61. Surah As-Saff

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُم بُنيَانٌ مَّرْصُوصٌ ﴿٤﴾

61: 4. Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure.

C5433. A battle array, in which a large number of men stand, march, or hold together against assault as if they were a solid wall, is a striking example of order, discipline, cohesion, and courage.

"A solid cemented structure" is even a better simile than the usual "solid wall" as the "structure" or building implies a more diversified organisation held together in unity and strength, each part contributing strength in its own way, and the whole held together not like a mass but like a living organism.

Cf. also 37:I and n. 4031.

Asad’s Version:

61 : 4 Truly God loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure.