61:14 As-Saff (The Ranks)

{ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا أَنْصَارَ اللَّهِ } [أي:] بالأقوال والأفعال، وذلك بالقيام بدين الله، والحرص على إقامته على الغير، وجهاد من عانده ونابذه، بالأبدان والأموال، ومن نصر الباطل بما يزعمه من العلم ورد الحق، بدحض حجته، وإقامة الحجة عليه، والتحذير منه.ومن نصر دين الله، تعلم كتاب الله وسنة رسوله، والحث على ذلك، [والأمر بالمعروف والنهي عن المنكر].ثم هيج الله المؤمنين بالاقتداء بمن قبلهم من الصالحين بقوله: { كَمَا قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ لِلْحَوَارِيِّينَ مَنْ أَنْصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ } أي: قال لهم عارضا ومنهضا من يعاونني ويقوم معي في نصرتي لدين الله، ويدخل مدخلي، ويخرج مخرجي؟فابتدر الحواريون، فقالوا: { نَحْنُ أَنْصَارُ اللَّهِ } فمضى عيسى عليه السلام على أمر الله ونصر دينه، هو ومن معه من الحواريين، { فَآمَنَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ } بسبب دعوة عيسى والحواريين، { وَكَفَرَتْ طَائِفَةٌ } منهم، فلم ينقادوا لدعوتهم، فجاهد المؤمنون الكافرين، { فَأَيَّدْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَى عَدُوِّهِمْ } أي: قويناهم ونصرناهم عليهم.{ فَأَصْبَحُوا ظَاهِرِينَ } عليهم وقاهرين [لهم]، فأنتم يا أمة محمد، كونوا أنصار الله ودعاة دينه، ينصركم الله كما نصر من قبلكم، ويظهركم على عدوكم.تمت ولله الحمد

يقول تعالى آمرا عباده المؤمنين أن يكونوا أنصار الله في جميع أحوالهم بأقوالهم وأفعالهم وأنفسهم وأموالهم وأن يستجيبوا لله ولرسوله كما استجاب الحواريون لعيسى حين قال من أنصاري إلى الله أي معيني في الدعوة إلى الله عز وجل؟ قال الحواريون وهم أتباع عيسى عليه السلام نحن أنصار الله أي نحن أنصارك على ما أرسلت به وموازروك على ذلك ولهذا بعثهم دعاة إلى الناس في بلاد الشام في الإسرائيلين واليونانيين وهكذا كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول في أيام الحج " من رجل يؤويني حتى أبلغ رسالة ربي؟د فإن قريشا قد منعوني أن أبلغ رسالة ربي " حتى قيض الله عز وجل له الأوس والخزرج من أهل المدينة فبايعوه ووازروه وشارطوه أن يمنعوه من الأسود والأحمر إن هو هاجر إليهم فلما هاجر إليهم بمن معه من أصحابه وفوا له بما عاهدوا الله عليه ولهذا سماهم الله ورسوله الأنصار وصار ذلك علما عليهم رضي الله عنهم وأرضاهم وقوله تعالى فأمنت طائفة من بني إسرائيل وكفرت طائفة أى لما بلغ عيسى ابن مريم عليه الصلاة والسلام رسالة ربه إلى قومه ووازره من وازره من الحواريين اهتدت طائفة من بني إسرئيل بما جاءهم به وضلت طائفة فخرجت عما جاءهم به وجحدوا نبوته ورموه وأمه بالعظائم وهم اليهود عليهم لعائن الله المتتابعة إلى يوم القيامة وغلت فيه طائفة ممن اتبعه حتى رفعوه فوق ما أعطاه الله من النبوة وافترقوا فرقا وشيعا فمن قائل منهم إنه ابن الله وقائل إنه ثالث ثلاثة: الأب والابن وروح القدس ومن قائل إنه الله وكل هذه الأقوال مفصلة في سورة النساء. وقوله تعالى فأيدنا الذين آمنوا على عدوهم أي نصرناهم على من عاداهم من فرق النصارى فأصبحوا ظاهرين أي عليهم وذلك ببعثة محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم كما قال الإمام أبو جعفر بن جرير رحمه الله حدثني أبو السائب حدثنا أبو معاوية عن الأعمش عن المنهال يعني ابن عمرو عن سعيد بن جبير عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال: لما أراد الله عز وجل أن يرفع عيسى إلى السماء خرج إلى أصحابه وهم في بيت اثنا عشر رجلا من عين في البيت ورأسه يقطر ماء فقال " إن منكم من يكفر بي اثنتي عشرة مرة بعد أن آمن بي قال ثم قال أيكم يلقى عليه شبهي فيقتل مكاني ويكون معي في درجتي " قال فقام شاب من أحدثهم سنا فقال أنا فقال له " اجلس " ثم أعاد عليهم فقام الشاب فقال أنا فقال له " اجلس " ثم أعاد عليهم فقام الشاب فقال أنا فقال " نعم أنت ذاك " قال فألقي عليه شبه عيسى ورفع عيسى عليه السلام من روزنة في البيت إلى السماء قال وجاء الطلب من اليهود فأخذوا شبيهه فقتلوه وصلبوه وكفر به بعضهم أثنتي عشرة مرة بعد أن آمن به فتفرقوا فيه ثلاث فرق فقالت فرقة كان الله فينا ما شاء ثم صعد إلى السماء وهؤلاء اليعقوبية وقالت فرقة كان فينا ابن الله ما شاء الله ثم رفعه إليه وهؤلاء النسطورية وقال فرقة كان فينا عبدالله ورسوله ما شاء الله ثم رفعه الله إليه وهؤلاء المسلمون فتظاهرت الكافرتان على المسلمة فقتلوها فلم يزل الإسلام طامسا حتى بعث الله محمدا صلى الله عليه وسلم فآمنت طائفة من إسرائيل وكفرت طائقة يعني الطائفة التي كفرت من بني إسرائيل في زمن عيسى والطائفة التي آمنت في زمن عيسى فأيدنا الذين آمنوا على عدوهم فأصبحوا ظاهرين بإظهار محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم دينهم على دين الكفار هذا لفظه في كتابه عند تفسير هذه الآية الكريمة وهكذا رواه النسائي عند تفسير هذه الآية من سننه عن أبي كريب عن محمد بن العلاء عن أبى معاوية بمثله سواء فأمة محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم لا يزالون ظاهرين على الحق حتى يأتي أمر الله وهم كذلك وحتى يقاتل آخرهم الدجال مع المسيح عيسى ابن مريم عليه السلام كما وردت بذلك الأحاديث الصحاح والله أعلم آخر تفسير سورة الصف ولله الحمد والمنة.

