Overview - Surah 61: as-Saff (The Ranks )
The Surah exhorts Muslims to be in a united front and not be hypocritical in their actions. The Surah speaks about Prophet Moses and his difficulties with his own people. He told them to follow Allah’s rules and they did not listen to him. Then Allah sent Jesus among them and he also reminded them about Allah and gave them the good news of the coming of Prophet Muhammad. But they continue in their stubborn denial. The Surah ends with the good news that the true religion will prevail in the end and Allah will give it victory.
Sections:
- Struggle for the Truth. The light of Islam will shine more.
- The way of success for the believers is to struggle for the truth.
The Surah takes it name from the fourth Ayat, إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُم بُنْيَانٌ مَّرْصُوصٌ "Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in a row as though they are a [single] structure joined firmly." [61:4].
There are 14 Ayat in this Surah.
Overview
| Total Ayat | 14 |
| Total Words * | 221 |
| Root Words * | 86 |
| Makki / Madani | Madani |
| Chronological Order* | 109th (according to Ibn Abbas) |
| Year of Revelation* | 17th year of Prophethood (4th Year Hijri) |
| Events during/before this Surah*
, Battle of Uhud, Change of Qiblah from Jerusalem to Makkah - Battle of Badr, Migration from Makkah to Madinah - Building of Masjid Nabi in Madinah - Treaty with Jews of Madinah - Marriage of Prophet to Aishah, , 2nd Pledge of Aqabah, 1st Pledge of Aqabah, Death of Abu Talib - Death of Khadijah - Stoning at Ta'if - al-Isra wal Mi'raj - Night Journey, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 3, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 2, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 1, 2nd Migration to Abyssinia, Physical beating and torture of some Muslims - 1st Migration of Muslims to Abyssinia, Public Invitation to Islam - Persecution of Muslims; antagonism - ridicule - derision - accusation - abuse and false propaganda., Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam , Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam , Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam
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| Events during/after still to occur*
Battle of Ahzab - Expedition of Banu Quraydhah,Treaty of Hudaiybiyah - Letters to Kings and Rulers,,Conquest of Makkah - Battle of Hunain,Hajj led by Abu Bakr - Expedition of Tabuk,Farewell Hajj by Prophet - Death of Prophet - End of Divine Revelation
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| Names of Prophets Mentioned
Musa, Isa, Muhammad
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| Surah Index
Ahmad, God (hard strivers rewarded better) , Children (of Israel) , Disciples (of Jesus), Hypocrites, Jesus, Jesus (disciples) , Jihad, Jihad (striving hard in God’s cause) , Mary, Moses, Prophet (people who are false prophets are wicked) , Sin, Torah
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It’s theme is to exhort the Muslims to adopt sincerity in Faith and to struggle with their lives in the cause of God. It is addressed to the Muslims with weak faith as well as those who had entered Islam with a false profession of the Faith and also those who were sincere in their profession. Some verses are addressed to the first two groups, some only to the hypocrites, and some only to the sincere Muslims.
At the outset the believers have been warned to the effect; “God indeed hates those people who say one thing and do another, and He indeed loves those who fight in the cause of the Truth, standing like a solid structure, against the enemies of God.”
In v. 5-7 the people of the Prophet’s community have been warned that their attitude towards their Messenger and their Religion should not be like the attitude that the Israelites had adopted towards the Prophets Moses and Jesus. In spite of acknowledging the Prophet Moses as a Messenger of God they continued to malign him as long as he lived, and in spite of witnessing clear signs from the Prophet Jesus they denied him without any hesitation. Consequently, the Israelites became perverse, incapable of benefiting from divine guidance. This is certainly not an enviable state which another nation should imitate.
Then, in v. 8-9 a proclamation has been made with the challenge: “The Jews and the Christians, and the hypocrites, who are conspiring with them, may try however hard they may to extinguish this Light of God, it will shine forth and spread in the world in all its fullness, and the Religion brought by the true Messenger of God shall prevail over every other religion however hateful it may be to the pagans and polytheists.”
In v. 10-13, the believers have been told that the way to success both here and in the Hereafter is only one: that they should believe in God and His Messenger sincerely and should exert their utmost in God’s Way with their selves and their wealth. As a reward for this they will earn immunity from God’s punishment, forgiveness of their sins and the eternal Paradise in the Hereafter, and will be blessed with God’s good pleasure, assistance and victory in the world.
In conclusion, the believers have been exhorted to the effect that just as the disciples of the Prophet Jesus had helped him in the cause of God, so should they also become “helpers of God,” so that they too are blessed with the same kind of good pleasure and approval of God as had been the believers before them against the disbelievers.
