Themes and purpose:

This Madinan surah is a rebuke and an exhortation, commanding unity and commitment to striving in Allah’s way. It begins with a direct condemnation of those who make promises they do not fulfill. The surah affirms the truthfulness of the prophets (highlighting Moses and Jesus), promises Muslims victory and divine aid, and emphasizes that faith requires integrity and sacrifice.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Madinan according to the majority, though some identified it as Makkan or mixed.

Context: The surah was revealed after the Muslims had promised to fight in defence of the faith, but wavered when the command came, likely after the Battle of Uḥud.

Chronology: It is counted (by Jabir ibn Zayd) as the 108th surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat al-Taghābun and before al-Fatḥ.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah's established name is "Sūrat al-Ṣaff" (The Ranks), as the word appears in ayah 4, emphasizing the importance of standing united and firm in striving in Allah’s way. It is also called "Sūrat al-Ḥawāriyyūn" (The Disciples) and "Sūrat ʿĪsā," due to its mention of Jesus and his disciples.

Ayah Count: 14 ayahs by unanimous agreement.

Surah Overview:

Warning believers against the grave sin of breaking their covenant and failing to fulfill religious duties, especially by saying what they do not do. [1-3]
Encouraging steadfastness and commitment in the fight for Allah, comparing the ideal believer to a firm structure (ṣaff). [4]
Affirming the truthfulness of all prophets (Moses, Jesus) and warning against harming the Prophet (ﷺ) by comparing such actions to the sins of the Israelites. [5-8]
Warning against the ill-treatment of the Prophet (ﷺ), implicitly addressing the hypocrites and Jews who sought to harm him. [5-9]
Offering the believers the promise of ultimate victory and a great reward in the Hereafter.[9, 13]
Commanding striving in the path of Allah with wealth and lives. [10-11]
The ultimate objective is sincere faith and fighting (a trade that saves from a painful punishment). [10-12]
Commanding the faithful to imitate the sincere commitment of Prophet Jesus’s disciples. [14]