqīn.
"And recall when Mūsā said to his people: 'O my people, why do you harm me, when you know well that I am the Messenger of Allah to you?' When they deviated, Allah caused their hearts to deviate. And Allah does not guide the transgressing people." (al-Ṣaff 61:5)
Wa-idh qāla mūsā li-qawmihi — and recall the time when Mūsā (upon him be peace) said to his people. Yā qawmi lima tuʾdhūnanī — "O my people, why do you cause me distress and harm?" Wa-qad taʿlamūna annī rasūlu llāhi ilaykum — "when you know well — you are not ignorant — that I am the Messenger of Allah sent to you." Fa-lammā zāghū — then when they persisted in their deviation, when they turned away from truth. Azāgha llāhu qulūbahum — Allah caused their hearts to deviate further — He withdrew guidance from them. Wa-llāhu lā yahdī l-qawma l-fāsiqīn — and Allah does not guide a people who are given to transgression — those whose fundamental nature is disobedience; guidance does not find purchase in such people.
Translation: "And when Mūsā said to his people: 'O my people, why do you hurt me when you know I am the Messenger of Allah to you?' When they deviated, Allah caused their hearts to deviate. And Allah does not guide a transgressing people."
وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُم مُّصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَٰذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ
wa-idh qāla ʿīsā bnu maryama yā banī isrāʾīla innī rasūlu llāhi ilaykum muṣaddiqan li-mā bayna yadayya mina l-tawrāti wa-mubashshiran bi-rasūlin yaʾtī min baʿdī ismuhu aḥmadu fa-lammā jāʾahum bi-l-bayyināti qālū hādhā siḥrun mubīn.
"And recall when ʿĪsā ibn Maryam said: 'O Children of Isrāʾīl, I am Allah's Messenger to you, confirming what was before me of the Torah and giving glad tidings of a Messenger who will come after me whose name is Aḥmad.' But when he came to them with clear signs, they said: 'This is obvious sorcery.'" (al-Ṣaff 61:6)
Wa-idh qāla ʿīsā bnu maryama — and recall when ʿĪsā, the son of Maryam (upon him be peace), said. Yā banī isrāʾīl — "O Children of Isrāʾīl! O descendants of Yaʿqūb (upon him be peace)." Innī rasūlu llāhi ilaykum — "I am the Messenger of Allah sent to you — without any doubt." Muṣaddiqan li-mā bayna yadayya mina l-tawrāt — "I come confirming the Torah that was before me." Wa-mubashshiran bi-rasūlin yaʾtī min baʿdī — "and bringing glad tidings of a Messenger who will come after me." Ismuhu aḥmad — "his name is Aḥmad" — this is the name of the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ in Arabic. Fa-lammā jāʾahum bi-l-bayyināt — then when he (Aḥmad ﷺ) came with clear proofs and miracles. Qālū hādhā siḥrun mubīn — they said: "This is clear sorcery."
Translation: "And recall when ʿĪsā son of Maryam said: 'O Children of Isrāʾīl, I am Allah's Messenger to you, confirming the Torah before me and giving glad tidings of a Messenger after me whose name is Aḥmad.' But when he came to them with clear signs they said: 'This is obvious sorcery.'"
Esteemed readers, the Holy Gospel mentioned the name given to Janāb ʿĪsā (upon him be peace) which is the word "Aḥmad." Christian scholars maintain that this name is present in the Gospels, and some translators have translated it as "Concealed bud came" while others have translated it as "The Lizard came" — which is a completely different thing. "Aḥmad" is both a proper name and a personal name — those who had a good name to keep should have kept it properly. However the translation attempt by Christian and Farqalīṭ scholars produced such incorrect renderings.
Esteemed readers, Islam is going forward against great difficulties. In Muslim lands, even Genghis Khan's forces invaded — and there was even a military engagement with the Crusaders — yet what happened? Islam continued to advance. Was it a lighted lamp of Allah that could be extinguished by blowing? Let me say to you again: pick up the Qurʾān — hold it to your hearts — look with your eyes, and you will realise that God's light extinguishes it.
Islam has a remarkable characteristic: Muslims killed the enemies of Muslims — and non-Muslims killed the Muslims. One of Genghis Khan's armies found and crushed the force of Muslim stalwarts — but what happened then? A unit of Genghis Khan's army said: "If we fight we will defend them" — they converted to Islam, and Fātiḥ Quṭṭubiyya was a Turk — who was that Turk? — Muḥammad Khān Rājiʿ.
