Surah As-Saf

الصف

Surah As-Saff is a Medinan surah of 14 verses that asks believers why they say what they do not do, recalls Moses and Jesus, and describes faith and effort as a trade that saves.

Meaning
The Ranks
Surah
61 of 114
Verses
14
Revealed in
Medina
Found in
Juz 28

What Surah As-Saf is about

As-Saff is the 61st surah of the Quran, revealed in Medina, with 14 verses. It takes its name from verse 4, which says Allah loves those who stand together in ranks in His cause, as firm as a solid structure. It is one of the surahs that open with all of creation glorifying Allah.

Right after that opening, verses 2 and 3 ask believers a direct question: why do they say what they do not do. Verse 3 says it is deeply hateful to Allah. Verse 4 then gives the picture of a united, steady community. The surah turns to two earlier prophets whose people let them down. In verse 5 Moses (Musa) asks his people why they hurt him when they know he is Allah's messenger. In verse 6 Jesus (Isa) tells the Children of Israel that he confirms the Torah and brings good news of a messenger to come after him named Ahmad, a name of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Verses 7 to 9 describe people trying to put out Allah's light with their mouths, and promise that He will complete it. Verses 10 to 13 then offer the believers a trade that will save them from punishment: believe in Allah and His Messenger and strive with your wealth and your selves. In return, verse 12 promises forgiveness and homes in gardens, and verse 13 adds help from Allah and a victory near at hand. The last verse returns to Jesus, recalling how his disciples answered his call to be Allah's helpers, and asks believers to be helpers of Allah in the same way.

Main themes

  1. Words and deeds

    Verses 2 and 3 address believers whose words go further than their actions. The surah treats this gap seriously, calling it most hateful to Allah, and then shows the opposite in verse 4: a community standing firm together.

    Verses 2–4
  2. Moses and Jesus

    Moses asks his people why they hurt him despite knowing his role. Jesus confirms the Torah and announces a messenger named Ahmad, and when the clear signs came, people called them magic.

    Verses 5–6
  3. Allah's light will be completed

    Opponents are pictured trying to blow out Allah's light with their mouths. Verses 8 and 9 say He will complete His light and make the true religion prevail, however much they dislike it.

    Verses 7–9
  4. The trade that saves

    Verses 10 to 13 describe faith and effort as a transaction with Allah. The price is belief and striving with one's wealth and self, and the return is forgiveness, Paradise, and help and victory in this life.

    Verses 10–14

Verses to know

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفۡعَلُونَ ﴿٢﴾ كَبُرَ مَقۡتًا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُواْ مَا لَا تَفۡعَلُونَ ﴿٣﴾

2O you who believe! Why do you say what you do not do? 3It is most hateful to Allah that you say what you do not do.
As-Saf 61:2–3

A short, searching question about saying what one does not do, followed by a plain statement of how much Allah dislikes it. Many Muslims quote these verses when talking about integrity.

وَإِذۡ قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ يَٰبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَـٰٓءِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيۡكُم مُّصَدِّقٗا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ ٱلتَّوۡرَىٰةِ وَمُبَشِّرَۢا بِرَسُولٖ يَأۡتِي مِنۢ بَعۡدِي ٱسۡمُهُۥٓ أَحۡمَدُۖ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ قَالُواْ هَٰذَا سِحۡرࣱ مُّبِينࣱ ﴿٦﴾

And when Jesus son of Mary said, “O Children of Israel, I am Allah’s messenger to you, confirming what preceded me of the Torah, and announcing good news of a messenger who will come after me, whose name is Ahmad.” But when he showed them the miracles, they said, “This is obvious sorcery.”
As-Saf 61:6

Jesus announces good news of a messenger after him whose name is Ahmad. Muslims understand this as a reference to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, since Ahmad is one of his names.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ هَلۡ أَدُلُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰ تِجَٰرَةٖ تُنجِيكُم مِّنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٖ ﴿١٠﴾ تُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَتُجَٰهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِأَمۡوَٰلِكُمۡ وَأَنفُسِكُمۡۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ خَيۡرࣱ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ ﴿١١﴾ يَغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ ذُنُوبَكُمۡ وَيُدۡخِلۡكُمۡ جَنَّـٰتٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ وَمَسَٰكِنَ طَيِّبَةٗ فِي جَنَّـٰتِ عَدۡنٖۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ ﴿١٢﴾

10O you who believe! Shall I inform you of a trade that will save you from a painful torment? 11That you believe in Allah and His Messenger, and strive in the cause of Allah with your possessions and yourselves. That is best for you, if you only knew. 12He will forgive you your sins; and will admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow, and into beautiful mansions in the Gardens of Eden. That is the supreme success.
As-Saf 61:10–12

The surah frames faith as a trade with Allah and spells out both sides of the deal: belief and striving in return for forgiveness and gardens.

