Surah 61. As-Saff

And [this happened, too,] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said: "O children of Israel! Behold, I am an apostle of God unto you, [sent] to confirm the truth of whatever there still remains⁵ of the Torah, and to give [you] the glad tiding of an apostle who shall come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad."⁶ But when he [whose coming Jesus had foretold] came unto them⁷ with all evidence of the truth, they said: "This [alleged message of his] is [nothing but] spellbinding eloquence!⁸

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "whatever there is between my hands" - a phrase explained in surah {3}, note [3].

This prediction is supported by several references in the Gospel of St. John to the Parakletos (usually rendered as "Comforter") who was to come after Jesus. This designation is almost certainly a corruption of Periklytos ("the Much-Praised"), an exact Greek translation of the Aramaic term or name Mawhamana. (It is to be borne in mind that Aramaic was the language used in Palestine at the time of, and for some centuries after, Jesus, and was thus undoubtedly the language in which the original - now lost - texts of the Gospels were composed.) In view of the phonetic closeness of Periklytos and Parakletos it is easy to understand how the translator - or, more probably, a later scribe - confused these two expressions. It is significant that both the Aramaic Mawhamana and the Greek Periklytos have the same meaning as the two names of the Last Prophet, Muhammad and Ahmad, both of which are derived from the verb hamida ("he praised") and the noun hamd ("praise"). An even more unequivocal prediction of the advent of the Prophet Muhammad - mentioned by name, in its Arabic form - is said to be forthcoming from the so-called Gospel of St. Barnabas, which, though now regarded as apocryphal, was accepted as authentic and was read in the churches until the year 496 of the Christian era, when it was banned as "heretical" by a decree of Pope Gelasius. However, since the original text of that Gospel is not available (having come down to us only in an Italian translation dating from the late sixteenth century), its authenticity cannot be established with certainty.

I.e., to the later followers of the Bible.

Alluding to the Qur'an (see {74:24-25} and the corresponding note [12]).

And remember when Isa (Jesus) the son of Maryam said: "O children of Israel! I am the Rasool of Allah towards you, confirming the Torah which came before me, and to give you good news of a Rasool that will come after me whose name shall be Ahmed (another name of Muhammad, meaning 'The praised one')." But when he (Muhammad) came to them with clear signs, they said "This is plain magic."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And 'remember' when Jesus, son of Mary, said, 'O children of Israel! I am truly Allah's messenger to you, confirming the Torah which came before me, and giving good news of a messenger after me whose name will be Aḥmad.'¹ Yet when the Prophet came to them with clear proofs, they said, 'This is pure magic.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Aḥmad is another name for Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ). Both are derived from ḥa-ma-da which means ‘praise.’ Some Muslim scholars believe this verse refers to John 14:16, where Jesus says: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another periklytos, to be with you forever.” Periklytos is a Greek word that means ‘the praised one.’ The name of Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ) appears several times in the Gospel of Barnabas, which is deemed apocryphal by Christian authorities.

And when Jesus son of Mary said: O Children of Israel! Lo! I am the messenger of Allah unto you, confirming that which was (revealed) before me in the Torah, and bringing good tidings of a messenger who cometh after me, whose name is the Praised One. Yet when he hath come unto them with clear proofs, they say: This is mere magic.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And remember Jesus the son of Mary said: "O Children of Israel! I am the apostle of Allah (sent) to you confirming the Law (which came) before me and giving glad Tidings of an Apostle to come after me whose name shall be Ahmad." But when he came to them with Clear Signs they said "This is evident sorcery!" ^{5436 5437 5438 5439}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The mission of Jesus was to his own people, the Jews. Cf. Matt. x. 5-6. See also Matt. xv. 24: "I am not sent but to the lost sheep of Israel;" also Matt. xv. 26: "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs."

Cf. Matt. v. 17.

"Ahmad", or "Muhammad", the Praised One, is almost a translation of the Greek word Periclytos. In the present Gospel of John. xiv. 16, xv. 26, and xvi. 7, the word "Comforter" in the English version is for the Greek word "Paracletos", which means "Advocate", "one called to the help of another, a kind friend", rather than "Comforter". Our doctors contend that Paracleots is a corrupt reading for Periclytos, and that in their original saying of Jesus there was a prophecy of our holy Prophet Ahmad by name. Even if we read Paraclete, it would apply to the holy Prophet, who is "a Mercy for all creatures" (xxi. 107) and "most kind and merciful to the Believers" (ix. 128). See also n. 416 to iii. 81.

