سُوْرَةُ الصَّافَّاتِ
Surah As-Saaffaat (37) — Ayah 1
وَٱلصَّـٰٓفَّـٰتِ صَفًّا ﴿1﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
By those (angels) ranged in ranks (or rows).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَٱلصَّـٰٓفَّـٰتِ
wal-ṣāfāti
By those lined
صَفًّۭا
ṣaffan
(in) rows
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 1){ وَ الصّٰٓفّٰتِ صَفًّا :} An oath is generally used for emphasis, when the addressee denies something. Sometimes, an oath is also taken to clarify the greatness and importance of a matter. By reflecting on most of the oaths in the Noble Qur’an, it becomes evident that the oath is generally evidence for what is stated after the oath. {’’ الصّٰٓفّٰتِ ‘‘ ’’صَافَّةٌ ‘‘} is the plural of 'صَافَّةٌ', meaning a group that forms rows. Most commentators have taken these groups to mean angels, because Allah Almighty Himself has described this attribute of theirs in their own words, He said: «وَ اِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الصَّآفُّوْنَ (165) وَ اِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْمُسَبِّحُوْنَ» [ الصافات : ۱۶۵، ۱۶۶ ] “And indeed, we, surely we are those who form rows. And indeed, we, surely we are those who glorify.” Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ فُضِّلْنَا عَلَی النَّاسِ بِثَلاَثٍ، جُعِلَتْ صُفُوْفُنَا كَصُفُوْفِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ جُعِلَتْ لَنَا الْأَرْضُ كُلُّهَا مَسْجِدًا وَ جُعِلَتْ تُرْبَتُهَا لَنَا طَهُوْرًا إِذَا لَمْ نَجِدِ الْمَاءَ] [مسلم، المساجد و مواضع الصلاۃ : ۵۲۲ ] “We have been given superiority over other people in three things: our rows have been made like the rows of angels, and the whole earth has been made a mosque for us, and its soil has been made purifying for us when we do not find water.” And Jabir bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ أَلَا تَصُفُّوْنَ كَمَا تَصُفُّ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهَا؟ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ! وَكَيْفَ تَصُفُّ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهَا؟ قَالَ يُتِمُّوْنَ الصُّفُوْفَ الْأُوَلَ وَيَتَرَاصُّوْنَ فِي الصَّفِّ ] [ مسلم، الصلاۃ، باب الأمر بالسکون في الصلاۃ… : ۴۳۰ ] “Do you not form rows as the angels form rows before their Lord?” We said: “O Messenger of Allah! How do the angels form rows before their Lord?” He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “They complete the first rows first and stand close together in the row.”
