Here are some of the benefits and virtues of reciting surah Saff:
Imam Ahmad recorded That `Abdullah bin Salam said, “We asked, `Who among us should go to the Messenger and ask him about the dearest actions to Allah’ None among us volunteered. The Messenger sent a man to us and that man gathered us and recited this Surah, Surat As-Saff, in its entirety.”’ (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
Ibn Mardawih related to Ibn Abbas that People said, “If we knew the deed that is most liked and beloved to Allah, we would certainly do it.” So Allah revealed
﴾ إن الله يحب الذين يقاتلون في سبيله صفّا كأنهم بنيان مرصوص ﴿
Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in a row as though they are a [single] structure joined firmly. (61:4)
But then the people turned away. So Allah revealed
﴾ يا أيها الذين آمنوا لم تقولون ما لا تفعلون ﴿
O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do? (61:2)
(Dur al-Manthur)
‘Irbad bin Sariyah Narrated: “that the Prophet (ﷺ) would recite the Musabbihat (Chapters 17, 57, 59, 61, 62, 64 & 87) before sleep and say “Indeed there is an Ayah in them that is better than one thousand Ayat.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2921, Book 45, Hadith 47]
Why was surah as Saff revealed?
Here are the reasons for the revelation of surah al Saff based on hadiths:
(All that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth glorifieth Allah, and He is the Mighty, the Wise) [61:1-4].
Muhammad ibn Ja‘far informed us, Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn Zakariyya, Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Daghuli, Muhammad ibn Yahya, Muhammad ibn Kathir al-San‘ani, al-Awza‘I, Yahya ibn Abi Kathir, Abu Salamah, ‘Abd Allah ibn Salam who said: “We sat — a group of Companions of the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace — and reminded each other. We said: ‘If only we knew the most beloved works to Allah, glorified and exalted is He, for we would then perform them’. Allah, exalted is He, therefore, revealed (Lo! Allah loveth them who battle for His cause in ranks as if they were a solid structure) [61:4] up to the end of the Surah. The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, read it to us”. (O ye who believe! Why say ye that which ye do not?) [61:2-4]. The commentators of the Qur’an said: “Some Muslims used to say: ‘If we knew the most beloved works to Allah, exalted is He, we would spend our wealth and persons in their sake’. And so Allah, exalted is He, directed them to the most beloved works to Him, saying (Lo! Allah loveth them who battle for His cause in ranks, as if they were a solid structure…) But when Muslims were tested at the Battle of Uhud, they retreated, and so Allah, exalted is He, revealed (O ye who believe! Why say ye that which ye do not?)”.
What is surah as Saff about?
The theme of Surah Saf is to tell Muslims to be more sincere in faith and do their best to please Allah. the surah addresses the Muslims who have weak faith, the new Muslims who entered Islam with the false profession of the Faith, and the ones who were sincere in their profession.
In this surah, Allah shows the believers the most beloved work to him and what he hates. As Allah says in Surah as-Saff:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ ٢
“O believers! Why do you say what you do not do?”
كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ ٣
“How despicable it is in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do!”
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِهِۦ صَفًّۭا كَأَنَّهُم بُنْيَـٰنٌۭ مَّرْصُوصٌۭ ٤
“Surely Allah loves those who fight in His cause in ˹solid˺ ranks as if they were one concrete structure.” [surah As-Saff, 2:5]
In verse 5:7, Allah shows how the disbelievers didn’t believe prophet Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them). Even though they know that prophet Moses (peace be upon him) is a Messenger of God they kept mistreating him and hurting him. And the people of prophet Isa (peace be upon him) didn’t believe him despite all the signs and miracles they saw. The disbelievers choose to ignore the clear guidance given to them.
In verse number 8, Allah challenges the disbelievers, saying: “The Jews and the Christians, and the hypocrites, who are conspiring with them, may try however hard they may to extinguish this Light of Allah, it will shine forth and spread in the world in all its fullness, and the Religion brought by the true Messenger of Allah shall prevail over every other religion however hateful it may be to the pagans and polytheists.”
Then in the following verses Allah shows the believers how to succeed in life and the Hereafter and says:
“O believers! Shall I guide you to an exchange that will save you from a painful punishment?
˹It is to˺ have faith in Allah and His Messenger, and strive in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is best for you if only you knew.
He will forgive your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow, and ˹house you in˺ splendid homes in the Gardens of Eternity. That is the ultimate triumph.
˹He will also give you˺ another favor that you long for: help from Allah and an imminent victory. ˹So˺ give good news ˹O Prophet˺ to the believers.
O believers! Stand up for Allah, as Jesus, son of Mary, asked the disciples, “Who will stand up with me for Allah?” The disciples replied, “We will stand up for Allah.” Then a group from the Children of Israel believed while another disbelieved. We then supported the believers against their enemies, so they prevailed.”
Where was surah as Saff revealed?
As Saff surah was revealed to the holy prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) during his residence in Medina.
When was surah as Saff revealed?
