Surah 37

الصافات

As-Saffat

Those who set the Ranks

Meccan182 Ayahs
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Surah

The Virtues of Surat As-Saffat An-Nasa'i recorded that `Abdullah bin `Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "The Messenger of Allah used to command us to make our prayers short and he used to recite As-Saffat when he lead us in.

Classical references: Ibn Kathir (Abridged).

Source: Ibn Kathir (Abridged) (37:1).

Last reviewed: 2026-04-10.

This is a short orientation note and does not replace full tafsir.

37:1
١

By those [angels] lined up in rows

37:2
٢

And those who drive [the clouds]

37:3
٣

And those who recite the message,1

37:4
٤

Indeed, your God is One,

37:5
٥

Lord of the heavens and the earth and that between them and Lord of the sunrises.1

37:6
٦

Indeed, We have adorned the nearest heaven with an adornment of stars

37:7
٧

And as protection against every rebellious devil

37:8
٨

[So] they may not listen to the exalted assembly [of angels] and are pelted from every side,1

37:9
٩

Repelled; and for them is a constant punishment,

37:10
١٠

Except one who snatches [some words] by theft, but they are pursued by a burning flame, piercing [in brightness].

37:11
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
١٢

But you wonder, while they mock,

37:13
١٣

And when they are reminded, they remember not.

37:14
١٤

And when they see a sign, they ridicule.

37:15
١٥

And say, "This is not but obvious magic.

37:16
١٦

When we have died and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected?

37:17
١٧

And our forefathers [as well]?"

37:18
١٨

Say, "Yes, and you will be [rendered] contemptible."

37:19
١٩

It will be only one shout, and at once they will be observing.

37:20
٢٠

They will say, "O woe to us! This is the Day of Recompense."

37:21
٢١

[They will be told], "This is the Day of Judgement which you used to deny."

37:22
٢٢

[The angels will be ordered], "Gather those who committed wrong, their kinds,1 and what they used to worship

37:23
٢٣

Other than Allāh, and guide them to the path of Hellfire

37:24
٢٤

And stop them; indeed, they are to be questioned."

37:25
٢٥

[They will be asked], "What is [wrong] with you? Why do you not help each other?"

37:26
٢٦

But they, that Day, are in surrender.

37:27
٢٧

And they will approach one another asking [i.e., blaming] each other.

37:28
٢٨

They will say, "Indeed, you used to come at us from the right."1

37:29
٢٩

They [i.e., the oppressors] will say, "Rather, you [yourselves] were not believers,

37:30
٣٠

And we had over you no authority, but you were a transgressing people.

37:31
٣١

So the word [i.e., decree] of our Lord has come into effect upon us; indeed, we will taste [punishment].

37:32
٣٢

And we led you to deviation; indeed, we were deviators."

37:33
٣٣

So indeed they, that Day, will be sharing in the punishment.

37:34
٣٤

Indeed, that is how We deal with the criminals.

37:35
٣٥

Indeed they, when it was said to them, "There is no deity but Allāh," were arrogant

37:36
٣٦

And were saying, "Are we to leave our gods for a mad poet?"

37:37
٣٧

Rather, he [i.e., the Prophet (ﷺ)] has come with the truth and confirmed the [previous] messengers.

37:38
٣٨

Indeed, you [disbelievers] will be tasters of the painful punishment,

37:39
٣٩

And you will not be recompensed except for what you used to do -

37:40
٤٠

But not the chosen servants of Allāh.

37:41
٤١

Those will have a provision determined -

37:42
٤٢

Fruits;1 and they will be honored

37:43
٤٣

In gardens of pleasure

37:44
٤٤

On thrones facing one another.

37:45
٤٥

There will be circulated among them a cup [of wine] from a flowing spring,

37:46
٤٦

White and delicious to the drinkers;

37:47
٤٧

No bad effect is there in it, nor from it will they be intoxicated.

37:48
٤٨

And with them will be women limiting [their] glances,1 with large, [beautiful] eyes,

37:49
٤٩

As if they were [delicate] eggs, well-protected.

37:50
٥٠

And they will approach one another, inquiring of each other.

37:51
٥١

A speaker among them will say, "Indeed, I had a companion [on earth].

37:52
٥٢

Who would say, 'Are you indeed of those who believe

37:53
٥٣

That when we have died and become dust and bones, we will indeed be recompensed?'"

37:54
٥٤

He will say,1 "Would you [care to] look?"

37:55
٥٥

And he will look and see him1 in the midst of the Hellfire.

