The Column (Al-Suff)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, 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 Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do. 3 Lo! Allah loveth them who battle for His cause in ranks, as if they were a solid structure. 4 And (remember) when Moses said unto his people: O my people! Why persecute ye me, when ye well know that I am Allah's messenger unto you? So when they went astray Allah sent their hearts astray. And Allah guideth not the evil-living 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 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 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, that he may proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it). 9