The Surah revolves around ways of victory for the Religion. This cannot happen except if the Believers are in one Saff [row] stood shoulder to shoulder. An individual brick no matter how strong cannot fulfill its role for a wall or a structure. It is only when strong bricks unite that a wall or structure becomes solid and impenetrable.
Manuscripts / Inscriptions
- Both Surah al-Mumtahinah [60] and Surah as-Saff [61] begin with Ayat related to Jihad.
- Both the first Ayat of Surah as-Saff [61] and Surah al-Jumuah [62] end with names of Allah, al-Azeez al-Hakeem.
- Both Surah as-Saff [61] and al-Jumu'ah [62] mention the Jews.
- Surah Saff [61:6] mentions the prophecy of the Prophet Muhammd to be sent after Jesus and Surah al-Jumuah [62:2] mentions the sending of the Prophet Muhammad.
- There is a connection between the beginning of Surah as-Saff [61], al-Jum'uah [62] and al-Munafiqun [63]. In Surah as-Saff, Allah speaks of those who say that which they do not do. In the following Surah, this concept is mentioned again in the example of Jewish scholars who are like donkeys contradicting and not benefiting from the knowledge they are carrying. Then this is again followed by the next Surah, which begins with the statements of the Hypocrites who are saying they testify to the truth, whereas in reality they are liars. All three being examples of contradictions between word and deed.
- عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَلاَمٍ، قَالَ قَعَدْنَا نَفَرٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَتَذَاكَرْنَا فَقُلْنَا لَوْ نَعْلَمُ أَىَّ الأَعْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ لَعَمِلْنَاهُ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى : ( سبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ * يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لاَ تَفْعَلُونَ ) قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَلاَمٍ فَقَرَأَهَا عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
ِAbdullah bin Salam said, “A group of us Companions of the Messenger of Allah sat talking, and we said: ‘If we knew which deed was most beloved to Alllah then we would do it.’ So Allah, Most High, revealed: Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth glorifies Allah. And He is Almighty, the All-Wise. O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do?.[Ayat no.4 has the mention of those whom Allah loves] ” Abdullah bin Salam said: “So the Messenger of Allah recited it to us.” Tirmidhee no. 3309
This is the only Surah of the Qur'an that mentions "Ahmad" as the name of the Prophet Muhammad as prophecised by Jesus,
وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّـهِ إِلَيْكُم مُّصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَـٰذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ "And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "O children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad." But when he came to them with clear evidences, they said, "This is obvious magic." (61:6)
Total Word Count per Ayat (shows how many words per Ayat) = * | ||
- Believers are commanded not to say something that they won't do (61:2) (61:3)
- The Prophet Isa (Jesus) gave good news of a Rasool coming after him whose name would be Ahmed (Muhammad-pbuh). (61:5)
- A bargain to save oneself from the hellfire is to believe in Allah, His Rasool and strive your utmost (Jihad) in the cause of Allah with one's wealth and person.
- Believers are commanded to be the helpers of Allah like the disciples of Isa (Jesus (pbuh).
Tafsir Zone
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Sayyid Qutb Overview (Verses 10 - 13) A Most Profitable Bargain When the history of faith has thus been outlined and the inevitable triumph the final version of the divine faith has been promised, the Qur'an addresses the believers — those living at the time and those of later generations — offering them the bargain of their lives. This is a transaction in which the merchandise is faith and the means to achieve it is faith.: Believers! Shall I point out to you a bargain that will save you from grievous suffering? You are to believe in God and His Messenger, and to strive hard in God's cause with your possessions and your lives. This is for your own good, if you but knew it. He will forgive you your sins, and [in the life to come] will admit you into gardens through which running waters flow and into goodly mansions in the gardens of Eden, That is the supreme triumph! And [He will grant you] yet another thing that you dearly love: help from God and a victory soon to come. Give you the good news to the believers. (Verses 10-13) The surah goes further, presenting the bargain in an even more attractive way: "This is for your own good, if you but knew it." Knowledge of the truth will encourage the person who knows it to try to obtain this beneficial matter. But the thing that is referred to as being good for us is given in more detail in the next verse. This again heightens the effect even further; providing the details after a general statement drives the point home and makes it even more desirable. "He will forgive you your sins." On its own, this is more than enough. Who would need any further reward when he is assured of God's forgiveness? Who would begrudge anything