سُوْرَةُ الصَّفِّ
Surah As-Saff (61) — Ayah 4
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِهِۦ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُم بُنْيَـٰنٌ مَّرْصُوصٌ ﴿4﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, Allâh loves those who fight in His Cause in rows (ranks) as if they were a solid structure.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
يُحِبُّ
yuḥibbu
loves
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
يُقَـٰتِلُونَ
yuqātilūna
fight
فِى
fī
in
سَبِيلِهِۦ
sabīlihi
His Way
صَفًّۭا
ṣaffan
(in) a row
كَأَنَّهُم
ka-annahum
as if they
بُنْيَـٰنٌۭ
bun'yānun
(were) a structure
مَّرْصُوصٌۭ
marṣūṣun
joined firmly
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 4) ➊ {اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِيْنَ يُقَاتِلُوْنَ فِيْ سَبِيْلِهٖ … : ’’ مَرْصُوْصٌ ‘‘ ’’اَلرِّصَاصُ‘‘} Lead (coin) {’’ رَصَّ يَرُصُّ رَصًّا‘‘} (n) To join one thing with another firmly, to attach closely. In this, the example of the particles of lead being closely connected is considered. {’’ بُنْيَانٌ ‘‘ ’’بَنٰي يَبْنِيْ بِنَاءً ‘‘} (ḍ) is a verbal noun meaning passive participle, a constructed building. {’’ بُنْيَانٌ مَّرْصُوْصٌ ‘‘} Such a building whose parts are joined together like lead.
➋ The coming of this verse at this place is evidence that the previous verses are related to fighting in the way of Allah.
➌ This verse shows the virtue of those who fight in the way of Allah, that they are beloved servants of Allah. Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: [ قِيْلَ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ ! أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَفْضَلُ؟ فَقَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مُؤْمِنٌ يُجَاهِدُ فِيْ سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ، قَالُوْا ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ مُؤْمِنٌ فِيْ شِعْبٍ مِنَ الشِّعَابِ يَتَّقِي اللّٰهَ وَ يَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنْ شَرِّهِ ] [ بخاري، الجہاد والسیر، باب أفضل الناس مؤمن مجاہد بنفسہ… : ۲۷۸۶ ] "People said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Who among the people is the best (most virtuous)?' The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'The believer who strives in the way of Allah with his life and his wealth.' They said: 'Then who?' He said: 'The believer who is in one of the mountain passes, fears Allah, and keeps people safe from his evil.'"
➍ From this verse it is known that Allah's love is attained only by those who possess these qualities: first, that they are not those who save their lives, but those who fight and sacrifice their lives and wealth. Second, that they fight solely for the pleasure of Allah and for the elevation of His religion. Third, that they fight in ranks with discipline and order; this also includes obedience to the leader, that wherever they are assigned, they remain steadfast; without this, neither a rank is formed nor maintained. Fourth, that in belief and purpose, in love for each other, and in trust in each other, they are completely united, just as there is no gap in a "solid structure," there should be no gap among them either. Then, just as a "solid structure" does not move from its place, their feet should not be uprooted from the field under any circumstances, as all these qualities were found in the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). See the commentary of Surah Al-Fath, verse (29): « اَشِدَّآءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَآءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ».
➋ The coming of this verse at this place is evidence that the previous verses are related to fighting in the way of Allah.
➌ This verse shows the virtue of those who fight in the way of Allah, that they are beloved servants of Allah. Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: [ قِيْلَ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ ! أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَفْضَلُ؟ فَقَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مُؤْمِنٌ يُجَاهِدُ فِيْ سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ، قَالُوْا ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ مُؤْمِنٌ فِيْ شِعْبٍ مِنَ الشِّعَابِ يَتَّقِي اللّٰهَ وَ يَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنْ شَرِّهِ ] [ بخاري، الجہاد والسیر، باب أفضل الناس مؤمن مجاہد بنفسہ… : ۲۷۸۶ ] "People said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Who among the people is the best (most virtuous)?' The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'The believer who strives in the way of Allah with his life and his wealth.' They said: 'Then who?' He said: 'The believer who is in one of the mountain passes, fears Allah, and keeps people safe from his evil.'"
➍ From this verse it is known that Allah's love is attained only by those who possess these qualities: first, that they are not those who save their lives, but those who fight and sacrifice their lives and wealth. Second, that they fight solely for the pleasure of Allah and for the elevation of His religion. Third, that they fight in ranks with discipline and order; this also includes obedience to the leader, that wherever they are assigned, they remain steadfast; without this, neither a rank is formed nor maintained. Fourth, that in belief and purpose, in love for each other, and in trust in each other, they are completely united, just as there is no gap in a "solid structure," there should be no gap among them either. Then, just as a "solid structure" does not move from its place, their feet should not be uprooted from the field under any circumstances, as all these qualities were found in the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). See the commentary of Surah Al-Fath, verse (29): « اَشِدَّآءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَآءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ».
