37. As-Saffat
37.1 Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) related about
والصافات صفّا
By those [angels] lined up in rows (37:1)
Muslim recorded that Hudhayfah (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “We have been favored over the rest of mankind in three ways – our ranks have been made like the ranks of the angels, the entire earth has been made a Masjid for us and its soil has been made a means of purification for us if we cannot find water.”
Muslim, Abu Dawud, An-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah (رحمهم الله) recorded that Jabir bin Samurah (رضي الله عنه) said that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “Will you not form ranks as the angels form ranks in the presence of their Lord? We said, “How do the angels form ranks in the presence of their Lord?” He said: “They complete the rows nearer the front and they consolidate the rows.”
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
37.2 Imam Ibn Abi Ad-Dunya (رحمه الله) in Kitab Ad-Dua and Khateeb in Tarikh narrated from Hassan bin Ali (رضي الله عنه) that
Whoever recited these 20 Aayat, I guarantee that Allah will protect him from every type of tyrant rulers, rebellious devils, harmful beasts and obstinate thieves. (These Aayat are)
Aayat Al-Kursi (2:255), the three Aayat from Surah Al-Aaraf (7:54-56), the first ten Aayatof Surah As-Saaffat (37:1-10), the three verses of surah Ar-Rahman (55:33-35) and the last three Aayat of Surah Al-Hashr (59:22-24)
(Dur al-Manthur)
37.3 Mufti Shafi Usmani (رحمه الله) related about
لا فيها غول ولا هم عنها ينزفون
No bad effect is there in it, nor from it will they be intoxicated (37:47)
The word ghaul in verse 47 (la fiha ghaulun) has been explained variously as ‘headache’ or ‘abdominal pain’ or ‘smell or corruption’ or ‘muddling of reason’. The fact is that the word ghaul is used to convey all these meanings, while Hafiz Ibn Jarir (رحمه الله) says that ‘ghaul‘ appears here in the sense of bane, trouble or unwelcome consequences which makes it mean that the drink offered in Jannah will have no such evil consequences as are found in wines consumed in the mortal world – no hangovers of headache, stomach pain, bad breath or loss of reason.
(Ma’ariful Qur’an)
37.4 Samurah (رضي الله عنه) narrated
Regarding the saying of Allah, Most High
وجعلنا ذريته هم الباقين
And his progeny, them We made survivors (37:77).
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “Ham, Sam and Yafith” – with (the letter) Tha.
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3230
37.5 Mufti Shafi Usmani (رحمه الله) related about
سلام على نوح في العالمين
Peace upon Noah among the worlds (37:79)
In verses 78 and 79, it is Said: “And We left for him (a word of praise) among the later people, (that is): Salam be on Nuh among [the people of all the worlds.”. It means that, in the sight of those who were born after Sayyidna Nuh (عليه السلام), he was made so revered that they would continue praying for his peace and well-being right through the last day of the Qiyamah. As such, this is how it actually happened. All religions with attribution to Divine Scriptures subscribe to the mission of Sayyidna Nuh (عليه السلام) as a prophet and hold him in great reverence. In addition to Muslims, even Jews and Christians regard him as being their spiritual leader.
(Ma’ariful Qur’an)
37.6 Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه) narrated
Whoever reads Surah YaSeen and Surah As-Saffat on Friday and then asks Allah to fulfill his wish, it will be granted by Allah.
(Dur al-Manthur)
37.7 Narrated Anas bin Malik (رضي الله عنه)
That the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “No caller invites to anything except that he is detained along with, on the Day of Resurrection, without parting from it, even if a man invites another man.” Then he recited the saying of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime:
وقفوهم إنهم مسئولون
‘But stop them, verily they are to be questioned.
ما لكم لا تناصرون
What is the matter with you? Why do you not help one another (37:24-25).'”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3228
37.8 It was narrated from ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Laila that his father Abu Laila (رضي الله عنهم) said
“I was sitting with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) when a Bedouin came to him and said: ‘I have a brother who is sick.’ He said: ‘What is the matter with your brother?’ He said: ‘He suffers from a slight mental derangement.’ He said: ‘Go and bring him.’” He said: “(So he went) and he brought him. He made him sit down in front of him and I heard him seeking refuge for him with Fatihatil-Kitab; four Verses from the beginning of Al-Baqarah, two Verses from its middle: ‘And your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God – Allah),’ [2:163] and Ayat Al-Kursi; and three Verses from its end; a Verse from Al ‘Imran, I think it was: ‘Allah bears witness that La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He),’ [3:18] a Verse from Al-A’raf: ‘Indeed, your Lord is Allah,’ [7:54] a Verse from Al-Mu’minun: ‘And whoever invokes (or worships), besides Allah, any other ilah (god), of whom he has no proof,’[23:117] a Verse from Al-Jinn: ‘And He, exalted is the Majesty of our Lord,’ [72:3] ten Verses from the beginning of As-Saffat; three Verses from the end of Al-Hashr; (then) ‘Say: He is Allah, (the) One,’ [112:1] and Al-Mu’awwidhatain. Then the Bedouin stood up, healed, and there was nothing wrong with him.”
Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 4, Book 31, Hadith 3549
37.9 It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (رضي الله عنه) said
The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) used to enjoin upon us to make the prayer short, but he would lead us in prayer and recite As-Saffat.
37.10 It was narrated that Anas (رضي الله عنه) said
“The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) prayed Fajr on the day of Khaibar during the time it was still dark, when he was near the enemy. Then he attacked them and said:
الله اكبر خربت خيبر
‘Allahu Akbar! Khaibar is destroyed!’ Twice.
﴾ فإذا نزل بساحتهم فساء صباح المنذرين ﴿
‘Then, when it descends in their courtyard, evil will be the morning for those who had been warned!'” (37:177)
Sunan an-Nasa’I Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 548
37.11 Anas (رضي الله عنه) reported
I was sitting behind Abu Talha (رضي الله عنه) on the Day of Khaibar and my feet touched the foot of Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم), and we came (to the people of Khaibar) when the sun had risen and they had driven out their cattle, and had themselves come out with their axes, large baskets and hatchets, and they said: (Here come) Muhammad and the army. Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: Khaibar is ruined.
فإذا نزل بساحتهم فساء صباح المنذرين
Verily when we get down in the valley of a people, evil is the morning of the warned ones (31:177).
Allah, the Majestic and the Glorious, defeated them (the inhabitants of Khaibar), and there fell to the lot of Dihya a beautiful girl, and Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) got her in exchange of seven heads, and then entrusted her to Umm Sulaim so that she might embellish her and prepare her (for marriage) with him. He (the narrator) said: He had been under the impression that he had said that so that she might spend her period of ‘Iddah in her (Umm Sulaim’s) house. (The woman) was Safiyya daughter of Huyayy.
Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) arranged the wedding feast consisting of dates, cheese, and refined butter, and pits were dug and tiers were set in them dining cloths, and there was brought cheese and refined butter, and these were placed there. And the people ate to their fill, and they said: We do not know whether he (the Holy Prophet) had married her (as a free woman), or as a slave woman. They said: If he (the Holy Prophet) would make her wear the veil, then she would be a (free married) woman, and if he would not make her wear the veil, then she should be a slave woman. When he intended to ride, he made her wear the veil and she sat on the hind part of the camel; so they came to know that he had married her.
As they approached Medina, Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) drove (his ride) quickly and so we did. ‘Adba’ (the name of Allah’s Apostle’s camel) stumbled and Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) fell down and she (Radrat Safiyya: also fell down. He (the Holy Prophet) stood up and covered her. Women looked towards her and said: May Allah keep away the Jewess! He (the narrator) said: I said: Aba Hamza, did Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) really fall down? He said: Yes, by Allah, he in fact fell down.
37.12 Narrated Ubayy bin Ka’b (رضي الله عنه)
“I asked the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) about the saying of Allah, Most High:
وأرسلناه إلى مائة ألف أو يزيدون
‘And We sent him to a hundred thousand, or even more (37:147).
He said: ‘Twenty thousand (more).'”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3229
37.13 Narrated Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه)
That the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) said: “Ibrahim, peace be upon him, did not lie about anything at all – except for three:
إني سقيم
‘Verily I am sick (37:89)’
while he was not sick. And his saying about Sarah: ‘She is my sister’* and his saying:
بل فعله كبيرهم هذا
‘Nay, this one, the biggest of them did it (21:63).'”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3166
37.14 Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) related about
إنهم كانوا إذا قيل لهم لا إله إلا الله يستكبرون
Truly, when it was said to them: ‘None has the right to be worshiped but Allah’, they puffed themselves up with pride (i.e. denied it) (37:35)
Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) said that the Messenger of Allah said (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم): “I have been commanded to fight the people until they say La ilaha il Allah. Whoever says La ilaha il Allah, he and his property are safe from me except for his obligation, and his reckoning will be with Allah, may He be glorified.”
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
37.15 Abu Muhammad Al-Baghawi recorded in his Tafsir
That Ali (رضي الله عنه) said: “Whoever wants a greater measure of reward on the Day of Resurrection, let him say at the end of any gathering,
سبحان ربك رب العزة عما يصفون
Exalted is your Lord, the Lord of might, above what they describe
وسلام على المرسلين
And peace upon the messengers
والحمد لله رب العالمين
And praise to Allah , Lord of the worlds (37:180-182).
Other Hadiths concerning the expiation for any wrongs that may have occurred during a gathering prescribe saying these words. ”
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
37.16 Duas
إني ذاهب إلى ربي سيهدين
Indeed, I will go to [where I am ordered by] my Lord; He will guide me. (37:99)
رب هب لي من الصالحين
My Lord, grant me [a child] from among the righteous (37:100)
*Abraham (عليه السلام) in Genesis 12:10-20 and Genesis 20:1-18 passes Sarah (عليه السلام) off as his sister. It has been said that he may have thought that his wife’s beauty might put him in danger at a foreign kingdom (Egypt), as he might be killed if the king desires his beautiful wife for himself.
﴾ بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ﴿ 
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