The Column (Al-Suff)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most 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 say that which you do not do? 2 It is most hateful in the sight of Allah that ye say that which ye do not. 3 Verily Allah loveth those who fight in His way drown up in ranks, as though they were a structure well compacted. 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 want to put out the light of God with their mouths, but God will certainly make His light shine forever - even though the disbelievers may dislike this. 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