37:56
٥٦

He will say, "By Allāh, you almost ruined me.

37:57
٥٧

If not for the favor of my Lord, I would have been of those brought in [to Hell].

37:58
٥٨

Then, are we not to die

37:59
٥٩

Except for our first death, and we will not be punished?"

37:60
٦٠

Indeed, this is the great attainment.

37:61
٦١

For the like of this let the workers [on earth] work.

37:62
٦٢

Is that [i.e., Paradise] a better accommodation or the tree of zaqqūm?

37:63
٦٣

Indeed, We have made it a torment for the wrongdoers.

37:64
٦٤

Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire,

37:65
٦٥

Its emerging fruit as if it was heads of the devils.

37:66
٦٦

And indeed, they will eat from it and fill with it their bellies.

37:67
٦٧

Then indeed, they will have after it a mixture of scalding water.

37:68
٦٨

Then indeed, their return will be to the Hellfire.

37:69
٦٩

Indeed they found their fathers astray.

37:70
٧٠

So they hastened [to follow] in their footsteps.

37:71
٧١

And there had already strayed before them most of the former peoples,

37:72
٧٢

And We had already sent among them warners.

37:73
٧٣

Then look how was the end of those who were warned -

37:74
٧٤

But not the chosen servants of Allāh.

37:75
٧٥

And Noah had certainly called Us, and [We are] the best of responders.

37:76
٧٦

And We saved him and his family from the great affliction.

37:77
٧٧

And We made his descendants those remaining [on the earth]

37:78
٧٨

And left for him [favorable mention] among later generations:

37:79
٧٩

"Peace upon Noah among the worlds."

37:80
٨٠

Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.

37:81
٨١

Indeed, he was of Our believing servants.

37:82
٨٢

Then We drowned the others [i.e., disbelievers].

37:83
٨٣

And indeed, among his kind was Abraham,

37:84
٨٤

When he came to his Lord with a sound heart

37:85
٨٥

[And] when he said to his father and his people, "What do you worship?

37:86
٨٦

Is it falsehood [as] gods other than Allāh you desire?

37:87
٨٧

Then what is your thought about the Lord of the worlds?"

37:88
٨٨

And he cast a look at the stars.

37:89
٨٩

And said, "Indeed, I am [about to be] ill."

37:90
٩٠

So they turned away from him, departing.

37:91
٩١

Then he turned to their gods and said, "Do you not eat?1

37:92
٩٢

What is [wrong] with you that you do not speak?".

37:93
٩٣

And he turned upon them a blow with [his] right hand.

37:94
٩٤

Then they [i.e., the people] came toward him, hastening.

37:95
٩٥

He said, "Do you worship that which you [yourselves] carve,

37:96
٩٦

While Allāh created you and that which you do?"

37:97
٩٧

They said, "Construct for him a structure [i.e., furnace] and throw him into the burning fire."

37:98
٩٨

And they intended for him a plan [i.e., harm], but We made them the most debased.

37:99
٩٩

And [then] he said, "Indeed, I will go to [where I am ordered by] my Lord; He will guide me.

37:100
١٠٠

My Lord, grant me [a child] from among the righteous."

37:101
١٠١

So We gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy.

37:102
١٠٢

And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion,1 he said, "O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think." He said, "O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allāh wills, of the steadfast."

37:103
١٠٣

And when they had both submitted1 and he put him down upon his forehead,

37:104
١٠٤

We called to him, "O Abraham,

37:105
١٠٥

You have fulfilled the vision." Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.

37:106
١٠٦

Indeed, this was the clear trial.

37:107
١٠٧

And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice,1

37:108
١٠٨

And We left for him [favorable mention] among later generations:

37:109
١٠٩

"Peace upon Abraham."

37:110
١١٠

Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.

37:111
١١١

Indeed, he was of Our believing servants.

37:112
١١٢

And We gave him good tidings of Isaac, a prophet from among the righteous.1

37:113
١١٣

And We blessed him and Isaac. But among their descendants is the doer of good and the clearly unjust to himself [i.e., sinner].

37:114
١١٤

And We did certainly confer favor upon Moses and Aaron.

37:115
١١٥

And We saved them and their people from the great affliction,

37:116
١١٦

And We supported them so it was they who overcame.

37:117
١١٧

And We gave them the explicit Scripture [i.e., the Torah],

37:118
١١٨

And We guided them on the straight path.

37:119
١١٩

And We left for them [favorable mention] among later generations:

37:120
١٢٠

"Peace upon Moses and Aaron."