Muslims are always the Natural Supporters of Islam

Allah the Exalted orders His faithful servants to be Allah's supporters at all times, in all their statements and actions, sacrificing their selves and wealth. Allah orders them to accept His and His Messenger's call, just as the disciples said to Prophet `Isa when he said,

مَنْ أَنصَارِى إِلَى اللَّهِ

(Who are my helpers (in the cause) of Allah) meaning, `who will support me in conveying the Message of Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored'

قَالَ الْحَوَرِيُّونَ

(The Hawariyyun said:) in reference to the followers of `Isa, peace be upon him,

نَحْنُ أَنصَـرُ اللَّهِ

(We are Allah's helpers) meaning, `we will support you with regards to the Message you have been sent with and will help you convey it.' Whereby, `Isa sent the disciples to the various areas of Ash-Sham to call the Greeks and the Israelites to Islam. Similarly, during the days of Hajj, Allah's Messenger ﷺ used to ask,

«مَنْ رَجُلٌ يُؤْوِينِي حَتْى أُبَلِّغَ رِسَالَةَ رَبِّي؟ فَإِنَّ قُرَيْشًا قَدْ مَنَعُونِي أَنْ أُبَلِّغَ رِسَالَةَ رَبِّي»

(Who will support me in conveying the Message of my Lord Verily, the Quraysh have prevented me from conveying the Message of my Lord.) Allah the Exalted and Most Honored raised Al-Aws and Al-Khazraj to support the Prophet. They were the residents of Al-Madinah who gave the pledge to him and supported him, vowing to protect him from mankind and the Jinns if he migrated to them. When he migrated to them with his Companions, they fulfilled their vow to Allah. This is the reason why Allah and His Messenger called them, Al-Ansar, the Supporters. The name became synonymous with them. May Allah be pleased with them and please them, as well.

