English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

This shows Allah’s greatness and might: all who are in the heavens and the earth glorify Him, worship Him, and turn to Him for their needs. He is the Almighty who subdues all things by His might and authority, and the All-Wise in His creation and command.

The One who subdues all things by His might and authority.

The One whose creation and command are perfectly wise.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Why do you speak of good and urge others to it, perhaps even praising yourselves for it, while you do not do it; and why do you forbid evil while remaining involved in it?

A rebuke for speaking about good while failing to act upon it.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

It is among the greatest causes of Allah’s hatred that a servant says what he does not do. Therefore, the one who commands good should be foremost in doing it, and the one who forbids evil should be farthest from it.

Intense hatred and detestation.

A believer’s actions should agree with what he says.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah urges His servants to strive in His cause in orderly, tightly joined ranks without gaps, so they support one another, strengthen each other, and face the enemy as one organized body.

An orderly, tightly arranged rank without gaps.

A firmly joined structure whose parts support one another.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Moses reproached his people for harming him even though they knew he was Allah’s Messenger. When they deliberately turned away from the truth, Allah caused their hearts to deviate as punishment for the deviation they chose, and Allah does not guide the persistently rebellious.

They deliberately turned away from the truth.

Allah caused their hearts to deviate as a just punishment for the deviation they chose.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Jesus, son of Mary, told the Children of Israel that he was Allah’s Messenger to them, confirming the Torah before him and giving glad tidings of a Messenger after him named Ahmad — Muhammad ﷺ. When that Messenger came with clear proofs, they stubbornly called them obvious magic.

Jesus confirmed the Torah and the heavenly law that came before him.

Sa‘di identifies Ahmad here as Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah ﷺ.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

No one is more unjust than one who invents lies against Allah while being called to Islam and shown its proofs and clear signs. Allah does not guide people who persist in injustice and oppose the truth.

To invent falsehood against Allah despite the proof of the truth.

He is being called to Islam and its clear evidences are shown to him.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

They try to extinguish Allah’s light with false statements used to reject the truth, but Allah has guaranteed the completion of His light, the victory of His religion, and the spread of the truth, even though the disbelievers hate it.

The truth and religion that Allah sent through His messengers.

Allah has guaranteed the completion and spread of His light despite opposition.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah sent His Messenger with guidance — beneficial knowledge and righteous action — and with the true religion. He will make it prevail over every religion by proof and evidence; when its followers truly uphold it and follow its guidance, they too are granted strength and victory.

Beneficial knowledge and righteous action that guide to Allah and to what is best.

The true religion, sound and free of defect, by which the Lord of the worlds is worshipped.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

This is guidance from the Most Merciful to His believing servants toward the greatest trade and highest gain: a trade that saves from painful punishment and leads to lasting bliss.

A trade whose profit is salvation from punishment and lasting bliss.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

That trade is complete faith in Allah and His Messenger, together with striving in Allah’s cause with wealth and lives to support His religion and raise His word. Though difficult for the soul, it is better for them if they truly know.

To spend wealth and effort in supporting Allah’s religion and raising His word.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

In the Hereafter, Allah forgives their sins and admits them to gardens beneath which rivers flow and to excellent dwellings in Gardens of everlasting residence. This abundant reward and beautiful recompense is the great success.

Gardens of permanent residence whose people never leave them.

The abundant reward and great success to which no other success compares.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

They also receive another reward they love in this world: help from Allah against their enemies and a near victory by which Islam expands. And all believers are given glad tidings of reward, each according to his faith.

Help from Allah against the enemies, bringing strength and joy.

A near victory through which the reach of Islam expands.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Believers are commanded to be helpers of Allah’s religion through words and deeds, as Jesus called his disciples to support Allah’s cause and they answered, “We are Allah’s helpers.” A group of the Children of Israel believed and another disbelieved, so Allah strengthened the believers over their enemies until they became victorious.

Helpers of Allah’s religion by words, deeds, learning, teaching, and defending the truth.

The disciples who responded to Jesus and stood with him in supporting Allah’s religion.

Summary of the Meanings:

All creation glorifies Allah. Believers are warned against saying what they do not do and are taught to make their actions match their words, while standing in disciplined, united ranks in Allah’s cause.

Moses was harmed by people who knew he was Allah’s Messenger, and Jesus confirmed the Torah and gave glad tidings of Ahmad ﷺ. Those who oppose the truth cannot extinguish Allah’s light; He will complete it and make the true religion prevail.

The saving trade is faith in Allah and His Messenger and striving with wealth and lives. Its reward is forgiveness, everlasting gardens, Allah’s help and a near victory, and believers are called to be helpers of Allah’s religion as the disciples of Jesus were.