Surah 61 of 114 · Madani · 14 ayat
As-Saf الصف
The Ranks
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
PickthallAll that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth glorifieth Allah, and He is the Mighty, the Wise.
Yusuf AliWhatever is in the heavens and on earth, let it declare the Praises and Glory of Allah: for He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
The agreed readingEverything in the heavens and the earth declares God free of every imperfection. The word the āyah uses takes in the whole of creation and not only those who can speak. He is the Mighty, whose dominion nothing escapes, and the Wise, whose making is without flaw.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ
PickthallO ye who believe! Why say ye that which ye do not?
Yusuf AliO ye who believe! Why say ye that which ye do not?
The agreed readingThe believers had asked to be shown the deed most beloved to God, promising their wealth and their lives for it, and then gave way when the fighting came at Uḥud. The question put to them is a rebuke: why do you say what you do not do?
كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ
PickthallIt is most hateful in the sight of Allah that ye say that which ye do not.
Yusuf AliGrievously odious is it in the sight of Allah that ye say that which ye do not.
The agreed readingIt is a grave thing, and draws God's severest displeasure, that you should say what you do not do. The word the āyah uses for that displeasure is the strongest the language has. What earns it is the gap between the word given and the deed done.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقَٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِهِۦ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُم بُنْيَٰنٌ مَّرْصُوصٌ
PickthallLo! Allah loveth them who battle for His cause in ranks, as if they were a solid structure.
Yusuf AliTruly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure.
The agreed readingGod loves those who fight in His way drawn up in ranks, as though they were a single structure whose parts are cemented to one another. This is the answer to what the believers had asked: it names the deed dearest to God, and what it requires of them is that the line hold together without a gap.
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦ يَٰقَوْمِ لِمَ تُؤْذُونَنِى وَقَد تَّعْلَمُونَ أَنِّى رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ فَلَمَّا زَاغُوٓا۟ أَزَاغَ ٱللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَٰسِقِينَ
PickthallAnd (remember) when Moses said unto his people: O my people! Why persecute ye me, when ye well know that I am Allah's messenger unto you? So when they went astray Allah sent their hearts astray. And Allah guideth not the evil-living folk.
Yusuf AliAnd remember, Moses said to his people: "O my people! why do ye vex and insult me, though ye know that I am the messenger of Allah (sent) to you?" Then when they went wrong, Allah let their hearts go wrong. For Allah guides not those who are rebellious transgressors.
The agreed readingMoses asked his people why they injured him when they knew he was God's messenger to them: to know a man is God's messenger obliges honour and forbids injuring him. What they did was to accuse him falsely. When they persisted in swerving from the truth, God turned their hearts away from accepting it. God does not guide those who have left obedience.
وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ إِنِّى رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيْكُم مُّصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَىَّ مِنَ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ وَمُبَشِّرًۢا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِى مِنۢ بَعْدِى ٱسْمُهُۥٓ أَحْمَدُ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ قَالُوا۟ هَٰذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ
PickthallAnd when Jesus son of Mary said: O Children of Israel! Lo! I am the messenger of Allah unto you, confirming that which was (revealed) before me in the Torah, and bringing good tidings of a messenger who cometh after me, whose name is the Praised One. Yet when he hath come unto them with clear proofs, they say: This is mere magic.
Yusuf AliAnd remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said: "O Children of Israel! I am the messenger of Allah (sent) to you, confirming the Law (which came) before me, and giving Glad Tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad." But when he came to them with Clear Signs, they said, "this is evident sorcery!"
The agreed readingJesus son of Mary told the Children of Israel that he was God's messenger to them, confirming the Torah that had come before him and bringing good news of a messenger to come after him whose name is Aḥmad. He addressed them as the Children of Israel and not as his own people, because he had no kinship among them. When the clear proofs came, they called them plain magic.
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ وَهُوَ يُدْعَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلْإِسْلَٰمِ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
PickthallAnd who doeth greater wrong than he who inventeth a lie against Allah when he is summoned unto Al-Islam? And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.
Yusuf AliWho doth greater wrong than one who invents falsehood against Allah, even as he is being invited to Islam? And Allah guides not those who do wrong.
The agreed readingNo one does greater wrong than the man who invents a lie against God at the very moment he is being called to submission. The lie takes the form of ascribing a partner or a child to God, calling on rivals beside Him, and naming His signs magic. God does not guide such wrongdoers.
يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِـُٔوا۟ نُورَ ٱللَّهِ بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَٱللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِۦ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ
PickthallFain would they put out the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light however much the disbelievers are averse.