A Group of the Children of Israel believed in `Isa and a Group of Them disbelieved

Allah said,

فَـَامَنَت طَّآئِفَةٌ مِّن بَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ وَكَفَرَت طَّآئِفَةٌ

(Then a group of the Children of Israel believed and a group disbelieved.) When `Isa, peace be on him, conveyed the Message of his Lord to his people and the disciples supported him, a group from the Children of Israel believed. They accepted the guidance that `Isa brought to them, while another group, was led astray. This group rejected what `Isa brought them, denied his prophethood and invented terrible lies about him and his mother. They are the Jews, may Allah curse them until the Day of Judgement. Another group exaggerated over `Isa, until they elevated him to more than the level of prophethood that Allah gave him. They divided into sects and factions, some saying that `Isa was the son of Allah, while others said that he was one in a trinity, and this is why they invoke the father, the son and the holy ghost! Some of them said that `Isa was Allah, as we mentioned in the Tafsir of Surat An-Nisa'.

Allah gives Victory to the Believing Group

Allah said,

فَأَيَّدْنَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ عَلَى عَدُوِّهِمْ

(So, We gave power to those who believed against their enemies,) vthat is, `We gave them victory over the group of Christians which defied them,'

فَأَصْبَحُواْ ظَـهِرِينَ

(and they became the victorious (uppermost).) `over the disbelieving group, when We sent Muhammad ﷺ.' Imam Abu Ja`far bin Jarir At-Tabari reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "When Allah decided to raise `Isa to heaven, `Isa went to his companions while drops of water were dripping from his head. At that time, there were twelve men at the house. `Isa said to them, `Some of you will disbelieve in me twelve times after having believed in me.' He then asked, `Who among you volunteers that he be made to resemble me and be killed instead of me; he will be with me in my place (in Paradise).' One of the youngest men present volunteered, but `Isa commanded him to sit down. `Isa repeated his statement and the young man again stood up and volunteered, and `Isa again told him to sit down. `Isa repeated the same statement and the young man volunteered. This time, `Isa said, `Then it will be you.' The appearance of `Isa was cast upon that young man, while `Isa, peace be on him, was raised to heaven through an opening in the roof of the house. The Jews came looking for `Isa and arrested the one that appeared as him, killing him by crucifixion. Some of them disbelieved in `Isa twelve times, after they had believed in him. They divided into three groups. One group, Al-Ya`qubiyyah (the Jacobites), said, `Allah remained with us as much as He willed and then ascended to heaven.' Another group, An-Nasturiyyah (the Nestorians), said, `Allah's son remained with us as much as Allah willed and He then rasied him up to heaven.' A third group said, `Allah's servant and Messenger remained with us as much as Allah willed and then Allah raised him up to Him.' The last group was the Muslim group. The two disbelieving groups collaborated against the Muslim group and annihilated it. Islam remained unjustly concealed until Allah sent Muhammad ﷺ,

فَـَامَنَت طَّآئِفَةٌ مِّن بَنِى إِسْرَءِيلَ وَكَفَرَت طَّآئِفَةٌ

(Then a group of the Children of Israel believed and a group disbelieved.) This Ayah refers to the group among the Children of Israel that disbelieved and the group that believed, during the time of `Isa,

فَأَيَّدْنَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ عَلَى عَدُوِّهِمْ فَأَصْبَحُواْ ظَـهِرِينَ

(So, We gave power to those who believed against their enemies, and they became the victorious (uppermost).) through the victory that Muhammad ﷺ gained over the religion of the disbelievers, which brought the dominance of their religion." This is the wording in his book for the Tafsir of this honorable Ayah. Similarly, An-Nasa'i collected this statement of Ibn `Abbas in his Sunan. Therefore, the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ will always be prevalent on the truth until Allah's command (the Final Hour) commences, while they are on this path. The last group of them will fight against Ad-Dajjal along with `Isa, peace be on him, according to Hadiths in the authentic collections. This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat As-Saff. All praise and thanks are due to Allah.

O you who believe be helpers of God of His religion a variant reading of ansāran li’Llāhi has the genitive annexation ansāra’Llāhi just as said kamā qāla to the end of the statement means ‘just as the disciples were so’ as is indicated by what follows Jesus son of Mary to the disciples ‘Who will be my helpers unto God?’ that is to say who of you will be helpers alongside me turning to help God? The disciples said ‘We will be God’s helpers!’ These al-hawāriyyūn were the intimates of Jesus for they were the first to believe in him. They were twelve men of pure white complexion hawar; but it is also said that their epithet derives from the fact that they were bleachers qassārūn who bleached yuhawwirūna clothes. So a group of the Children of Israel believed in Jesus saying ‘He is indeed the servant of God who has been raised to heaven’ while a group disbelieved because they said that he was the son of God whom He had raised unto Himself. Thus the two groups waged war against one another. Then We strengthened those who believed of the two groups against their enemy the disbelieving groups and so they became the triumphant the victors.

