Surah 37. As-Saffat

By those 'angels' lined up in ranks,

  - Mustafa Khattab

By those who range themselves in ranks. ^{4030 4031}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

At a later stage, we shall study the general meaning of the adjurations in the Qur-an indicated by the particle wa. See app. xi. Here we may note that the last Sura (Ya-Sin) practically began with the adjuration "by the Qur-an, full of wisdom", emphasising the fact that Revelation was the evidence by which we could learn the highest wisdom of the spiritual world. Here our attention is called in three verses or clauses, to three definite attitudes which illustrate the triumph of Good and the frustration of Evil. See the notes following.

Two questions arise: (1) are the doers of the three things noted in verses 1-3 the same persons, whose actions or qualities are differently described, or are they three distinct sets of persons? (2) in either case, who are they? As to (1) the most authoritative view is that the three clauses describe the same set of persons in different aspects. As to (2) some take them to refer to angels, and others understand by them the good men, the men of God, who strive and range themselves in Allah's service. The words are perfectly general, and I interpret them to refer to both classes. The feminine form is grammatically used in Arabic idiom for the indefinite plural. In xxxvii. 165 below, the word saffan is used in the definite plural, and seems to be spoken by these beings, angels or men of God or both, according to how we interpret this verse.

and those who diligently drive 'the clouds',

  - Mustafa Khattab

And so are strong in repelling (evil) ⁴⁰³²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The three acts in verses 1-3 are consecutive, as shown by the particle fa. I understand them to mean that angels and good men (1) are ever ready to range themselves in ranks in the service of Allah and work in perfect discipline and accord at all times; (2) that they check and frustrate evil wherever they find it and they are strengthened in doing so by their discipline and their ranging themselves in ranks; and (3) that this service furthers the Kingdom of Allah and proclaims His Message and His glory to all creation.

and those who recite the Reminder!

  - Mustafa Khattab

And thus proclaim the message (of Allah)!

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Surely your God is One!

  - Mustafa Khattab

Verily verily your Allah is One! ⁴⁰³³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

That divine Message is summed up in the gospel of Divine Unity, on which the greatest emphasis is laid: "verily, verily your God is One". It is a fact intimately connected with our own life and destiny. 'Your Lord is one Who cares for you and cherishes you; you are dear to Him. And He is One: it is only He that you have to look to, the source of all goodness, love, and power. You are not the sport of many contending forces or blind chances. There is complete harmony and unity in heaven and you have to put yourselves into unison with it-by discipline in ranks, by unity of plan and purpose in repelling evil, and by concerted action in promoting the Kingdom of Allah. Here is the mystery of the manifold variety of creation pointing to the absolute Unity of the Creator.

'He is' the Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything in between, and the Lord of all points of sunrise.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Lord of the heavens and of the earth and all between them and Lord of every point at the rising of the sun! ⁴⁰³⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah is the Lord of everything that exists-'the heavens and the earth, and all between them'. He is the Lord of the Mashariq,-of every point at the rising of the sun. As the Commentators tell us, there are in the solar year only two equinoctial days, when the sun rises due east: on every other the sun rises at a shifting point either north or south of due east. In vii. 137 we have Mashariq al ardhi wa magaribaha, where the plural of the words for East and West is negligible, as the conjunction of the two embraces all points. The same may be said of lxx. 40, where Allah is called "Lord of all points in the East and the West". If we are speaking of longitudes, they may embrace all latitudes. In lv. 17 Allah is called "Lord of the two Easts and the two Wests", referring to the extreme points in either case. A cursory reader may ask, why is only the East referred to here? The reply is that it is not so much the East as the rising of the sun, on which stress is laid. The Arabic mashriq or mashariq is close enough to the root-word sharaqa, to suggest, not so much the East as the rising of the sun, especially when the plural form is used. The glorious sun rises from different points, as seen by us, but it illuminates the whole heaven and earth. It is an emblem of Unity.

