Surah As-Saffat is the Surah of Tauhid, the Oneness of Allah.
The first three Ayahs are meant to make us look at them with a perspective of awe.
Firstly, Allah is showing us His greatness in the creation of these angels. Secondly, He is giving us lessons from these angels.
This Surah builds a deep belief in Allah. An understanding that if these massive creatures can discipline and hold themselves to an Almighty Allah, can we, as servants, do so as well?
وَٱلصَّـٰٓفَّـٰتِ صَفًّۭا ١
“By those angels lined up in ranks,” (37:1)
“Saffat” is the discipline we learn from the angels. The angels themselves are massive and work in massive groups, and yet they never move out of line.
As believers, this discipline must be implemented into our lives. We are constantly in a state of being overwhelmed with life and its tasks. But we must have the discipline of ‘Ibadah, and adopt the stillness of understanding that in every situation, “my response is not my response”. This means that instead of relying on ourselves to do what we need to, that strength is drawn from Allah.
We are not the ones doing what we do; it is guided and allowed only by Allah. This is the process of taking ourselves out of the equation and becoming one with the commands of Allah.
Similarly, ponder the responsibilities of ourselves and the angels. We think our schedules are so big and tiring, but between the discipline and the remembrance that the angels have of Allah, are these huge tasks we are incapable of.
فَٱلزَّٰجِرَٰتِ زَجْرًۭا ٢
“and those who diligently drive the clouds,” (37:2)
فَٱلتَّـٰلِيَـٰتِ ذِكْرًا ٣
“and those who recite the Reminder!” (37:3)
Unlike how we run businesses, no one is checking on these angels for them to do their tasks.
The only way they can achieve what they do is because of the Dhikr system. In any task where Dhikr is attached to work, there is Barakah in it.
إِنَّ إِلَـٰهَكُمْ لَوَٰحِدٌۭ ٤
“Surely your God is One!” (37:4)
Here, Allah is refuting Shirk.
He does this so much because He wants us to understand that all of the massive abilities of these angels are nothing in comparison to Him, and His extraordinary ability.
رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَرَبُّ ٱلْمَشَـٰرِقِ ٥
“He is the Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything in between, and the Lord of all points of sunrise.” (37:5)
Here, Allah is describing His greatness.
Allah is asking what we attribute everything in our lives to. For nothing in our lives is without recognition for Allah. He is at the centre of our ‘Ibadah, not our own capabilities.
إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِزِينَةٍ ٱلْكَوَاكِبِ ٦
“Indeed, We have adorned the lowest heaven with the stars for decoration” (37:6)
Allah takes things that are hundreds and thousands of times bigger than our planet; massive balls of fire; and uses them as decoration for us. The stars are nowhere near our sky.
And so the purpose of these descriptions is to cultivate awe and recognition of Allah’s grand and limitless ability.
وَحِفْظًۭا مِّن كُلِّ شَيْطَـٰنٍۢ مَّارِدٍۢ ٧
“and for protection from every rebellious devil.” (37:7)
لَّا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى ٱلْمَلَإِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ وَيُقْذَفُونَ مِن كُلِّ جَانِبٍۢ ٨
“They cannot listen to the highest assembly of angels for they are pelted from every side,” (37:8)
Those same stars become a protection from the Shaytaan. The angels who are so big, so massive, take those very huge stars we admire and throw them at the Shaytaan who come to spy on the commands of Allah.
فَٱسْتَفْتِهِمْ أَهُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقًا أَم مَّنْ خَلَقْنَآ ۚ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰهُم مِّن طِينٍۢ لَّازِبٍۭ ١١
“So ask them O Prophet, which is harder to create: them or other marvels of Our creation? Indeed, We created them from a sticky clay.” (37:11)
When Allah describes these huge and massive creations, the objective is to understand the marvels of what Allah has created, and the ease of which He does so. Allah is perfect; a power so perfect and superb that as believers, we cannot ignore or overlook.
