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).

Shaan e Nazool (Historical Background)

There is no specific event or incident associated with the revelation of Surah As-Saff, nor can its exact period of revelation be ascertained. However, the majority of historians and scholars agree that it was most probably revealed sometime after the Battle of Uhud. It is widely believed that this Surah was revealed in the context of the post-Uhud scenario. After a historic and convincing victory in the Battle of Badr, Muslims faced a tough time on the battlefield of Uhud, mainly due to ignoring the Prophet's instructions by a group of soldiers, who were commanded not to leave their position under any circumstances. At this stage, the Muslim community of the newly established Muslim State in Medina needed to consolidate its strength. Apart from the external threats, especially from Quraysh of Mecca, the Muslim state was also facing diverse internal challenges. One of the crucial internal challenges was the hypocrisy. In this context, the Surah warns the Muslims about a visible difference between their words and actual actions (2^nd verse), “O you who believe, why do you profess what you do not practise?”

Surah As-Saff was not particularly revealed to address the outcome of the Battle of Uhud, but it addresses the general behavior and attitude of different types of believers. The Surah generally bifurcates the believers into three main categories: those having weak faith, those who embraced Islam through false profession of faith, and those with firm and sincere faith. The Surah generally addresses all three types of believers, requiring them not a verbal profession of faith but to be prepared to defend the Islamic state, with active participation and sacrifice, physically with their lives and wealth.  

The Surah particularly describes a scenario where, although some believers actively show their willingness to fight for the cause of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, when the time comes, they show reluctance and hesitate to sacrifice their lives on the battlefield. The Muslim state of Medina experienced this negative behavior by some believers during the Battle of Uhud. The Surah emphasizes these individuals in particular and all other true believers in general, to revisit their attitude, by exhibiting sincerity, discipline, unity, and more importantly, obedience to Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ and the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ.

In a broader sense, Surah As-Saff commands that Muslims need to be always available and ready to sacrifice for the protection of their faith. It demands from the believers, complete preparedness in an organized manner, to fight in the way of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, the concept of Jihad. The 4^th verse of this Surah specifically mentions the concept of Jihad (Surely God loves those who fight in His cause in full formations as though they were a compact wall). This verse demands that the believers maintain discipline and unity among their ranks (As-Saff), like a reinforced concrete wall.   

Makki or Madni Surah

Surah As-Saff is a Madni Surah, revealed at a very crucial phase of the establishment of a new Islamic State, most probably after the Battle of Uhud.

Place in the Quran

Surah As-Saff is the 61^st Surah of the Quran. It falls in the 28^th Juzz (Para) of the Quran after Surah Al-Mumtahina, and before Surah Al-Jumu’ah. It is the 109^th Surah in the order of revelation, and comes at number 61 in the sequence of recitation.

• Number of Verses: Surah As-Saff has 14 verses.
• Number of Ruku (Sections): Surah As-Saff is divided into 2 Rukus (sections).

Significance of Surah As-Saff  

Surah As-Saff holds a special significance in Islam, especially in the context of the challenging circumstances prevailing in Medina, after the Battle of Uhud.

The significance of Surah As-Saff includes the following:

• As mentioned in the second verse of this Surah, Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ warns the believers that there should be no gap between their words and actions. It is a loud and clear command for all Muslims across generations to adopt and maintain sincerity and consistency in their deeds. Make sure to come up to your faith when time demands; don't show reluctance in sacrificing your lives and wealth for the cause of Islam.
• Muslims are urged to maintain unity and discipline in their ranks at all times, which, in fact, is the real strength of the Muslim Ummah.
• This Surah emphasizes that every true believer needs to be ready for fighting in the way of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, to defend the community in general and the faith in particular. It is a reminder for every Muslim to remain available for Jihad, whenever it is called by the State.
• Surah As-Saff also narrates the story and struggle by the Prophets Musa and Isa عَلَيْهِمَا ٱلسَّلَامُ, which reflects that to spread Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ Message, every Ummah and the Prophets had to struggle with their lives and wealth.

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).

Listen to the Recitation of Surah As-Saff  by Renowned Qaris

Listening to the recitation of the Quran, including Surah As-Saff, by renowned Qaris (reciters) is quite popular among the Muslim world. It helps a lot in pronouncing the Quranic words correctly, which might be somewhat difficult for a non-Arabic-speaking person. Correct pronunciation of Quranic phrases is a highly sensitive matter. Any slight deviation or mistake in reciting a specific word may lead to an entirely different meaning, which might be a sinful act. One of the most practical and best ways to overcome this difficulty is to carefully listen to the recitation of the Quranic Surahs by an authentic reciter (Qari). Likewise, sometimes Muslims may just want to listen to the Quran instead of reading it on their own.

The website and mobile application of the MuslimandQuran provide the best solution to this sensitive matter. The recitation of the Quran by the most authentic Qaris is available on our website and mobile application, which you can listen to on your mobile devices or laptops quite easily. You can select a Qari of your preference to listen to and learn the correct recitation of the Quran. You only need to download the Mobile Application of the Muslim and the Quran to listen to any Surah of the Quran, including Surah As-Saff.

The mobile application of the MuslimandQuran is available for both Android and iOS, which can be downloaded from Google Play and App Store, respectively, by clicking the links given below:

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Surah As-Saff PDF

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