Indeed, We have adorned the lowest heaven with the stars for decoration

  - Mustafa Khattab

We have indeed decked the lower heaven with beauty (in) the stars ^{4035 4036}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. lxvii. 5, lxxii. 8-9.

'Stars' may be taken here in the popular sense, as referring to fixed stars, planets, comets, shooting stars, etc. On a clear night the beauty of the starry heavens is proverbial. Here they are meant to illustrate two points: (1) their marvellous beauty and their groupings and motions (apparent or real) manifest and typify the Design and Harmony of the One true Creator: and (2) the power and glory behind them typify that there is a guard against the assaults of Evil (see verse 7 below).

and 'for' protection from every rebellious devil.

  - Mustafa Khattab

(For beauty) and for guard against all obstinate rebellious evil spirits. ⁴⁰³⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Verses 7-11 seem to refer to shooting stars, Cf. xv, 17-18, and notes 1951-53. The 'heavens typify not only beauty but power. The Good in Allah's world is guarded and protected against every assault of Evil. The Evil is not part of the heavenly system: it is a thing in outlawry, merely a self-willed rebellion,-"cast away on every side, repulsed under a perpetual penalty" (verses 8-9).

They cannot listen to the highest assembly 'of angels' for they are pelted from every side,

  - Mustafa Khattab

(So) they should not strain their ears in the direction of the Exalted Assembly but be cast away from every side. ⁴⁰³⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

We can form a mental picture of the Court of the Most High, in the highest heaven, conforming to the highest idea we can form of goodness, beauty, purity, and grandeur. The Exalted Assembly of angels is given some knowledge of the Plan and Will of Allah. Evil is altogether foreign to such an atmosphere, but is actuated by feelings of jealousy and curiosity. It tries to approach by stealth and overhear something from the august Assembly. It is repulsed and pursued by a flaming fire, of which we can form some idea in our physical world by the piercing trail of a shooting star.

'fiercely' driven away. And they will suffer an everlasting torment.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Repulsed for they are under a perpetual penalty.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But whoever manages to stealthily eavesdrop is 'instantly' pursued by a piercing flare.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Except such as snatch away something by stealth and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness. ⁴⁰³⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See last note and Cf. xv. 18 and notes 1953-54.

So ask them 'O Prophet', which is harder to create: them or other marvels of Our creation?¹ Indeed, We created them from a sticky clay.²

  - Mustafa Khattab

 i.e., the angels, the sun, the moon, the stars, and the mountains.

 Their father Adam (ﷺ).

Just ask their opinion: are they the more difficult to create or the (other) beings We have created? Them have We created out of a sticky clay! ^{4040 4041}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"Their": "they" are the doubters, the evil ones, the deniers of Allah's grace and mercy, who laugh at Revelation and disbelieve in a Hereafter. Are they more important or more difficult to create than the wonderful variety of beings in Allah's spacious Creation? Do they forget their own lowly state, as having been created from muddy clay?

Cf. vi. 2; vii. 12; xxxii. 7; etc.

In fact, you are astonished 'by their denial', while they ridicule 'you'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Truly dost thou marvel while they ridicule ⁴⁰⁴²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

It is indeed strange that unregenerate man should forget, on the one hand, his lowly-origin, and on the other hand, his high Destiny, as conferred upon him by the grace and mercy of Allah. The indictment of him here comprises four counts: (1) they ridicule the teaching of Truth; (2) instead of profiting by admonition, they pay no heed; (3) when Allah's Signs are brought home to them, they ridicule them as much as they ridiculed the teaching of Truth: and (4) when they have to acknowledge incontestable facts, they give them false names like "sorcery", which imply fraud or something which has no relation to their life, although the facts touch the inner springs of their life intimately.

When they are reminded, they are never mindful.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And when they are admonished pay no heed

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And whenever they see a sign, they make fun of it,

  - Mustafa Khattab

And when they see a Sign turn it to mockery

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

saying, 'This is nothing but pure magic.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And say "This is nothing but evident sorcery!

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali