وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ ٱلصَّآفُّونَ 165
Translations
And indeed, we are those who line up [for prayer].
Transliteration
Wa-inna lanahu as-saffun
Tafsir (Explanation)
The angels affirm their role as those who stand in ranks (rows) in obedience to Allah, serving as His organized forces. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that this statement emphasizes the angels' perfect discipline and organization in glorifying Allah and carrying out His commands, contrasting with human disobedience and disorder.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah As-Saffat's discussion of the celestial realm and Allah's creation. The surah opens with describing those who set the ranks—the angels—and this ayah reflects their own testimony to their function as organized servants of Allah, arranged in perfect order in the heavens.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said regarding angels: 'The angels stand in rows just as you stand in rows for prayer' (Sahih Muslim 843). This hadith directly connects to the concept of as-saffun (those who set ranks).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us of the perfect order and discipline maintained by the angels in their devotion to Allah, serving as an inspiring example for believers to approach their own worship, duties, and community with similar organization, unity, and submission to divine will.