SURAH AL-SAFF

61 [18880]

Al-Abbas ibn al-Walid ibn Mazid al-Bayruti narrated to us, by reading, who said: My father informed me, I heard al-Awza'i, Yahya ibn Abi Kathir narrated to me, Abu Salama ibn 'Abd al-Rahman narrated to us, 'Abd Allah ibn Salam narrated to us, that a group of the companions of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "If only we had sent [someone] to the Messenger of Allah to ask him about the most beloved deeds to Allah (the Almighty and Majestic)?" However, none of us went to him because we were hesitant to ask him about that. He said: So the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) summoned those people, one by one, until he gathered them, and this Surah was revealed regarding them: "Sabbaha [Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth glorifies Allah]... al-Saff" (1).

His saying, the Almighty: "Why do you say what you do not do?"

18881 - My father narrated to us, Farwa ibn Abi al-Maghra' narrated to us, 'Ali ibn Mushir narrated to us, from Dawud ibn Abi Hind, from Abu Harb ibn Abi al-Aswad al-Du'ili, from his father, who said: Abu Musa sent for the Quran reciters of Basra. Three hundred men from among them entered upon him, all of whom had recited the Quran. He said: "You are the reciters of the people of Basra and their best." And he said: "We used to recite a Surah that we likened to one of the Musabbihat (Surahs beginning with the glorification of Allah), but we were made to forget it, except that I have memorized from it: 'O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do? It shall be written as a testimony on your necks, and you shall be questioned about it on the Day of Resurrection.'" (2)

His saying, the Almighty: "Indeed, Allah loves"

18882 - My father narrated to us, Abu Nu'aym al-Fadl ibn Dukayn narrated to us, al-Aswad—meaning Ibn Shayban—narrated to us, Yazid ibn 'Abd Allah ibn al-Shikhkhir narrated to us, who said: Mutarrif said: "A hadith used to reach me from Abu Dharr, and I was eager to meet him. So I met him and said: 'O Abu Dharr, a hadith used to reach me from you and I was eager to meet you.' He said: 'May your father be devoted to Allah! You have met [me], so speak.' I said: 'It used to reach me from you that you claim the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) told you that Allah loves three and hates three?' He said: 'Yes, and I do not think I would lie about my beloved (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).' I said: 'Who are those three whom Allah loves?' He said: 'A man who fought in the way of Allah, he went out seeking reward, striving, and he met the enemy and was killed. And you find it in the revealed Book of Allah.' Then he recited: 'Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His way in a row as if they were a solid structure...' and he mentioned the rest of the hadith." (3)