The Column (Al-Suff)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth exalts Allah, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. 1 Believers, why do you preach what you do not practice? 2 It is most hateful to God that you do not practise what you preach; 3 Verily Allah loveth those who fight in His way drown up in ranks, as though they were a structure well compacted. 4 When Moses said to his people: "O my people, why do you afflict me though you know that I have been sent to you by God?" But when they turned aside God made their hearts turn farther away; for God does not show the transgressors the way. 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 does greater evil than he who forges against God falsehood, when he is being called unto surrender? And God guides never the people of the evildoers. 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 has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, that he may proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it). 9