The Column (Al-Suff)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth halloweth Allah. And He is the Mighty, the Wise. 1 O you who believe! why do you say that which you do not do? 2 Very hateful is it to God, that you say what you do not. 3 Verily, God loves [only] those who fight in His cause in [solid] ranks, as though they were a building firm and compact. 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, I am sent to you by God to confirm the Torah (sent) before me, and to give you good tidings of an apostle who will come after me, whose name is Ahmad (the praised one)." Yet when he has come to them with clear proofs, they say: "This is only 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 desire to extinguish with their mouths, the light of God; but God will perfect His light, though the unbelievers be averse. 8 It is He who sent His Apostle with the guidance and the true way to raise it above all faiths, however the idolaters may dislike it. 9