The Column (Al-Suff)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
ALL THAT IS in the heavens and the earth sings the praises of God. He is all-mighty and all-wise. 1 O you who believe, why do you profess what you do not practise? 2 Most loathsome is it in the sight of God that you say what you do not do! 3 Verily Allah loveth those who fight in His way drown up in ranks, as though they were a structure well compacted. 4 And 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. 5 And [this happened, too,] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said: "O children of Israel! Behold, I am an apostle of God unto you, [sent] to confirm the truth of whatever there still remains of the Torah, and to give [you] the glad tiding of an apostle who shall come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad." But when he [whose coming Jesus had foretold] came unto them with all evidence of the truth, they said: "This [alleged message of his] is [nothing but] spellbinding eloquence!" 6 And who could be more wicked than one who invents [such] a lie about [a message from] God, seeing that he is [but] being called to self-surrender unto Him? But God does not bestow His guidance upon evil-doing folk. 7 Fain would they extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths; and Allah is going to perfect His light, even though averse may be the infidels. 8 It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although those who associate others with Allah dislike it. 9