بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

وَالصَّافَّاتِ صَفًّا ﴿۱﴾ فَالزَّاجِرَاتِ زَجْرًا ﴿۲﴾ فَالتَّالِيَاتِ ذِكْرًا ﴿۳﴾ إِنَّ إِلَهَكُمْ لَوَاحِدٌ ﴿۴﴾ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَرَبُّ الْمَشَارِقِ ﴿۵﴾

﴾1﴿ Wassaaaffaati saffaa
﴾2﴿ Fazzaajiraati zajraa
﴾3﴿ Fattaaliyaati Zikra
﴾4﴿ Inna Illaahakum la Waahid
﴾5﴿ Rabbus samaawaati wal ardi wa maa bainahumaa wa Rabbul mashaariq

﴾1﴿ By the angels lined up in ranks, standing in order
﴾2﴿ And those who drive the forces forward with driving
﴾3﴿ And those who recite the remembrance (as a testimony to this truth)
﴾4﴿ Indeed, your only One worthy of worship is the One True God
﴾5﴿ The Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, and the Lord of the sunrises

Surah As Saffat

Those Ranged in Ranks

Relevancy: This relates to the previous surah in several ways. The first aspect is that the previous surah refuted coercive (idolatrous) intercession, while this surah explains its reason—that is, the weakness and dependence of the righteous servants. The second aspect is that the previous surah presented rational arguments, whereas this surah provides textual (scriptural) evidence.
Claim of this surah: The proof of monotheism is established by mentioning the neediness and weakness of the angels, the dependence and servitude of the prophets, and the humility of the jinn, while also refuting polytheism regarding angels and jinn, as well as polytheism in worship and supplication. The conditions of the angels are mentioned in verses (1, 2, 3, 164, 165, 166), and the conditions of the jinn are detailed in verses (7, 8, 9, 10, 158, 160). The states of seven prophets—Noah, Abraham, Moses with Aaron, Elias, Lot, and Jonah (peace be upon them)—are also mentioned. The basis of the claim at the end of the surah is in verse (181), where the prophets (peace be upon them) are shown to be in need of Allah’s protection. The assertion of monotheism is stated in verses (180, 182).
Summary of the surah: This surah is divided into three sections: The first section extends up to verse (74). It begins with the conditions of the angels as a testimony to monotheism, followed by the humiliation of the jinn up to verse (10). Then, four types of stern warnings are mentioned up to verse (20). After that, the disassociation of false deities and their worshippers from one another is highlighted as a warning up to verse (34). This is followed by detailed glad tidings up to verse (61) and a detailed warning about the Hereafter up to verse (74).

interpretation

[1,2,3,4] This passage describes the attributes of the angels. The preferred interpretation is that the angels stand in ranks for the worship of Allah, as stated in an authentic hadith, which mentions that the rows of this ummah in congregational prayer resemble the ranks of angels, who complete the first rows and stand closely together. The angels also drive away (expel) the devils from the heavens, move clouds from one place to another, and prevent believers from sins by inspiring them toward good. Additionally, the angels recite divine revelation and engage in the remembrance of Allah through glorification, praise, and sanctification. A second interpretation is that the mentioned group refers to the believers, who also perform these three actions.
[5] This presents a rational proof for monotheism following a textual (scriptural) proof and an oath. The word "المشارق" (the sunrises) is mentioned in plural form, just as in Surah Al-Ma'arij (70:40). The reason for this, as explained, is that each day the sun rises from a different point, and the total number of these rising points is debated among scholars. Imam Al-Qurtubi mentioned that they are 365, Al-Sharbini stated 360, while Ibn Atiyyah in Al-Muharrar Al-Wajiz recorded 180. Allah knows best, but the well-known opinion (of 365) is the preferred one.