The Column (Al-Suff)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth halloweth Allah. And He is the Mighty, the Wise. 1 Believers, why do you preach what you do not practice? 2 How despicable it is in the sight of Allah that you may preach what you do not practice. 3 Verily, Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in rows (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, 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 Who is more unjust than he who invents a lie against God when he is called to submit? God does not show the evil-doers the way. 7 They aim to extinguish God's light with their utterances: but God has willed to spread His light in all its fullness, however hateful this may be to all who deny the truth 8 It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the true religion to stand supreme over all religions, even though the pagans may dislike it. 9