A Comparative Study of Exegetes’ Views on Verses 164–166 of Surah Al-Saffat

Document Type : Academicm and Research

Authors

1 department of the Qurans Sciences and hadith. Yazd University. iran

2 Yazd University

10.22091/ptt.2025.13687.2500

Abstract

The majority of exegetes have regarded the opening verses of Sūrat al-Ṣāffāt (1–3) as referring to angels. This assumption has led most commentaries to interpret three verses from the end of the same sūrah (164–166) as statements uttered by the angels. In contrast to this dominant view, a small group of exegetes have attributed these verses to the Prophet Muḥammad (peace be upon him) and his Household, while others have extended the meaning to different beings or even to the rows formed in congregational prayer. Hence, the present study is necessary both to resolve exegetical disagreements and to clarify the place of the Prophet’s Household in the Qurʾān. Adopting a descriptive–analytical method and a comparative approach, this article compiles the opinions of 330 commentators, both Shīʿī and Sunnī, concerning these verses, and evaluates them in light of the structure of Sūrat al-Ṣāffāt and the context of verses 149–182. The findings indicate that the semantic and thematic structure of the sūrah identifies the speaker of these verses as the Prophet Muḥammad (peace be upon him), who elucidates the rank of the “devoted servants” (ʿibād al-mukhlaṣīn) and refutes idolatrous attributions — a conclusion consistent with the overall purpose of the sūrah and one that may help resolve part of the exegetical controversy.

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Comparative Interpretation Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 November 2025

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