37:121
١٢١

Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.

37:122
١٢٢

Indeed, they were of Our believing servants.

37:123
١٢٣

And indeed, Elias was from among the messengers,

37:124
١٢٤

When he said to his people, "Will you not fear Allāh?

37:125
١٢٥

Do you call upon Baʿl1 and leave the best of creators -

37:126
١٢٦

Allāh, your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers?"

37:127
١٢٧

And they denied him, so indeed, they will be brought [for punishment],

37:128
١٢٨

Except the chosen servants of Allāh.

37:129
١٢٩

And We left for him [favorable mention] among later generations:

37:130
١٣٠

"Peace upon Elias."1

37:131
١٣١

Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.

37:132
١٣٢

Indeed, he was of Our believing servants.

37:133
١٣٣

And indeed, Lot was among the messengers.

37:134
١٣٤

[So mention] when We saved him and his family, all,

37:135
١٣٥

Except an old woman [i.e., his wife] among those who remained [with the evildoers].

37:136
١٣٦

Then We destroyed the others.

37:137
١٣٧

And indeed, you pass by them in the morning

37:138
١٣٨

And at night. Then will you not use reason?

37:139
١٣٩

And indeed, Jonah was among the messengers.

37:140
١٤٠

[Mention] when he ran away to the laden ship.

37:141
١٤١

And he drew lots1 and was among the losers.

37:142
١٤٢

Then the fish swallowed him, while he was blameworthy.1

37:143
١٤٣

And had he not been of those who exalt Allāh,

37:144
١٤٤

He would have remained inside its belly until the Day they are resurrected.1

37:145
١٤٥

But We threw him onto the open shore while he was ill.

37:146
١٤٦

And We caused to grow over him a gourd vine.1

37:147
١٤٧

And We sent him1 to [his people of] a hundred thousand or more.

37:148
١٤٨

And they believed, so We gave them enjoyment [of life] for a time.

37:149
١٤٩

So inquire of them, [O Muḥammad], "Does your Lord have daughters while they have sons?1

37:150
١٥٠

Or did We create the angels as females while they were witnesses?"

37:151
١٥١

Unquestionably, it is out of their [invented] falsehood that they say,

37:152
١٥٢

"Allāh has begotten," and indeed, they are liars.

37:153
١٥٣

Has He chosen daughters over sons?

37:154
١٥٤

What is [wrong] with you? How do you make judgement?

37:155
١٥٥

Then will you not be reminded?

37:156
١٥٦

Or do you have a clear authority?1

37:157
١٥٧

Then produce your scripture, if you should be truthful.

37:158
١٥٨

And they have made [i.e., claimed] between Him and the jinn a lineage, but the jinn have already known that they [who made such claims] will be brought [to punishment].

37:159
١٥٩

Exalted is Allāh above what they describe,

37:160
١٦٠

Except the chosen servants of Allāh [who do not share in that sin].

37:161
١٦١

So indeed, you [disbelievers] and whatever you worship,

37:162
١٦٢

You cannot tempt [anyone] away from Him

37:163
١٦٣

Except he who is to [enter and] burn in the Hellfire.1

37:164
١٦٤

[The angels say],1 "There is not among us any except that he has a known position.2

37:165
١٦٥

And indeed, we are those who line up [for prayer].

37:166
١٦٦

And indeed, we are those who exalt Allāh."

37:167
١٦٧

And indeed, they [i.e., the disbelievers] used to say,1

37:168
١٦٨

"If we had a message from [those of] the former peoples,

37:169
١٦٩

We would have been the chosen servants of Allāh."

37:170
١٧٠

But they disbelieved in it,1 so they are going to know.

37:171
١٧١

And Our word [i.e., decree] has already preceded for Our servants, the messengers,

37:172
١٧٢

[That] indeed, they would be those given victory

37:173
١٧٣

And [that] indeed, Our soldiers [i.e., the believers] will be those who overcome.1

37:174
١٧٤

So, [O Muḥammad], leave them for a time.

37:175
١٧٥

And see [what will befall] them, for they are going to see.

37:176
١٧٦

Then for Our punishment are they impatient?

37:177
١٧٧

But when it descends in their territory, then evil is the morning of those who were warned.

37:178
١٧٨

And leave them for a time.

37:179
١٧٩

And see, for they are going to see.

37:180
١٨٠

Exalted is your Lord, the Lord of might, above what they describe.

37:181
١٨١

And peace upon the messengers.

37:182
١٨٢

And praise to Allāh, Lord of the worlds.