کمَا قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْ‌يَمَ لِلْحَوَارِ‌يِّينَ مَنْ أَنصَارِ‌ي إِلَى اللَّـهِ (...just as ` Isa, son of Maryam, said to the Disciples, "Who are my supporters towards Allah?" ...[ 61:14] " The word حَوَارِ‌يُّونَ hawariyyin is the plural of hawariyy which connotes a 'sincere friend who is free from any kind of adulteration' [ Ruh-ul-Ma’ ani, referring to Azhari ]. This is the reason why people who believed in Prophet Jesus (علیہ السلام) are called hawariyy. They were twelve in number, as is already discussed in Surah 'Al-` Imran. This verse refers to an incident of Prophet ` Isa (علیہ السلام) and urges the Muslims to gird up their loins to unselfishly help and support the religion of Allah, as when Prophet ` Isa (علیہ السلام) was hurt by the enemies, he asked his disciples مَنْ أَنصَارِ‌ي إِلَى اللَّـهِ "Who are my supporters towards Allah?"...[ 14] In other words, 'who will help and support me in propagating the religion of Allah?' Twelve people volunteered and pledged to his loyalty and helped him in preaching the religion. Following this example, the Muslims ought to help and support Allah's religion. The blessed Companions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ followed this example to the fullest extent, and acted upon this command to the highest degree, so much so that the example of the Holy Prophets' Companions stands unparalleled in the history of other ummahs. They helped the Holy Prophet ﷺ and, in the process, incurred the wrath and enmity of Arab and non-Arab communities for the sake of Allah's religion. They bore their tortures and persecution. They dedicated their lives, wealth and children to the cause. Eventually, Allah granted them help and victory. He granted them triumph and mastery of the world, and the territories of the enemies fell into their hands.

Three Groups of Christians

فَآمَنَت طَّائِفَةٌ مِّن بَنِي إِسْرَ‌ائِيلَ وَكَفَرَ‌ت طَّائِفَةٌ ۖ فَأَيَّدْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَىٰ عَدُوِّهِمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا ظَاهِرِ‌ينَ (So, a group from the children of Isra'il believed, and another group disbelieved. Then We supported those who believed against their enemy, and they became victorious...61:14)

Baghawi interprets this verse in the light of a narration of Sayyidna ` Abdullah Ibn ` Abbas ؓ that when Prophet ` Isa (علیہ السلام) was raised to the heaven, his followers disagreed and became three groups. A group claimed that He was Himself God who went back to the heaven. The second group claimed that He Himself was not God, but God's son. God lifted him up and salvaged him from the enemies and granted him superiority. The third group proclaimed the truth and said that he was neither god nor the son of god, but he was Allah's servant and His Messenger. Allah took him away to the heaven to protect him from the enemies, and to raise his status. These people were the true believers. Different sectors of the general public attached themselves to each one of these groups. The groups clashed with one another. The two of the non-believing groups overpowered the third group, which was a group of true believers. Eventually, Allah raised the Final Messenger of Allah ﷺ who supported the group of the true believers. This group thus dominated the others because of their correct belief and its solid proofs confirmed by the Qur'an. [ Mazhari ]

In this interpretation, the phrase الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا "those who believed [ 14] " would refer to the believers of the Ummah of the Prophet ` Isa (علیہ السلام) who would triumph against the unbelievers with the help and support of the Final Messenger ﷺ . [ Mazhari ]. Some scholars hold that when Prophet Isa (علیہ السلام) was raised to the heaven, his followers were divided into two groups. One of them believed that he was God or God's son and thus they became polytheists. The other group believed that he was the servant of Allah and His Messenger, and thus they stuck to the right religion. Then there was a war between the believers and the unbelievers. Allah granted victory to the believing faction of Prophet ` Isa (علیہ السلام) against the unbelieving faction. But it is popularly understood that in the religion of Prophet ` Isa (علیہ السلام) the institution of jihad did not exist. Therefore, it is inconceivable that believers would have waged a war. [ Ruh-ul-Ma’ ani ]. However, it is possible that the unbelieving Christians might have started the war and the believing Christians were forced to defend themselves. This will not fall under the category of war.

Al-hamdulillah

The Commentary on

Surah As-Saff

Ends here