سُوْرَةُ الصَّفِّ
Surah As-Saff (61) — Ayah 1
سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ﴿1﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth glorifies Allâh. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
سَبَّحَ
sabbaḥa
Glorifies
لِلَّهِ
lillahi
Allah
مَا
mā
whatever
فِى
fī
(is) in
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
the heavens
وَمَا
wamā
and whatever
فِى
fī
(is) in
ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ
l-arḍi
the earth
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
And He
ٱلْعَزِيزُ
l-ʿazīzu
(is) the All-Mighty
ٱلْحَكِيمُ
l-ḥakīmu
the All-Wise
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 1){ سَبَّحَ لِلّٰهِ مَا فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ مَا فِي الْاَرْضِ … :} The subject of this Surah is striving and fighting in the path of Allah; it begins with the mention of Allah’s glorification. The relevance of starting with Allah’s glorification to the subject of the Surah is that the Being whom everything in the heavens and everything on the earth glorifies, it is obligatory for humans, like all other creatures, to glorify Him as well. Then, those who, instead of glorifying Him, commit disbelief and polytheism with Him, it becomes obligatory upon the believers to fight them, because they are going against the entire universe and, instead of glorifying Allah, by associating partners with Him, they are denying His being free from all defects and shortcomings. What could be a greater insult than to, instead of acknowledging Allah as One without partner and the possessor of all perfect attributes, ascribe to Him offspring and partners, thereby proving Him to be weak and needy, and instead of worshipping Him alone, associate with Him in worship those things which have no share in the creation or sustenance of the heavens and the earth. Similarly, this is also a rebuke to those who, despite promises and claims of believing and fighting in the path of Allah, avoid fighting in His path, for they have not practically fulfilled the right of Allah’s glorification.
The explanation of {’’ سَبَّحَ لِلّٰهِ مَا فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ مَا فِي الْاَرْضِ …‘‘} has already passed at the beginning of Surah Hadid and Surah Hashr; at this place, the mention of Allah’s attribute {’’ الْعَزِيْزُ ‘‘} hints that when He is dominant over everyone, then why do you fear fighting His enemies? And the mention of the attribute {’’ الْحَكِيْمُ ‘‘} hints that the command He has given you to fight the disbelievers and never let them or their disbelief and polytheism prevail is not without purpose, but is based on perfect wisdom and is a guarantee of your honor and success in this world and the Hereafter. (Ibn Ashur)
The explanation of {’’ سَبَّحَ لِلّٰهِ مَا فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ مَا فِي الْاَرْضِ …‘‘} has already passed at the beginning of Surah Hadid and Surah Hashr; at this place, the mention of Allah’s attribute {’’ الْعَزِيْزُ ‘‘} hints that when He is dominant over everyone, then why do you fear fighting His enemies? And the mention of the attribute {’’ الْحَكِيْمُ ‘‘} hints that the command He has given you to fight the disbelievers and never let them or their disbelief and polytheism prevail is not without purpose, but is based on perfect wisdom and is a guarantee of your honor and success in this world and the Hereafter. (Ibn Ashur)
