37:1
By those who range themselves in ranks,
The concept of tawḥīd, or the oneness of Allah, forms the central theme at the beginning of Qur’an in Sūrah 37. The opening verses emphasize the declaration that God is one, expressed in the statement: “Indeed, your God is surely One” (Qurʾān 37:4). Before this assertion is made, the text introduces three oaths referring to groups described as those who stand in rows, those who restrain firmly, and those who recite remembrance (dhikr). The Qurʾān itself does not explicitly identify these groups, which has led classical commentators to propose several interpretations.
Some exegetes interpret these descriptions as referring to believers who stand in ranks while striving in the path of God, maintaining remembrance and recitation of the Qurʾān even while preparing for struggle. Others interpret the verses as referring to worshippers who stand in orderly rows during congregational prayer in the mosque, focusing on remembrance of God and guarding themselves from distracting thoughts through recitation and devotion. These interpretations are discussed in classical works of Qurʾānic commentary such as Tafsir al-Kabir and Tafsir al-Qurtubi.
However, the interpretation most widely accepted among many commentators is that these descriptions refer to angels. In this understanding, the verses highlight three attributes of the angels: their orderly alignment in rows, their role in carrying out divine commands, and their engagement in the remembrance and recitation that glorifies God. The concept of angels standing in ranks is also mentioned later in the same chapter: “Indeed, we are those who stand in rows” (Qurʾān 37:165). Some scholars, including early authorities such as Ibn Abbas, Hasan al-Basri, and Qatadah ibn Di’ama, explained that angels remain in ordered ranks awaiting the commands of their Lord, executing them when they are given. Others suggest that these rows occur particularly during acts of worship, when angels are engaged in remembrance (dhikr), glorification (tasbīḥ), and devotion.
The use of angels in these oaths is understood in relation to the broader theme of the chapter, which addresses certain beliefs held by some people of Mecca who attributed a familial relationship between God and the angels, describing them as daughters of God. By invoking the angels and highlighting their qualities of obedience and servitude, the verses emphasize that angels are not divine relatives but devoted servants who submit completely to the command of their Lord. In this interpretive framework, the description of angels standing in orderly ranks and carrying out divine commands reinforces the theological principle of tawḥīd by illustrating their role as obedient servants of the one God rather than partners or relatives in divinity.
References:
Shafi, Muhammad (2008). Maariful Quran. (Vol .7 surah 37 verses 1).