As-Saff (ٱلصَّفّ)

Surah As-Saff, which translates in English to "The Ranks," is the 61st surah of the Quran. It is situated between Surah Al-Mumtahana and Surah Al-Jumu'aa. This surah is located in the 28th Para and comprises 14 verses divided into 2 Ruku, each part delivering different messages from Allah. Surah As-Saff is an Al-Musabbihat surah as it starts with Allah's Glorification (Tasbeeh). 

The surah was revealed after Muhammad (ﷺ) migrated to Medina, and hence it is a Madni surah. Muslims faced multiple challenges after the migration so this surah talks about the social life of Muslims. It gives lessons in faith, forgiveness, unity, discipline, and fighting for Islam. It teaches Muslims to stand strong in the path of Allah and the example of Moses is provided to followers and readers. Other than that, it also highlights the need to practice what has been preached by Islam. It points out the hypocrisy of claiming to be a Muslim without acting upon it. 

"O you who have faith! Why do you say what you do not do? It is greatly outrageous to Allah that you should say what you do not do".— Qur'an 61:2 & 61:3

This verse was revealed to the hypocrites who showed themselves as Muslims and claimed to sacrifice everything in the path of Allah. But when it came to participating in Jihad for Allah, they left the battlefield for the sake of their lives. There is a Hadith on the importance of Jihad, Narrated by Ibn `Abbas: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said,

"There is no Hijra (i.e. migration) (from Mecca to Medina) after the Conquest (of Mecca), but Jihad and good intention remain; and if you are called (by the Muslim ruler) for fighting, go forth immediately (Sahih al-Bukhari 2783).

٦١ - ٱلصَّفّ

61 - As-Saff

سَبَّحَ لِلہِ مَا فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَمَا فِي الْاَرْضِ۝۰ۚ وَہُوَالْعَزِيْزُ الْحَكِيْمُ۝۱
Sabbaha lillahi ma fee alssamawati wama fee alardi wahuwa alAAazeezu alhakeemu

English

Ahmed Ali

ALL THAT IS in the heavens and the earth sings the praises of God. He is all-mighty and all-wise.

1

يٰۗاَيُّہَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لِمَ تَقُوْلُوْنَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُوْنَ۝۲
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo lima taqooloona ma la tafAAaloona

English

Ahmed Ali

O you who believe, why do you profess what you do not practise?

2

كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِنْدَ اللہِ اَنْ تَقُوْلُوْا مَا لَا تَفْعَلُوْنَ۝۳
Kabura maqtan AAinda Allahi an taqooloo ma la tafAAaloona

English

Ahmed Ali

Saying what you do not practice is odious to God.

3

اِنَّ اللہَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِيْنَ يُقَاتِلُوْنَ فِيْ سَبِيْلِہٖ صَفًّا كَاَنَّہُمْ بُنْيَانٌ مَّرْصُوْصٌ۝۴
Inna Allaha yuhibbu allatheena yuqatiloona fee sabeelihi saffan kaannahum bunyanun marsoosun

English

Ahmed Ali

Surely God loves those who fight in His cause in full formations as though they were a compact wall.

4

وَاِذْ قَالَ مُوْسٰى لِقَوْمِہٖ يٰقَوْمِ لِمَ تُؤْذُوْنَنِيْ وَقَدْ تَّعْلَمُوْنَ اَنِّىْ رَسُوْلُ اللہِ اِلَيْكُمْ۝۰ۭ فَلَمَّا زَاغُوْۗا اَزَاغَ اللہُ قُلُوْبَہُمْ۝۰ۭ وَاللہُ لَا يَہْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفٰسِقِيْنَ۝۵
Waith qala moosa liqawmihi ya qawmi lima tuthoonanee waqad taAAlamoona annee rasoolu Allahi ilaykum falamma zaghoo azagha Allahu quloobahum waAllahu la yahdee alqawma alfasiqeena

English

Ahmed Ali

When Moses said to his people: "O my people, why do you afflict me though you know that I have been sent to you by God?" But when they turned aside God made their hearts turn farther away; for God does not show the transgressors the way.

5

وَاِذْ قَالَ عِيْسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يٰبَنِيْۗ اِسْرَاۗءِيْلَ اِنِّىْ رَسُوْلُ اللہِ اِلَيْكُمْ مُّصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرٰىۃِ وَمُبَشِّرًۢا بِرَسُوْلٍ يَّاْتِيْ مِنْۢ بَعْدِي اسْمُہٗۗ اَحْمَدُ۝۰ۭ فَلَمَّا جَاۗءَہُمْ بِالْبَيِّنٰتِ قَالُوْا ہٰذَا سِحْــرٌ مُّبِيْنٌ۝۶
Waith qala AAeesa ibnu maryama ya banee israeela innee rasoolu Allahi ilaykum musaddiqan lima bayna yadayya mina alttawrati wamubashshiran birasoolin yatee min baAAdee ismuhu ahmadu falamma jaahum bialbayyinati qaloo hatha sihrun mubeenun

English

Ahmed Ali

And when Jesus, son of Mary, said: "O children of Israel, I am sent to you by God to confirm the Torah (sent) before me, and to give you good tidings of an apostle who will come after me, whose name is Ahmad (the praised one)." Yet when he has come to them with clear proofs, they say: "This is only magic."