Yusuf AliTheir intention is to extinguish Allah's Light (by blowing) with their mouths: But Allah will complete (the revelation of) His Light, even though the Unbelievers may detest (it).
The agreed readingThey want to put out God's light with their mouths — that is, with what they say of it, that it is magic or poetry or soothsaying. The light is His revealed law and the proofs He has given for it. God will carry His light to its completion, spreading it and making it plain, however much those who refuse hate that.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُۥ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ ٱلْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلدِّينِ كُلِّهِۦ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْمُشْرِكُونَ
PickthallHe it is Who hath sent His messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that He may make it conqueror of all religion however much idolaters may be averse.
Yusuf AliIt is He Who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, that he may proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it).
The agreed readingHe sent His messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, to make it prevail over all religion — over every religion, that is, that stands against it — however much those who set up partners with God hate that. The promise is not only that the light will not be put out, but that it will be made to show above the rest.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ تِجَٰرَةٍ تُنجِيكُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
PickthallO ye who believe! Shall I show you a commerce that will save you from a painful doom?
Yusuf AliO ye who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous Penalty?-
The agreed readingGod offers the believers a trade that will save them from a painful punishment. The offer is put as a question so that the hearer answers it for himself before the terms are named, and the commentaries read what follows as that answer. What is being asked for is what some of them had fallen short of when the fighting came.
تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَتُجَٰهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِأَمْوَٰلِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
PickthallYe should believe in Allah and His messenger, and should strive for the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is better for you, if ye did but know.
Yusuf AliThat ye believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that ye strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah, with your property and your persons: That will be best for you, if ye but knew!
The agreed readingThe terms of the trade: that you hold to faith in God and His messenger, and strive in God's way with your wealth and your lives. It is called a trade because what is put in first is returned afterwards, and here what a man puts in is his property and his own person. This is the answer to what they had asked to be shown, and they are told plainly that it is better for them.
يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَيُدْخِلْكُمْ جَنَّٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ وَمَسَٰكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِى جَنَّٰتِ عَدْنٍ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
PickthallHe will forgive you your sins and bring you into Gardens underneath which rivers flow, and pleasant dwellings in Gardens of Eden. That is the supreme triumph.
Yusuf AliHe will forgive you your sins, and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow, and to beautiful mansions in Gardens of Eternity: that is indeed the Supreme Achievement.
The agreed readingIf they take up the trade, He will forgive them their sins and admit them into Gardens with rivers running beneath them, and to good dwellings in the Gardens of Eden — gardens of lasting residence, as the word is glossed. That is the supreme triumph. The forgiveness and the Gardens answer a condition: they follow upon the trade being taken up.
وَأُخْرَىٰ تُحِبُّونَهَا نَصْرٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَفَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
PickthallAnd (He will give you) another (blessing) which ye love: help from Allah and present victory. Give good tidings (O Muhammad) to believers.
Yusuf AliAnd another (favour will He bestow,) which ye do love,- help from Allah and a speedy victory. So give the Glad Tidings to the Believers.
The agreed readingAnd another blessing, one they love: help from God and a victory close at hand. The return on this trade is not held back entirely for the Hereafter; part of it falls in this world, which is the part men are quickest to love. Give the believers that good news.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُونُوٓا۟ أَنصَارَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَا قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ لِلْحَوَارِيِّـۧنَ مَنْ أَنصَارِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ قَالَ ٱلْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنصَارُ ٱللَّهِ فَـَٔامَنَت طَّآئِفَةٌ مِّنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَكَفَرَت طَّآئِفَةٌ فَأَيَّدْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ عَلَىٰ عَدُوِّهِمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ ظَٰهِرِينَ
PickthallO ye who believe! Be Allah's helpers, even as Jesus son of Mary said unto the disciples: Who are my helpers for Allah? They said: We are Allah's helpers. And a party of the Children of Israel believed, while a party disbelieved. Then We strengthened those who believed against their foe, and they became the uppermost.
Yusuf AliO ye who believe! Be ye helpers of Allah: As said Jesus the son of Mary to the Disciples, "Who will be my helpers to (the work of) Allah?" Said the disciples, "We are Allah's helpers!" then a portion of the Children of Israel believed, and a portion disbelieved: But We gave power to those who believed, against their enemies, and they became the ones that prevailed.
The agreed readingBe God's helpers — helpers of His religion, by calling people to Him — as Jesus son of Mary said to the disciples, “Who are my helpers unto God?” and they answered, “We are God's helpers.” That God should call a servant's work help given to Himself is itself an honour. Of the Children of Israel one party believed and one refused; God strengthened those who believed against their enemy, and they came out uppermost.