if he is certain to obtain God's forgiveness? But God's grace has no limit, for the reward also includes something for the life to come. God "will admit you into gardens through which running waters flow, and into goodly mansions in the gardens of Eden." This is the most profitable bargain of all, because all that is needed for this deal to be concluded is that a believer should fight for God's cause during his short life on earth. Even if this means him losing his life in this fight, he will be compensated for it with heaven and these goodly mansions where he lives in permanent bliss. "That is the supreme triumph! The account of this transaction appears to conclude here. It is indeed a highly profitable bargain which the believer makes, bartering the life of this world for that of the hereafter. A person who receives a profit ten times his capital will be the envy of everyone in the marketplace. What about one who puts up a few days of life on earth and its limited and narrow comforts to earn an eternal life with God in pure happiness and enjoyment that knows no end? The deal was concluded between the Prophet (peace be upon him) and Abdullah ibn Rawabah on the night when the Ansar (the Prophet's Companions from Madinah) pledged their support to him. (Abdullah said to the Prophet: "Make whatever conditions you wish, for yourself and for your Lord." He said: "My condition for my Lord is that you worship Him alone, associating no partners with Him. And my condition for myself is that you pledge you will protect me as you protect your own womenfolk and children." (Abdullah said: "What will our reward be if we honour our commitments?" The Prophet said: "Paradise." They said: "It is a profitable bargain. We will never seek release from our commitments, nor do we accept any cancellation." God's grace is limitless. He knows that human beings always look for something close, in this world, which fits human nature. Therefore, He gives them the happy news of what He has determined of making this religion of Islam prevail in this world, and making its system and code triumph in the life of that same generation: "And will grant you] yet another thing that you dearly love: help from God and a victory soon to come. Give you the good news to the believers." (Verse 13) At this point, the bargain attains the point of supreme returns which only God, whose stores are endless, and whose grace is interminable, can give. What He gives in return, then, are forgiveness, heaven, goodly dwelling and eternal bliss, but in addition to all such profits He gives a soon-to-happen victory. Who would hold back, hesitate when God tells him of this bargain? With all this temptation and goodly prospects, a thought may well occur to us. A believer who knows the Islamic concept of life and the universe, and appreciates the great horizons this concept opens up before us, and then looks at life without faith, with its narrow concerns and lowly levels, cannot tolerate life without faith even for a moment. He will not hesitate for a second in joining the struggle for God's cause in order to establish the great concept of faith in real life, so that he may live with the rest of mankind in its superior reality. It may be that he would not need to have any reward other than such a life, because the struggle for God's cause is, in itself, a reward, giving us contentment and happiness in this life. Moreover, such a believer cannot live in a world devoid of faith, and cannot sit idle, not striving to establish a world governed by faith. Thus, he is strongly motivated to struggle, no matter what happens to him as a result. |
Ibn Kathir (English)
Sayyid Qutb
Sha'rawi
Al Jalalain
الطبري - جامع البيان
ابن كثير - تفسير القرآن العظيم
القرطبي - الجامع لأحكام
البغوي - معالم التنزيل
ابن أبي حاتم الرازي - تفسير القرآن
ابن عاشور - التحرير والتنوير
ابن القيم - تفسير ابن قيّم
السيوطي - الدر المنثور
الشنقيطي - أضواء البيان
ابن الجوزي - زاد المسير
الآلوسي - روح المعاني
ابن عطية - المحرر الوجيز
الرازي - مفاتيح الغيب
أبو السعود - إرشاد العقل السليم
الزمخشري - الكشاف
البقاعي - نظم الدرر
الهداية إلى بلوغ النهاية — مكي ابن أبي طالب
القاسمي - محاسن التأويل
الماوردي - النكت والعيون
السعدي - تيسير الكريم الرحمن
عبد الرحمن الثعالبي - الجواهر الحسان
السمرقندي - بحر العلوم
أبو إسحاق الثعلبي - الكشف والبيان
الشوكاني - فتح القدير
النيسابوري - التفسير البسيط
أبو حيان - البحر المحيط
البيضاوي - أنوار التنزيل
النسفي - مدارك التنزيل
ابن جُزَيّ - التسهيل لعلوم التنزيل
علي الواحدي النيسابوري - الوجيز
السيوطي - تفسير الجلالين
المختصر في التفسير — مركز تفسير
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- Surah 61. As-Saff - Saad al Ghamidi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0WwBhj93Q0&index=61&list=PLhM2xiAUdw2cAqW_o3zZkbhJNw0bnaBZN
- Surah 61. As-Saff Mahmoud Khalil Al Hussary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPwaUp6fenc&index=61&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfMFWX22VZWOKpzjr-vH_BM
- Surah 61. As-Saff Muhammad Al Luhaydan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgRiK1FhJVo&index=61&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfKAYuQLRNAZomoezhfhRZe
- Surah 61. As-Saff Muhammad Minshawi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEPykEv_hys&list=PLxpAkjlGauHdUcO_uc-8F8J2NUQRDZjPG&index=61
