Name of the Surah
This surah is named As-Saff (the
ranks or rows) because it begins with the following Ayah:
[61:4 Indeed, Allah loves those who fight for His cause in ranks as if they
were a structure well-compacted.]
Surah As-Saff contains fourteen Ayah
and was revealed in Al-Madinah.
Abdul Allah bin Salam said:
‘We were learning together. Then, we said, “Who would go and ask Messenger
Muhammad [peace be upon him], ‘Which deeds are best loved by Allah?’” However,
no one agreed to do so. Then, Messenger Muhammad sent a man to invite us to
come. He gathered us and recited to us Surah As-Saff.’
Relationship
between Surah Al-Mumtahanah and Surah As-Saff
Surah Al-Mumtahanah warns the believers
against taking the disbelievers as friends. Surah As-Saff, in contrast,
commands the believers to be united before their enemies and to stand in
well-compacted ranks when confronting them.
Surah Al-Mumtahanah refers to rules
concerning international relationships between Muslims and non-Muslims, both
inside and outside the Muslim nation, during times of peace. Surah As-Saff, on
the other hand, encourages the believers to fight for the sake of Allah in
order to repel the enemies of Islam from attacking and oppressing the
believers. It reprimands those who refrain from fighting for the sake of Allah
and likens them to the Children of Israel, who disobeyed Messenger Moses when
he commanded them to fight for the sake of Allah.
Most
Important Topics Discussed in Surah As-Saff
The main theme of Surah As-Saff is
fighting the enemies of Allah and making sacrifices for the sake of Allah. It
also refers to the great reward awaiting those who fight for the sake of Allah.
Surah As-Saff begins by glorifying
Allah and affirming that He, Exalted be He, is free from any imperfection. It
emphasizes the importance of unity within the Islamic nation, especially when
confronting the enemies of Islam.
61:1 All that is in the heavens and the
earth glorifies Allah; and He is the Al-Mighty, the All-Wise.
61:4 Indeed, Allah loves those who
fight for His cause in ranks as if they were a structure well-compacted.
Surah As-Saff then warns the believers
against disobeying the commands of Allah, as the Children of Israel did when
they disobeyed the commands of their Messenger Moses [peace be upon him].
Messenger Moses commanded the Children of Israel to fight for the sake of
Allah, and Messenger Jesus commanded them to believe in Messenger Muhammad, who
would come after him. However, the Children of Israel refused to comply with
the commands of their Messengers.
61:5 And mention, when Moses said to
his people, ‘O my people, why do you hurt me though you know well that I am the
Messenger of Allah to you?’ When they deviated, Allah made their hearts
deviate. And Allah does not guide the disobedient people.
61:6 And mention, when Jesus, son of
Maryam said, ‘O Children of Israel, surely I am the Messenger of Allah to you,
confirming what came before me of the Torah, and giving good news of a
Messenger who shall come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad.’ Then, when he
brought them the clear proofs, they said, ‘This is manifest magic.’
Surah As-Saff then gives glad tidings
of the victory of Islam over all other religions, as it is the creed of truth
and guidance.
61:9 It is He who has sent His
Messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that He shall make it
prevail over all religion, even though the disbelievers hate it.
Surah As-Saff further declares the path
to attaining true happiness and salvation from the punishment of the Hereafter.
This path consists of believing in the Oneness of Allah and His Messenger
Muhammad, and striving for the sake of Allah with one’s wealth and self. It
confirms that the fruits of fighting for the sake of Allah are victory in this
worldly life and the reward of the Hereafter. The surah emphasizes this concept
by mentioning the example of the disciples of Messenger Jesus, who supported
the religion of Allah and their Messenger.
61:10 O you who believe, shall I guide
you to a commerce that will save you from a painful punishment?
61:11 You believe in Allah and His
Messenger and strive for the cause of Allah with your wealth and your selves;
that is better for you, if you but know.
61:14 O you who believe, be Allah’s
helpers, as when Jesus, Maryam’s son, said to the Disciples, ‘Who will be my
helpers to Allah?’ The Disciples said, ‘We are Allah’s helpers.’ Then a party
of the Children of Israel believed, and a party disbelieved. Then We supported
those who believed against their enemy; thus, they became victorious.
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