The time when the surah was revealed is not known, however, based on the subject matter of Suah As Saff it can be concluded that it was revealed closely following the Battle of Uhud.
Why the surah was named As Saff?
Surah Saff or The Ranks derived its name from verse number 4, where the word Saff is mentioned.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِهِۦ صَفًّۭا كَأَنَّهُم بُنْيَـٰنٌۭ مَّرْصُوصٌۭ ٤
Surely Allah loves those who fight in His cause in ˹solid˺ ranks (Saff) as if they were one concrete structure.
Is surah al Saff Makki or Madani?
There are some arguments about whether the surah is Makki or Madani, but the majority of scholars say that it’s a Madani Surah.
How to memorize surah al Saff?
To memorize Surah al Saff the first thing you should do is to read the full surah slowly. Then take the first verse and repeat it a couple of times, when you finish, try to recite it by heart. When you make it move to the second verse and repeat the process. When you finish memorizing it, try to recite the two verses by heart, and if you succeed go to the next verse, and when you finish the third verse recite the three verses by heart and do the same until you memorize the full surah.
Surah al saff tafseer.
Here’s Tafsir Ibn Kathir of the first four verses of Surah Saff:
﴿سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَمَا فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ ﴾
(Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth glorifies Allah. And He is the Almighty, the All-Wise.)
﴿يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لاَ تَفْعَلُونَ ﴾
(O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do) This refutes those who neglect to fulfill their promises. This honorable Ayah supports the view that several scholars of the Salaf held, that it is necessary to fulfill the promise, regardless of whether the promise includes some type of wealth for the person receiving the promise or otherwise. They also argue from the Sunnah, with the Hadith recorded in the Two Sahihs in which Allah’s Messenger said,
«آيَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ ثَلَاثٌ: إِذَا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ، وَإِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ، وَإِذَا اؤْتُمِنَ خَان»
(There are three signs for a hypocrite: when he promises, he breaks his promise; when speaks, he lies; and when he is entrusted, he betrays.) And in another Hadith in the Sahih,
«أَرْبَعٌ مَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ كَانَ مُنَافِقًا خَالِصًا،وَمَنْ كَانَتْ فِيهِ وَاحِدَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ كَانَتْ فِيهِ خَصْلَةٌ مِنْ نِفَاقٍ حَتْى يَدَعَهَا»
(There are four characteristics which if one has all of them, he is the pure hypocrite, and if anyone has any of them, he has a characteristic of hypocrisy, until he abandons it.) So he mentioned breaking the promise among these four characteristics. We mentioned the meaning of these two Hadiths at the beginning of the explanation of Sahih Al-Bukhari, and to Allah is the praise and the thanks. Therefore Allah implied this meaning when He continued His admonishment by saying,
﴿كَبُرَ مَقْتاً عِندَ اللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُواْ مَا لاَ تَفْعَلُونَ ﴾
(Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do.) Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawud recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amir bin Rabi`ah said, “Allah’s Messenger came to us while I was a young boy, and I went out to play. My mother said, `O `Abdullah! Come, I want to give you something.’ Allah’s Messenger said to her,
«وَمَا أَرَدْتِ أَنْ تُعْطِيَهُ؟»
(What did you want to give him) She said, `Dates.’ He said,
«أَمَا إِنَّكِ لَوْ لَمْ تَفْعَلِي كُتِبَتْ عَلَيْكِ كَذْبَة»
(If you had not given them to him, it would have been written as a lie in your record.)” Muqatil bin Hayyan said, “The faithful believers said, `If we only knew the dearest good actions to Allah, we would perform them.’ Thus, Allah told them about the dearest actions to Him, saying,
﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَـتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِهِ صَفّاً﴾
(Verily, Allah loves those who fight for His cause in rows) Allah stated what He likes, and they were tested on the day of Uhud. However, they retreated and fled, leaving the Prophet behind. It was about their case that Allah revealed this Ayah:
﴿يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لاَ تَفْعَلُونَ ﴾
(O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do) Allah says here, `The dearest of you to Me, is he who fights in My cause.”’ Some said that it was revealed about the gravity of fighting in battle when one says that he fought and endured the battle, even though he did not do so. Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak said that this Ayah was sent down to admonish some people who used to say that they killed, fought, stabbed, and did such and such during battle, even though they did not do any of it. Sa`id bin Jubayr said about Allah’s statement,
﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَـتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِهِ صَفّاً﴾
(Verily, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in rows (ranks)) “Before Allah’s Messenger began the battle against the enemy, he liked to line up his forces in rows; in this Surah, Allah teaches the believers to do the same.” He also said that Allah’s statement,
﴿كَأَنَّهُم بُنْيَـنٌ مَّرْصُوصٌ﴾
(as if they were a solid structure.) means, its parts are firmly connected to each other; in rows for battle. Muqatil bin Hayyan said, “Firmly connected to each other.” Ibn `Abbas commented on the meaning of the Ayah,
﴿كَأَنَّهُم بُنْيَـنٌ مَّرْصُوصٌ﴾
(as if they were a solid structure.) by saying, “They are like a firm structure that does not move because its parts are cemented to each other.”
