The Arrangers (Al-Saaffaat)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
By those [angels] lined up in rows 1 And so are strong in repelling (evil), 2 By those (angels) who bring the Book and the Quran from Allah to mankind [Tafsir Ibn Kathir]. 3 Verily your God is One. 4 Lord of the heavens and the earth, and of what between them is Lord of the Easts. 5 Verily We! We have adorned the nearest heaven with an adornment: the stars. 6 a protection against every rebel satan; 7 [so that] they [who seek to learn the unknowable] should not be able to overhear the host on high, but shall be repelled from all sides, 8 rejected, and theirs is an everlasting chastisement, 9 Except such as snatch away something by stealth, and they are pursued by a flaming fire, of piercing brightness. 10 Therefore ask them (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him), “Are they a stronger creation, or are other things of our creation, (the angels, the heavens etc.)?” We have indeed created them from sticky clay. 11 Nay, but thou dost marvel when they mock 12 and when they are admonished, they pay no heed; 13 And when they see an Ayah (a sign, a proof, or an evidence) from Allah, they mock at it. 14 And they say: This is nothing but clear magic: 15 When we are dead and turned to dust and bones, how can we be raised again, 16 And our forefathers? 17 Say, "Yes indeed, and you will be brought low." 18 Then it will be a single (compelling) cry; and behold, they will begin to see! 19 and will say: "Oh, woe unto us! This is the Day of Judgment!" 20 [And they will be told:] "This is the Day of Distinction [between the true and the false - the Day] which you were wont to call a lie!" 21