Surah As-Saff

It is also called Surah al-Hawariyyin (The Disciples) and Surah 'Isa (Jesus), upon him be peace. It is Madani according to the opinion of the majority, and this has been narrated from Ibn al-Zubayr, Ibn Abbas, al-Hasan, Qatadah, 'Ikrimah, and Mujahid. Ibn Yasar said: It is Makki, and this has also been narrated from Ibn Abbas and Mujahid. The chosen view is the former, and it is evidenced by what al-Hakim and others extracted from Abdullah ibn Salam, who said: "A group of us, the companions of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention and grant him peace, sat together and discussed, saying: 'If we knew which deeds were most beloved to Allah the Exalted, we would perform them.' Then Allah the Glorified sent down: 'Glorifies Allah whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do?' Abdullah said: 'The Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention and grant him peace, recited it to us until he finished it.'"

This hadith is narrated as a musalsal (continuously linked chain of narration), and it is an authentic hadith according to the criteria of the two Sheikhs (Bukhari and Muslim). It was extracted by Imam Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi, and many others, to the extent that Hafiz Ibn Hajar said: "It is the most authentic musalsal narration reported in the world, if indeed there is anything in the musalsal reports comparable to it in its elevated status." Likewise is what was narrated regarding the reason for its revelation from al-Dahhak: that it was the words of some Muslim youths saying, "We did such-and-such in the battle," when they had not done so. And what was narrated from Ibn Zayd: that it refers to the words of the hypocrites to the believers, "We are with you and on your side," while their actions reveal the contrary.

Its verses are fourteen without dispute. Its relevance to what precedes it lies in its inclusion of the exhortation to Jihad and the encouragement towards it, and in that is the confirmation of the prohibition against taking disbelievers as allies, which was contained in what preceded it.

As-Saff (The Ranks)

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

"Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth exalts Allah, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise."

The discussion regarding this verse is identical to the discussion presented previously concerning its counterpart.