As-Saffat (, , Those who rank themselves in Order, "Ranged in Row", "The Rangers") is the 37th chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'an with 182 verses (āyāt).
Regarding the timing and contextual background of the believed revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), it is an earlier "Meccan surah", which means it is believed to have been revealed in Mecca, rather than later in Medina.
Summary
1-5 The Prophet swears that God is one
6-10 The devils not permitted to hear the discourse of heaven
11-12 The audacity of the Makkan infidels
13-15 They scoff at the Quran as the product of sorcery
16-17 They reject the doctrine of the resurrection
18-21 The despair of the infidels on the Judgement Day
22-24 Idolaters and their idols and gods to be called to account
25-29 They will dispute among themselves and reproach one another
30-33 They shall all be punished in hell
34-35 Makkan idolaters call their Prophet “a distracted poet” 36-38 Muhammad protests his prophetic character and threatens the infidels 39-47 Reward of believers in Paradise 48-53 Believers shall look down from heaven upon their infidel acquaintance in hell 54-55 The righteous attribute their salvation to the grace of God 56-59 They rejoice in life eternal 60-62 The tree at Zaqqúm described 63-66 The awful portion of the damned 67-72 Makkan infidels follow in the footsteps of their fathers The story of Noah 73 Noah calls on God in his distress 74 He and his family are delivered 75-79 His name to be revered by posterity 80 The unbelievers are drowned The story of Abraham 81, 82 Abraham a follower of Noah's religion 83-85 He reproaches his father and neighbours for their idolatry 86-88 He excuses himself from attending the idolatrous rites of his townsmen 90-91 He first mocks the idols and then breaks them in pieces 95-96 God delivers him from the fire 97-107 God tries the faith of Abraham 108-111 His name to be revered by posterity 112-113 He receives Isaac by promise, who is blessed with him The story of Moses and Aaron 114-115 God delivers them and their people from great distress 116 They conquer the Egyptians 117-118 God gives them the Book of the Law (Fourth) 119-122 Their names to be revered by posterity The story of Elijah 123 He is sent a prophet to his people 124-126 He preaches against idolatry 127 They accuse him of imposture 128 The infidels to be punished 129-132 His name to be revered by posterity The story of Lot 133-135 God delivers him and his family, except his wife 136 The rest of his people are destroyed 137-138 The Makkan infidels warned by the example of the Sodomites The story of Jonah 139-140 He is sent as a prophet and flees to a ship 141-144 He is swallowed by a fish for his sin 145-146 He is cast on the shore and shaded by a gourd 147-148 He is sent to a multitude who believe 149-160 The Makkans are rebuked for attributing offspring to God 161-163 The reprobate only will be seduced by idolatry 164-166 Muslims worship God, arranging themselves in ranks 167-170 Infidels excuse their unbelief in vain 171-173 Former apostles were assisted against the infidels 174-179 The Prophet exhorted to await divine vengeance on unbelievers 180-182 Praise be to God and peace on his apostles
Chronology
According to Egyptian chronology, it was the 56th sura to be revealed to Muhammad. Theodor Nöldeke presents a different classification putting it in the 50th position and most precisely revealed in the second Meccan period (see Meccan sura). That period is marked by increasing opposition of the Quraysh tribe against Muhammad and his followers and is distinguished by its focus on divine intervention and inspiration and also previous religious prophets. Although named Al-Saffat, the general theme of Sura 37 is the unity of God and His power to greatly reward and punish. We see in this Sura elaborations on the punishment of disbelievers and rewards of believers in the Day of Judgment but also God's examples of how a true believer should be through enumerations of biblical figures. One aspect of the Sura which can be relevant to the title (Ranged in Row, the rangers) is that it is threatening the people who attribute offspring to God, especially the pagans who believed that the angels were the daughters of God. “The rangers” or “Ranged in Row” refers to the angel who will be lining up on the Day of Judgment and refuting the idea of them being daughters of God (see Quran 37:1-5).
Parts of Q37:15-33; 43–68; 82–103;& 118-144 are preserved in the Ṣan‘ā’1 lower text.