Surah As-Saf in Arabic and English

All 14 verses, with the Arabic, a transliteration to help you read it aloud, and the English translation by Talal Itani.

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

  1. 1

    سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ

    Sabbaha lillahi ma fee alssamawati wama fee alardi wahuwa alAAazeezu alhakeemu

    Everything in the heavens and the earth praises Allah. He is the Almighty, the Wise.

  2. 2

    يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفۡعَلُونَ

    Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo lima taqooloona ma la tafAAaloona

    O you who believe! Why do you say what you do not do?

  3. 3

    كَبُرَ مَقۡتًا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُواْ مَا لَا تَفۡعَلُونَ

    Kabura maqtan AAinda Allahi an taqooloo ma la tafAAaloona

    It is most hateful to Allah that you say what you do not do.

  4. 4

    إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقَٰتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِۦ صَفّٗا كَأَنَّهُم بُنۡيَٰنࣱ مَّرۡصُوصࣱ

    Inna Allaha yuhibbu allatheena yuqatiloona fee sabeelihi saffan kaannahum bunyanun marsoosun

    Allah loves those who fight in His cause, in ranks, as though they were a compact structure.

  5. 5

    وَإِذۡ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوۡمِهِۦ يَٰقَوۡمِ لِمَ تُؤۡذُونَنِي وَقَد تَّعۡلَمُونَ أَنِّي رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيۡكُمۡۖ فَلَمَّا زَاغُوٓاْ أَزَاغَ ٱللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمۡۚ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡفَٰسِقِينَ

    Waith qala moosa liqawmihi ya qawmi lima tuthoonanee waqad taAAlamoona annee rasoolu Allahi ilaykum falamma zaghoo azagha Allahu quloobahum waAllahu la yahdee alqawma alfasiqeena

    When Moses said to his people, “O my people, why do you hurt me, although you know that I am Allah’s messenger to you?” And when they swerved, Allah swerved their hearts. Allah does not guide the sinful people.

  6. 6

    وَإِذۡ قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ يَٰبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَـٰٓءِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيۡكُم مُّصَدِّقٗا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ ٱلتَّوۡرَىٰةِ وَمُبَشِّرَۢا بِرَسُولٖ يَأۡتِي مِنۢ بَعۡدِي ٱسۡمُهُۥٓ أَحۡمَدُۖ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ قَالُواْ هَٰذَا سِحۡرࣱ مُّبِينࣱ

    Waith qala AAeesa ibnu maryama ya banee israeela innee rasoolu Allahi ilaykum musaddiqan lima bayna yadayya mina alttawrati wamubashshiran birasoolin yatee min baAAdee ismuhu ahmadu falamma jaahum bialbayyinati qaloo hatha sihrun mubeenun

    And when Jesus son of Mary said, “O Children of Israel, I am Allah’s messenger to you, confirming what preceded me of the Torah, and announcing good news of a messenger who will come after me, whose name is Ahmad.” But when he showed them the miracles, they said, “This is obvious sorcery.”

  7. 7

    وَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفۡتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَ وَهُوَ يُدۡعَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلۡإِسۡلَٰمِۚ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

    Waman athlamu mimmani iftara AAala Allahi alkathiba wahuwa yudAAa ila alislami waAllahu la yahdee alqawma alththalimeena

    And who is a greater wrongdoer than he who attributes falsehoods to Allah, when he is being invited to Islam? Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.

  8. 8

    يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطۡفِـُٔواْ نُورَ ٱللَّهِ بِأَفۡوَٰهِهِمۡ وَٱللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِۦ وَلَوۡ كَرِهَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ

    Yureedoona liyutfioo noora Allahi biafwahihim waAllahu mutimmu noorihi walaw kariha alkafiroona

    They want to extinguish Allah’s light with their mouths; but Allah will complete His light, even though the disbelievers dislike it.

