The Column (Al-Suff)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
All that is in the heavens and the earth magnifies God; He is the All-mighty; the All-wise. 1 Believers, why do you preach what you do not practice? 2 It is most hateful in the sight of God if you say something and do not practice it. 3 Verily, God loves [only] those who fight in His cause in [solid] ranks, as though they were a building firm and compact. 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 [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 a lie against Allah, when he is being called to Islam? Allah does not guide the harmdoing people. 7 They desire to put out the light of Allah with their mouths but Allah will perfect His light, though the unbelievers may be averse. 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