Hadith on surah al Saff.
Here are some of the hadiths about Surah al Saff:
Abu Harb b. Abu al-Aswad reported on the authority of his father that Abu Musa al-Ash’ari sent for the reciters of Basra. They came to him and they were three hundred in number. They recited the Qur’an and he said: “You are the best among the inhabitants of Basra, for you are the reciters among them. So continue to recite it. (But bear in mind) that your reciting for a long time may not harden your hearts as were hardened the hearts of those before you. We used to recite a surah that resembled in length and severity to (Surah) Bara’at. I have, however, forgotten it with the exception of this which I remember out of it:” If there were two valleys full of riches, for the son of Adam, he would long for a third valley, and nothing would fill the stomach of the son of Adam but dust.” And we used to recite a surah which resembled one of the surahs of Musabbihat, and I have forgotten it, but remember (this much) out of it:” Oh people who believe, why do you say that which you do not practice” (lxi 2.) and” that is recorded in your necks as a witness (against you) and you would be asked about it on the Day of Resurrection” (xvii. 13). [Sahih Muslim 1050, Book 12, Hadith 156]
Abdullah bin Salam said: “A group of us Companions of the Messenger of Allah sat talking, and we said: ‘If we knew which deed was most beloved to Allah then we would do it.’ So Allah, Most High, revealed: Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth glorifies Allah. And He is Almighty, the All-Wise. O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do?” Abdullah bin Salam said: “So the Messenger of Allah recited it to us.” Abu Salamah (one of the narrators) said: “So Ibn Salam recited it to us.” Yahya (one of the narrators) said: “So Abu Salamah narrated it to us.” Ibn Kathir said: “So Al-Awza’i recited it to us.” Abdullah said: “So Ibn Kathir recited it to us.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3309]
A’isha reported: “I heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The (system) of night and day would not end until the people have taken to the worship of Lat and ‘Uzza. I said: Allah’s Messenger, I think when Allah has revealed this verse:” He it is Who has sent His Messenger with the right guidance, and true religion, so that He may cause it to prevail upon all religions, though the polytheists are averse (to it)” (61:9 & ix. 33), it implies that (this promise) is going to be fulfilled. Thereupon he (Allah’s Apostle) said: It would happen as Allah would like. Then Allah would send the sweet fragrant air by which everyone who has even a mustard grain of faith in Him would die and those only would survive who would have no goodness in them. And they would revert to the religion of their forefathers.” [Sahih Muslim 2907 a, Book 54, Hadith 65]
Al-Wahidi narrated: Muhammad ibn Ja‘far informed us, Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn Zakariyya, Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Daghuli, Muhammad ibn Yahya, Muhammad ibn Kathir al-San‘ani, al-Awza‘I, Yahya ibn Abi Kathir, Abu Salamah, ‘Abd Allah ibn Salam who said: “We sat — a group of Companions of the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace — and reminded each other. We said: ‘If only we knew the most beloved works to Allah, glorified and exalted is He, for we would then perform them’. Allah, exalted is He, therefore, revealed (Lo! Allah loveth them who battle for His cause in ranks as if they were a solid structure) [61:4] up to the end of the Surah. The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, read it to us”. (O ye who believe! Why say ye that which ye do not?) [61:2-4]. The commentators of the Qur’an said: “Some Muslims used to say: ‘If we knew the most beloved works to Allah, exalted is He, we would spend our wealth and persons in their sake’. And so Allah, exalted is He, directed them to the most beloved works to Him, saying (Lo! Allah loveth them who battle for His cause in ranks, as if they were a solid structure…) But when Muslims were tested at the Battle of Uhud, they retreated, and so Allah, exalted is He, revealed (O ye who believe! Why say ye that which ye do not?)”. (Asbab Al-Nuzul)
Surah as Saff summary.
Surah Saff (the ranks) is the surah number 61 which has 14 verses. It was revealed closely after the battle of Uhud. The surah shows the believers how to be more sincere in faith and do their best to please Allah.
In verse 5:7, Allah shows how the disbelievers didn’t believe prophets Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them). Even though they know that prophet Moses (peace be upon him) is a Messenger of God they kept mistreating him and hurting him. And the people of prophet Isa (peace be upon him) didn’t believe him despite all the signs and miracles they saw. The disbelievers choose to ignore the clear guidance given to them.
In verse number 8, Allah challenges the disbelievers. Then in the following verses, Allah shows the believers how to succeed in life and the Hereafter.
That’s it for today’s article, I hope you found it useful, for more information or if you have any questions visit our website Noor academy.
The post Surah as Saff benefits and Virtues | Noor Academy appeared first on Noor Academy : Online Quran, Arabic, and Islamic Studies Classes.
This post first appeared on Noor Academy Online Quran, Arabic And Islamic Studies Online For Kids Https://nooracademy.com/, please read the originial post: here