  9. 9

    هُوَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَرۡسَلَ رَسُولَهُۥ بِٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ ٱلۡحَقِّ لِيُظۡهِرَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلدِّينِ كُلِّهِۦ وَلَوۡ كَرِهَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكُونَ

    Huwa allathee arsala rasoolahu bialhuda wadeeni alhaqqi liyuthhirahu AAala alddeeni kullihi walaw kariha almushrikoona

    It is He who sent His Messenger with the guidance and the true religion, to make it prevail over all religions, even though the idolaters dislike it.

  10. 10

    يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ هَلۡ أَدُلُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰ تِجَٰرَةٖ تُنجِيكُم مِّنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٖ

    Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo hal adullukum AAala tijaratin tunjeekum min AAathabin aleemin

    O you who believe! Shall I inform you of a trade that will save you from a painful torment?

  11. 11

    تُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَتُجَٰهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِأَمۡوَٰلِكُمۡ وَأَنفُسِكُمۡۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ خَيۡرࣱ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ

    Tuminoona biAllahi warasoolihi watujahidoona fee sabeeli Allahi biamwalikum waanfusikum thalikum khayrun lakum in kuntum taAAlamoona

    That you believe in Allah and His Messenger, and strive in the cause of Allah with your possessions and yourselves. That is best for you, if you only knew.

  12. 12

    يَغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ ذُنُوبَكُمۡ وَيُدۡخِلۡكُمۡ جَنَّـٰتٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ وَمَسَٰكِنَ طَيِّبَةٗ فِي جَنَّـٰتِ عَدۡنٖۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ

    Yaghfir lakum thunoobakum wayudkhilkum jannatin tajree min tahtiha alanharu wamasakina tayyibatan fee jannati AAadnin thalika alfawzu alAAatheemu

    He will forgive you your sins; and will admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow, and into beautiful mansions in the Gardens of Eden. That is the supreme success.

  13. 13

    وَأُخۡرَىٰ تُحِبُّونَهَاۖ نَصۡرࣱ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَفَتۡحࣱ قَرِيبࣱۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ

    Waokhra tuhibboonaha nasrun mina Allahi wafathun qarreebun wabashshiri almumineena

    And something else you love: support from Allah, and imminent victory. So give good news to the believers.

  14. 14

    يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُوٓاْ أَنصَارَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَا قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ لِلۡحَوَارِيِّـۧنَ مَنۡ أَنصَارِيٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ قَالَ ٱلۡحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحۡنُ أَنصَارُ ٱللَّهِۖ فَـَٔامَنَت طَّآئِفَةࣱ مِّنۢ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَـٰٓءِيلَ وَكَفَرَت طَّآئِفَةࣱۖ فَأَيَّدۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ عَلَىٰ عَدُوِّهِمۡ فَأَصۡبَحُواْ ظَٰهِرِينَ

    Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo koonoo ansara Allahi kama qala AAeesa ibnu maryama lilhawariyyeena man ansaree ila Allahi qala alhawariyyoona nahnu ansaru Allahi faamanat taifatun min banee israeela wakafarat taifatun faayyadna allatheena amanoo AAala AAaduwwihim faasbahoo thahireena

    O you who believe! Be supporters of Allah, as Jesus son of Mary said to the disciples, “Who are my supporters towards Allah?” The disciples said, “We are Allah’s supporters.” So a group of the Children of Israel believed, while another group disbelieved. We supported those who believed against their foe, so they became dominant.

Surah As-Saf PDF

The whole surah on printable pages: Arabic, transliteration and English side by side. Free to download, print and share.

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Questions about Surah As-Saf

How many verses are in Surah As-Saff?

Surah As-Saff has 14 verses. It is a Medinan surah and the 61st in the Quran.

Which verse says why do you say what you do not do?

Verse 2 of Surah As-Saff asks believers why they say what they do not do, and verse 3 says this is most hateful to Allah.

Where is Ahmad mentioned in the Quran?

In Surah As-Saff, verse 6, Jesus son of Mary gives good news of a messenger who will come after him named Ahmad, understood by Muslims as the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Why is it called Surah As-Saff?

Saff means rank or row. The name comes from verse 4, which says Allah loves those who stand in His cause in ranks like a solid structure.