Look at the past and present of Hindustan and Pakistan: all of the eight to ten crore Arab offspring are now Muslims in these two nations. This is because I keep saying that the light of faith God has given — this lamp of faith — its light will go forward and illuminate, and will illuminate the dark hearts of crores.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ تِجَارَةٍ تُنجِيكُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
yā ayyuhā lladhīna āmanū hal adullukum ʿalā tijāratin tunjīkum min ʿadhābin alīm.
"O you who believe, shall I guide you to a trade that will save you from a painful punishment?" (al-Ṣaff 61:10)
Hal adullukum — shall I show you, shall I guide you? ʿAlā tijāratin — to a trade — a transaction, a profit. Tunjīkum — which will deliver you, rescue you. Min ʿadhābin alīm — from a painful punishment.
Translation: "O believers, shall I point you to a trade that will rescue you from a painful punishment?"
تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
tuʾminūna bi-llāhi wa-rasūlihi wa-tujāhidūna fī sabīli llāhi bi-amwālikum wa-anfusikum dhālikum khayrun lakum in kuntum taʿlamūn.
"That you believe in Allah and His Messenger, and strive in the path of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is better for you, if you only knew." (al-Ṣaff 61:11)
Tuʾminūna bi-llāhi wa-rasūlih — that you believe in Allah and His Messenger ﷺ with full sincerity. Wa-tujāhidūna fī sabīli llāh — and that you engage in jihād — every effort and exertion — in the path of Allah. Bi-amwālikum wa-anfusikum — with your wealth and your very lives. Dhālikum khayrun lakum — this is better for you, this is what is truly in your interest. In kuntum taʿlamūn — if you truly understand and know.
Translation: "Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and strive in Allah's path with your wealth and your lives — that is better for you, if you only knew."
يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَيُدْخِلْكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
yaghfir lakum dhunūbakum wa-yudkhilkum jannātin tajrī min taḥtihā l-anhāru wa-masākina ṭayyibatan fī jannāti ʿadnin dhālika l-fawzu l-ʿaẓīm.
"He will forgive you your sins and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow, and pleasant dwellings in the gardens of ʿAdn. That is the supreme success." (al-Ṣaff 61:12)
Yaghfir lakum dhunūbakum — Allah will forgive all your sins. Wa-yudkhilkum jannātin tajrī min taḥtihā l-anhār — and will admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow. Wa-masākina ṭayyibatan — and beautiful, pleasant dwellings. Fī jannāti ʿadn — in the gardens of ʿAdn — the Gardens of Eden, the permanent, eternal abode. Dhālika l-fawzu l-ʿaẓīm — this is the supreme success and the highest felicity.
Translation: "He will forgive your sins and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow, and to fine dwellings in the Gardens of ʿAdn. That is the supreme success."
وَأُخْرَىٰ تُحِبُّونَهَا نَصْرٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَفَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
wa-ukhrā tuḥibbūnahā naṣrun mina llāhi wa-fatḥun qarībun wa-bashshiri l-muʾminīn.
"And another blessing that you love — help from Allah and an imminent victory. Give glad tidings to the believers." (al-Ṣaff 61:13)
Wa-ukhrā tuḥibbūnahā — and another thing that you love — an additional worldly benefit. Naṣrun mina llāhi — the help and victory of Allah against the enemies. Wa-fatḥun qarīb — and a near conquest — victory over the enemies is close. Wa-bashshiri l-muʾminīn — and give glad tidings to the believers — convey to them this good news.
Translation: "And another blessing you love — help from Allah and imminent victory. Give the believers glad tidings."
Esteemed readers, it is regrettable that Muslims are not ready to give their wealth and lives in the path of Allah. Without jihād there is no victory. The cowardly and spineless are a separate group — for the victory of those who strive in the path of Allah without jihād is not achievable. Those who trust enemies and regard them as having no basis — Muslims are passing through them like this. The answer to every fear is one's own sword:
Al-jannatu taḥta ẓilāli l-suyūf — Paradise lies in the shadow of swords.
May Allah grant us mercy and help us find victory and the near conquest. Āmīn.