NAME: الصف, As-Saff.
Name taken from Verse 4 where there is a mention of the word “Saff”.
٤ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُمْ بُنْيَانٌ مَرْصُوصٌ
4 Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in a row as though they are a [single] structure joined firmly.
But It does not mean that this name is the actual topic discussed in the whole Surah. It is just a reference and mark/symbol to distinguish this Surah from others as is with most other Surahs of Quran. While there are diversified topics discussed in these Surahs.
ENGLISH NAME: The Ranks.
CHAPTER NUMBER: 61
SURAH SAFF TOTAL VERSES: 14
SURAH SAFF TOTAL WORDS: 226
TOTAL UNIQUE WORDS WITHOUT REPETITION: 156
TOTAL LETTERS: 966
REVELATION PERIOD:
Medinan, Approx. 622 – 624 AD.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
God, Believers, Prophet Moses, Jesus and Ahmed, Disciples Of Jesus.
SURAH SAFF MAIN TOPICS:
Allah Loves Those Who Fight In His Cause United, Prediction Of Ahmed By Jesus, Prediction Of Victory.
SURAH SAFF KEY VERSES:
٦ وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَٰذَا سِحْرٌ مُبِينٌ
6 And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, “O children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad.” But when he came to them with clear evidences, they said, “This is obvious magic.”
٨ يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَاللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ
8 They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it.
١٤ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا أَنْصَارَ اللَّهِ كَمَا قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ لِلْحَوَارِيِّينَ مَنْ أَنْصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنْصَارُ اللَّهِ ۖ فَآمَنَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَكَفَرَتْ طَائِفَةٌ ۖ فَأَيَّدْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَىٰ عَدُوِّهِمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا ظَاهِرِينَ
14 O you who have believed, be supporters of Allah, as when Jesus, the son of Mary, said to the disciples, “Who are my supporters for Allah?” The disciples said, “We are supporters of Allah.” And a faction of the Children of Israel believed and a faction disbelieved. So We supported those who believed against their enemy, and they became dominant.
SUMMARY OF TOPICS
1-4(O You Who Believe, Do not Say What You Do Not Do, Allah Loves Those Who Fight In His Cause In A Row/In Ranks As Though They Are A Single Structure), 5(Mention Of Prophet Moses), 6(Mention Of Prophet Jesus, Prediction Of Ahmed(Prophet) By Jesus), 7( Who Is More Unjust Than He Who Forges A Lie Against Allah), 8(They Want To Extinguish The Light Of Allah With Their Mouths, But Allah Will Perfect His Light), 13(Prediction Of Victory That It Is Near), 14(Be Supporters Of Allah, As Hawari/Disciples Of Jesus)
SURAH SAFF BRIEF COMMENTARY & BACKGROUND
This Surah has 14 verses divided into 2 Rukus/Sections. It takes its name from verse 4: “…. إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا ” (Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in a row/ranks…..) where the word “Saff” meaning The Ranks appears. This Surah was revealed in Madina most probably in the first or second year of Hijrah during or just after the battle of Badr.
This Surah is also called الْمُسَبِّحَاتِ Surah as it begins with the glorification of Allah. The collective name of الْمُسَبِّحَاتِ assigns to the following 6 Surahs Hadid, Hashr, Saff, Jumuah, Taghabun and Surah Ala.
The Surah encourages Muslims and urge them to perfect their faith and trust on God and to defend the truth no matter what would be the cost for that. It encourages them to struggle and fight in the cause of Allah and gives examples from the lives of prophet Moses and Jesus and their struggle and appeal to their people. Lastly it ends with a glad tiding of victory and that the religion of God will prevail.
Ahmad bin Hanbal recorded that Abdullah bin Salam said, “We asked, `Who among us should go to the Prophet and ask him about the beloved actions to God’ None among us volunteered. The Messenger sent a man to us and that man gathered us and recited this Surah, Surat Saff, in its entirety.
The Prophet of God PBUHsaid: If a person recites Surah Saff, Prophet Jesus would pray for his safety and forgiveness, so long as he lives in this world and when he dies he would be regarded among the companions of Prophet Jesus on the Day of Judgment.
