The Column (Al-Suff)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
All whatever is in the heavens and all whatever is in the earth proclaims the Purity of Allah; and He only is the Most Honourable, the Wise. 1 O People who Believe! Why do you preach what you do not practice? 2 It is most hateful to Allah that you should say that which you do not do. 3 Verily, Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in rows (ranks) as if they were a solid structure. 4 Now when Moses spoke to his people, [it was this same truth that he had in mind:] "O my people! Why do you cause me grief, the while you know that I am an apostle of God sent unto you?" And so, when they swerved from the right way, God let their hearts swerve from the truth: for God does not bestow His guidance upon iniquitous folk. 5 And when Jesus son of Mary said: O Children of Israel! Lo! I am the messenger of Allah unto you, confirming that which was (revealed) before me in the Torah, and bringing good tidings of a messenger who cometh after me, whose name is the Praised One. Yet when he hath come unto them with clear proofs, they say: This is mere magic. 6 And who does more wrong than the one who invents a lie against Allah, while he is being invited to Islam? And Allah guides not the people who are Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers and disbelievers) folk. 7 They wish to put out Allah’s light with their mouths, whereas Allah will perfect His light even if the disbelievers get annoyed. 8 It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth, so that He raises it above all religions, much as the unbelievers dislike it. 9