Surah al-Saffat (Those Ranged in Rows) is Makkan. (1)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

“By those ranged in rows, and by those who drive forcefully.”

Regarding His saying, “By those ranged in rows”: Ibn Abbas, al-Hasan, and Qatada said: They are the angels in heaven, standing in rows just as people in this world stand in rows for prayer.

Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz al-Qashani informed us; Abu Umar al-Qasim ibn Jafar al-Hashimi informed us; Abu Ali Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Lului informed us; Abu Dawud Sulayman ibn al-Ashath narrated to us; Abd Allah ibn Muhammad al-Nufayli narrated to us; Zuhayr narrated, saying: I asked Sulayman al-Amash about the hadith of Jabir ibn Samurah concerning the foremost rows. He then narrated to us from al-Musayyib ibn Rafi, from Tamim ibn Tarafah, from Jabir ibn Samurah, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Will you not form rows as the angels form rows before their Lord?” We said, “How do the angels form rows before their Lord?” He said, “They complete the foremost rows and stand close together within the row.” (2)

It was also said: They are the angels, standing in the air with their wings outspread until Allah Most High commands them as He wills.

And it was said: They are the birds. (3) The evidence for this is His saying, “And the birds with wings outspread” (Surah al-Nur, 41).

Regarding His saying, “and by those who drive forcefully”: this means the angels, who rebuke the clouds and drive them along. Qatada said: They are the Quran’s deterrent warnings, which forbid and restrain people from vile deeds.