The Column (Al-Suff)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
ALL THAT IS in the heavens and the earth sings the praises of God. He is all-mighty and all-wise. 1 O you who believe, why do you profess what you do not practise? 2 It is most hateful to Allah that you should 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 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 Who could be more wicked than one who invents lies about God when called to submit to Him? God does not guide the wrongdoers: 7 They seek to extinguish Allah's light (by blowing) with their mouths, but Allah shall spread His light in all its fullness, howsoever the unbelievers may abhor this. 8 it is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the true religion, so that He may cause it to prevail over all religions, however much the polytheists may dislike it. 9