بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
As-Saffat 37:3
Those who set the Ranks · Juz 23 · Page 446
فَٱلتَّٰلِيَٰتِ ذِكۡرًا ٣
And those who recite the message,1
1 translator’s note
- To the prophets or among themselves. Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) swears by these three kinds of angels to the fact mentioned in the following verse. ↩
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Ma'arif al-Qur'an
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Commentary on 37:3
3. The third attribute is: فَالتَّالِيَاتِ ذِكْرًا (fattaliati dhikran) that is, these angels are those who recite the 'dhikr'. The core sense of 'dhikr' is 'word of good counsel' as well as 'the remembrance of Allah.' In the first instance, it would mean that these angels are those who recite everything Allah Ta'ala has revealed as word of good counsel through Scriptures. And this recitation could be as a means of earning barakah and also as an act of "ibadah'. Then, it is also possible that it means the angels who bring wahy (revelation) to the prophets, since they recite these Scriptures carrying good counsel before the prophets (علیہم السلام) and thus they convey the message of Allah to them. And in the second instance, if 'dhikr' were to be taken to mean the remembrance of Allah, then, it would mean that they keep busy reciting those words, words that prove their commitment to the glory and sanctity of Allah.
At this place, by mentioning these three attributes of angels, the noble Qur'an has put together all essential qualities of ideal servitude. To sum up: (1) Stand in perfect linear formation for "ibadah', (2) preventing rebellious forces from disobedience to Allah and (3) to recite the good counsel and commandments of Allah in person as well as to communicate to others. It is obvious that no act of servitude can remain devoid of these three departments. Hence, the sense of all four verse (37:1-4) turns out to be: 'By the angels who imbibe in them all ideal attributes of servitude, your true Lord is but One.'
Page 446
سورة الصافات
As-Saffat
Those who set the Ranks · Meccan · 182 ayahs
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
37:1
وَٱلصَّٰٓفَّٰتِ صَفّٗا ١
By those [angels] lined up in rows
37:2
فَٱلزَّٰجِرَٰتِ زَجۡرٗا ٢
And those who drive [the clouds]
37:3
فَٱلتَّٰلِيَٰتِ ذِكۡرًا ٣
And those who recite the message,1
1 translator’s note
- To the prophets or among themselves. Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) swears by these three kinds of angels to the fact mentioned in the following verse. ↩
37:4
إِنَّ إِلَٰهَكُمۡ لَوَٰحِدٞ ٤
Indeed, your God is One,
37:5
رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا وَرَبُّ ٱلۡمَشَٰرِقِ ٥
Lord of the heavens and the earth and that between them and Lord of the sunrises.1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., each point or place of sunrise. ↩
37:6
إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِزِينَةٍ ٱلۡكَوَاكِبِ ٦
Indeed, We have adorned the nearest heaven with an adornment of stars
37:7
وَحِفۡظٗا مِّن كُلِّ شَيۡطَٰنٖ مَّارِدٖ ٧
And as protection against every rebellious devil
37:8
لَّا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى ٱلۡمَلَإِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ وَيُقۡذَفُونَ مِن كُلِّ جَانِبٖ ٨
[So] they may not listen to the exalted assembly [of angels] and are pelted from every side,1
1 translator’s note
- By flaming meteors. ↩
37:9
دُحُورٗاۖ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٞ وَاصِبٌ ٩
Repelled; and for them is a constant punishment,
37:10
إِلَّا مَنۡ خَطِفَ ٱلۡخَطۡفَةَ فَأَتۡبَعَهُۥ شِهَابٞ ثَاقِبٞ ١٠
Except one who snatches [some words] by theft, but they are pursued by a burning flame, piercing [in brightness].
37:11
فَٱسۡتَفۡتِهِمۡ أَهُمۡ أَشَدُّ خَلۡقًا أَم مَّنۡ خَلَقۡنَآۚ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَٰهُم مِّن طِينٖ لَّازِبِۭ ١١
Then inquire of them, [O Muḥammad], "Are they a stronger [or more difficult] creation or those [others] We have created?" Indeed, We created them [i.e., men] from sticky clay.
37:12
بَلۡ عَجِبۡتَ وَيَسۡخَرُونَ ١٢
But you wonder, while they mock,
37:13
وَإِذَا ذُكِّرُواْ لَا يَذۡكُرُونَ ١٣
And when they are reminded, they remember not.
37:14
وَإِذَا رَأَوۡاْ ءَايَةٗ يَسۡتَسۡخِرُونَ ١٤
And when they see a sign, they ridicule.
37:15
وَقَالُوٓاْ إِنۡ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحۡرٞ مُّبِينٌ ١٥
And say, "This is not but obvious magic.
37:16
أَءِذَا مِتۡنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابٗا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبۡعُوثُونَ ١٦
When we have died and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected?
37:17
أَوَءَابَآؤُنَا ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ ١٧
And our forefathers [as well]?"
37:18
قُلۡ نَعَمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ دَٰخِرُونَ ١٨
Say, "Yes, and you will be [rendered] contemptible."
37:19
فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ زَجۡرَةٞ وَٰحِدَةٞ فَإِذَا هُمۡ يَنظُرُونَ ١٩
It will be only one shout, and at once they will be observing.
37:20
وَقَالُواْ يَٰوَيۡلَنَا هَٰذَا يَوۡمُ ٱلدِّينِ ٢٠
They will say, "O woe to us! This is the Day of Recompense."
37:21
هَٰذَا يَوۡمُ ٱلۡفَصۡلِ ٱلَّذِي كُنتُم بِهِۦ تُكَذِّبُونَ ٢١
[They will be told], "This is the Day of Judgement which you used to deny."
37:22
۞ ٱحۡشُرُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ وَأَزۡوَٰجَهُمۡ وَمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡبُدُونَ ٢٢
[The angels will be ordered], "Gather those who committed wrong, their kinds,1 and what they used to worship
1 translator’s note
- Those similar to them in evil deeds. Another possible meaning is "their wives." ↩
37:23
مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَٱهۡدُوهُمۡ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ ٢٣
Other than Allāh, and guide them to the path of Hellfire
37:24
وَقِفُوهُمۡۖ إِنَّهُم مَّسۡـُٔولُونَ ٢٤
And stop them; indeed, they are to be questioned."