Our holy Prophet was foretold in many ways; and when he came, he showed forth many Clear Signs, for his whole life from beginning to end was one vast miracle. He fought and won against odds. Without learning from men he taught the highest wisdom. He melted hearts that were hard, and he strengthened hearts that were tender and required support. In all his sayings and doings men of discernment could see the working of Allah's hand; yet the ignorant Unbelievers called it all Sorcery!-called that unreal which became the most solid fact of human history!

And who could be more wicked than one who invents [such] a lie about [a message from] God, seeing that he is [but] being called to self-surrender unto Him? But God does not bestow His guidance upon evildoing folk.

  - Mohammad Asad

Who could be more wrong than the one who invents falsehoods against Allah while he is being called towards Islam? Allah does not guide those who are wrongdoers.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Who does more wrong than the one who fabricates lies about Allah when invited to submit 'to Him'?¹ For Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Submission to Allah means ‘Islam’ in Arabic.

And who doth greater wrong than he who inventeth a lie against Allah when he is summoned unto Al-Islam. And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Who doth greater wrong than one who invents falsehood against Allah even as he is being invited to Islam? And Allah guides not those who do wrong. ⁵⁴⁴⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

It is wrong in any case to uphold falsehoods and debasing superstitions, but it is doubly wrong when these are put forward in rivalry or opposition to the light of eternal Unity and Harmony which is Islam. Allah sends His guidance freely, but withdraws His Grace from those who wilfully do wrong.

They aim to extinguish God's light with their utterances:⁹ but God has willed to spread His light in all its fullness, however hateful this may be to all who deny the truth.

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "with their mouths" - i.e., by describing God's message as "nothing but spellbinding eloquence" on the part of Muhammad.

They seek to extinguish the Light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His Light, much as the unbelievers may dislike it.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

They wish to extinguish Allah's light with their mouths, but Allah will 'certainly' perfect His light, even to the dismay of the disbelievers.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Fain would they put out the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light however much the disbelievers are averse.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Their intention is to extinguish Allah's Light (by blowing) with their mouths: but Allah will complete (the revelation of) His Light even though the Unbelievers may detest (it). ⁵⁴⁴¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah's Light is unquenchable. A foolish, ignorant person who thinks of extinguishing it is like a rustic who wants to blow out electric light as he might blow out a rush candle! "With their mouths" also implies the babble and cackle of Ignorance against Allah's Truth. The more the foolish ones try to quench Allah's Light, the clearer it shines, to shame them!

He it is who has sent forth His Apostle with [the task of] spreading guidance and the religion of truth, to the end that He make it prevail over all [false] religion,¹⁰ however hateful this may be to those who ascribe divinity to aught but God.

  - Mohammad Asad

Cf 3:19 - "the only [true] religion in the sight of God is [man's] self-surrender unto Him".

It is He Who has sent His Rasool with the guidance and the religion of truth so that he may proclaim it over all religions, much as the Mushrikin may dislike it.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

He is the One Who has sent His Messenger with 'true' guidance and the religion of truth, making it prevail over all others, even to the dismay of the polytheists.

  - Mustafa Khattab

He it is who hath sent His messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that He may make it conqueror of all religion however much idolaters may be averse.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

It is He Who has sent His Apostle with Guidance and the Religion of Truth that he may proclaim it over all religion even though the Pagans may detest (it). ⁵⁴⁴²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"Over all religion": in the singular: not over all other religions, in the plural. There is really only one true Religion, the Message of Allah submission to the Will of Allah: this is called Islam. It was the religion preached by Moses and Jesus; it was the religion of Abraham, Noah, and all the prophets, by whatever name it may be called. If people corrupt that pure light, and call their religions by different names, we must bear with them, and we may allow the names for convenience. But Truth must prevail over all. See also ix. 33, n. 1290, and lxviii. 28, n. 4912.

O YOU who have attained to faith! Shall I point out to you a bargain that will save you from grievous suffering [in this world and in the life to come]?¹¹

  - Mohammad Asad

Cf. 9:111 - "God has bought of the believers their lives and their possessions, promising them paradise in return" - which explains the metaphor of a "bargain" (tijarah). My interpolation, between brackets, of the phrase "in this world and in the life to come" is justified by the subsequent verses {12} and {13}, one of which relates to the hereafter, and the other to this world.

O believers! Should I tell you of a bargain that will save you from a painful punishment?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

O believers! Shall I guide you to an exchange that will save you from a painful punishment?

  - Mustafa Khattab

O ye who believe! Shall I show you a commerce that will save you from a painful doom?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

O ye who believe! shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous Penalty? ⁵⁴⁴³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Tijarat: bargain, trade, traffic, transaction: something given or done, in return for something which we desire to get. What we give or do on our part is described in verse 11 below, and what we get is described in verse 12. It is truly a wonderful bargain: what we are asked to give is so little; what we are promised in return is so much. There comes Allah's unbounded Bounty and Munificence. Cf. also ix. 111, where the bargain is stated in another way.

You are to believe in God and His Apostle, and to strive hard in God's cause with your possessions and your lives: this is for your own good - if you but knew it!

  - Mohammad Asad

It is to believe in Allah and His Rasool and strive your utmost in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your persons. That is best for you, if you but knew it.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

'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.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Ye should believe in Allah and His messenger, and should strive for the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is better for you, if ye did but know.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

That ye believe in Allah and His Apostle and that ye strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah with your property and your persons: that will be best for you if ye but knew! ⁵⁴⁴⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

It would indeed be a great and wonderful bargain to give so little and get so much, if we only knew and understood the comparative value of things-the sacrifice of our fleeting advantages for forgiveness, the love of Allah, and eternal bliss.

[If you do so,] He will forgive you your sins, and [in the life to come] will admit you into gardens through which running waters flow, and into goodly mansions in [those] gardens of perpetual bliss:¹² that [will be] the triumph supreme!

  - Mohammad Asad

For this rendering of 'adn, see note [45] on 38:50 .

He will forgive you your sins and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow, and will lodge you in beautiful mansions in the gardens of Eden, which will be a supreme achievement.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

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.

  - Mustafa Khattab

He will forgive you your sins and bring you into Gardens underneath which rivers flow, and pleasant dwellings in Gardens of Eden. That is the supreme triumph.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

He will forgive you your sins and admit you to Gardens beneath which rivers flow and to beautiful mansions in Gardens of Eternity: that is indeed the supreme Achievement.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And [withal, He will grant you] yet another thing that you dearly love: succour from God [in this world], and a victory soon to come:¹³ and [thereof, O Prophet,] give thou a glad tiding to all who believe.

  - Mohammad Asad

Some of the commentators see in this promise of victory a prediction of actual, warlike conquests by the Muslims. It is, however, much more probable that it relates to a spiritual victory of the Qur'anic message, and its spread among people who had not previously understood it.

And yet another blessing which you love: help from Allah and a speedy victory. So O Prophet, give this good news to the believers.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

'He will also give you' another favour that you long for: help from Allah and an imminent victory. 'So' give good news 'O Prophet' to the believers.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And (He will give you) another blessing which ye love: help from Allah and present victory. Give good tidings (O Muhammad) to believers.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And another (favor will He bestow) which ye do love help from Allah and a speedy victory: so give the Glad Tidings to the Believers. ⁵⁴⁴⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The supreme Achievement has already been mentioned viz.; the Gardens of Eternity with Allah. But lest that seem too remote or abstract for the understanding of men not strong in faith, another good news is mentioned which the men who first heard this Message could at once understand and appreciate-"which ye do love": viz.: Help and Victory. For all striving in a righteous Cause we get Allah's help: and however much the odds against us may be, we are sure of victory with Allah's help. But all life is a striving or struggle,-the spiritual life even more than any other; and the final victory there is the same as the Garden of Eternity.

O YOU who have attained to faith! Be helpers [in the cause of God - even as Jesus, the son of Mary, said unto the white-garbed ones,¹⁴ "Who will be my helpers in God's cause?" - whereupon the white-garbed [disciples] replied, "We shall be [thy] helpers [in the cause] of God!" And so [it happened that] some of the children of Israel came to believe [in the apostleship of Jesus], whereas others denied the truth.¹⁵ But [now] We have given strength against their foes unto those who have [truly] attained to faith:¹⁶ and they have become the ones that shall prevail.