6

وَمَنْ اَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرٰى عَلَي اللہِ الْكَذِبَ وَہُوَ يُدْعٰۗى اِلَى الْاِسْلَام۝۰ِۭ وَاللہُ لَا يَہْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظّٰلِـمِيْنَ۝۷ۚ
Waman athlamu mimmani iftara AAala Allahi alkathiba wahuwa yudAAa ila alislami waAllahu la yahdee alqawma alththalimeena

English

Ahmed Ali

Who is more unjust than he who invents a lie against God when he is called to submit? God does not show the evil-doers the way.

7

يُرِيْدُوْنَ لِيُطْفِــــُٔـوْا نُوْرَ اللہِ بِاَفْوَاہِہِمْ وَاللہُ مُتِمُّ نُوْرِہٖ وَلَوْ كَرِہَ الْكٰفِرُوْنَ۝۸
Yureedoona liyutfioo noora Allahi biafwahihim waAllahu mutimmu noorihi walaw kariha alkafiroona

English

Ahmed Ali

They want to extinguish the light of God by uttering blasphemies. But God wills to perfect His light, however the unbelievers may dislike it.

8

ہُوَالَّذِيْۗ اَرْسَلَ رَسُوْلَہٗ بِالْہُدٰى وَدِيْنِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْہِرَہٗ عَلَي الدِّيْنِ كُلِّہٖ۝۰ۙ وَلَوْ كَرِہَ الْمُشْرِكُوْنَ۝۹ۧ
Huwa allathee arsala rasoolahu bialhuda wadeeni alhaqqi liyuthhirahu AAala alddeeni kullihi walaw kariha almushrikoona

English

Ahmed Ali

It is He who sent His Apostle with the guidance and the true way to raise it above all faiths, however the idolaters may dislike it.

9

يٰۗاَيُّہَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا ہَلْ اَدُلُّكُمْ عَلٰي تِجَارَۃٍ تُنْجِيْكُمْ مِّنْ عَذَابٍ اَلِيْمٍ۝۱۰
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo hal adullukum AAala tijaratin tunjeekum min AAathabin aleemin

English

Ahmed Ali

O you who believe, may I offer you a bargain which will save you from a painful punishment?

10

The Theme of As-Saff (الصَّفّ): Jihad for Allah and His Rewards 

Surah Al-Saff, also known as the surah of Isa (عَلَیهِ ‌السَّلام) (Jesus), because the example of Isa (عَلَیهِ ‌السَّلام) is given to encourage believers. This surah holds great significance as it encouraged Muslims of Medina to Jihad (fight) for the sake of Allah with their wealth and life and to be obedient to Allah. The message of unity, commitment, and faith in one and only God, i.e., Allah, has been addressed in this surah. The literal meaning of this surah is ranks or line as the fourth verse of it refers to the line of combatants or mujahidin. 

"Surely God loves those who fight in His cause in full formations as though they were a compact wall" - Quran 61:4

Surah Al-Saff talks about and criticizes people whose actions do not match their words. It highlights the importance of speech aligned with the deeds of believers and that Allah knows everything that is in one's heart and mind. Rather than just just declaration of faith for the sake of society, this surah signifies the need to indicate beliefs via one's deeds. 

In the second part of the Surah Allah has promised rewards for the true believers of Islam and for those who sacrifice their wealth and lives in the path of Allah. Allah promised that those who will fight for God (Jihad) will escape the punishment of Akhirah (life after death). He promised to help the believers who fight for His sake and that they will be able to defeat their enemies by Allah's will.  

"Help from Allah and a victory near at hand, and give good news to the faithful" - Quran 61:13

The last part of Surah As-Saff talks about Isa (عَلَیهِ ‌السَّلام) (Jesus) as he asked his followers who would help him for the sake of Allah. This shows that God's path should be followed by giving the perfect example of the disciples of Isa (عَلَیهِ ‌السَّلام). He also gave the news of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), which meant that His believers should believe in the last Prophet of Allah. 

Virtues & Benefits of Reciting Surah As-Saff

There are great virtues and benefits associated with the reciting and understanding of this surah, hence showing its importance. It has many positive effects on spiritual beliefs and faiths, enhancing believers' Imaan on Allah and his rewards after death. According to one of the hadith from the Prophet (ﷺ), if one recites the Surah of Isa (عَلَیهِ ‌السَّلام), then He will ask for his forgiveness and also send peace towards him, and He will be with him on the day of Judgement. 

A hadith from Imam al-Baqir (a) states that God will place a person in the same "line" (Saff) as the angels and prophets if they consistently recite Sura al-Saff in their prayers. Hence, Surah As-Saff holds its significance as it teaches Muslims the importance of Jihad and how one should believe in Allah and sacrifice for His sake. 

The importance of Jihad can be understood by reading this hadith narrated by Abu Huraira: A man came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said,

"Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward)." He replied, "I do not find such a deed." Then he added, "Can you, while the Muslim fighter is on the battlefield, enter your mosque to perform prayers without cease and fast and never break your fast?" The man said, "But who can do that?" Abu-Huraira added, "The Mujahid (i.e., Muslim fighter) is rewarded even for the footsteps of his horse while it wanders bout (for grazing) tied in a long rope." (Sahih al-Bukhari 2785).