  - Mohammad Asad

For this rendering of al-hawariyyun, see surah {3}, note [42].

I.e., some of them recognized him as a prophet - and, therefore, as no more than a created, human being - whereas others denied this truth in the course of time by regarding him as "the son of God" - and, therefore, as "God incarnate" - while still others rejected him and his message altogether. The fact that the earliest followers of Jesus regarded him as purely human is evident from the many theological controversies which persisted during the first three or four centuries of the Christian era. Thus, some renowned theologians, like Theodotus of Byzantium, who lived towards the end of the second century, and his followers - among them Paul of Samosata, Bishop of Antioch in the year 260 - maintained that the "sonship of God" mentioned in the then-existing texts of the Gospels was purely symbolic, denoting no more than that Jesus was a human being exalted by God. The originally widespread teachings of Bishop Arius (280-326) centred in the concept of Jesus as a mortal man chosen by God for a specific task, and in the concept of God as absolutely One, unknowable, and separate from every created being; this doctrine, however, was ultimately condemned by the Councils of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381), and gradually ceased to have any influence on the Christian masses.

I.e., all who truly believe in Jesus as God's Apostle and, thus, as a forerunner of the Last Prophet, Muhammad, whose message confirms and expands the true message of Jesus.

O believers! Be the helpers of Allah, just as Isa (Jesus) the son of Maryam said to his disciples: "Who will be my helper in the cause of Allah?" And the disciples responded: "We will be your helpers in the cause of Allah." Then a group from the children of Israel believed in him (Isa) and another group disbelieved. We aided the believers against their enemies, so they became victorious.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

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.

  - Mustafa Khattab

O ye who believe! Be Allah's helpers, even as Jesus son of Mary said unto the disciples: Who are my helpers for Allah? They said: We are Allah's helpers. And a party of the Children of Israel believed, while a party disbelieved. Then We strengthened those who believed against their foe, and they became the uppermost.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

O ye who believe! be ye helpers of Allah: as said Jesus the son of Mary to the Disciples "Who will be my helpers to (the work of) Allah?" Said the Disciples "We are Allah's helpers!" Then a portion of the Children of Israel believed and a portion disbelieved: but We gave power to those who believed against their enemies and they became the ones that prevailed. ^{5446 5447 5448}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If we seek Allah's help, we must first help Allah's Cause, i.e., dedicate ourselves to Him entirely and without reserve. This was also the teaching of Jesus, as mentioned in this verse.

See iii. 52, and n. 392; and for the Biblical reference, see the last note. The names of the twelve Disciples will be found in Matt. x. 2-4.

A portion of the Children of Israel-the one that really cared for Truth-believed in Jesus and followed his guidance. But the greater portion of them were hard hearted, and remained in their beaten track of formalism and false racial pride. The majority seemed at first to have the upper hand when they thought they had crucified Jesus and killed his Message. But they were soon brought to their senses. Jerusalem was destroyed by Titus in A.D. 70 and the Jews have been scattered ever since. "The Wandering Jew" has become a bye-word in many literatures. On the other hand, those who followed Jesus permeated the Roman Empire, brought many new races within their circle, and through the Roman Empire, Christianity became the predominant religion of the world until the advent of Islam. So is it promised to the people of Islam: they must prevail if they adhere to the Truth. Badr (A.H. 2) was a landmark against Pagan Arabia; Qadisiya (A.H. 14) and Madain (A.H. 16) against the might of Persia: Yarmuk (A.H. 15) against the might of the Byzantine Empire in Christian Syria; and Heliopolis (A.H. 19) against the same Empire in Christian Egypt and Africa. These were symbols in external events. The moral and spiritual landmarks are less tangible, and more gradual, but none the less real. Mark how the arrogance and power of Priesthood have been quelled; how superstition and a belief in blind Fate have been checked; how the freedom of human individuals has been reconciled with the sanctity of marriage in the law of Divorce; how the civil position of women has been raised; how temperance and sobriety have been identified with religion; what impetus has been given to knowledge and experimental science; and how economic reconstruction has been pioneered by rational schemes for the expenditure and distribution of wealth.