Then Allah says, declaring the angels to be above the position attributed to them by those who disbelieved in them and told lies about them -- that they are the daughters of Allah --

[وَمَا مِنَّآ إِلاَّ لَهُ مَقَامٌ مَّعْلُومٌ ]

(And there is not one of us (angels) but has his known place;) meaning, each one has his own place in the heavens and in the places of worship, which he does not overstep. Ad-Dahhak said in his Tafsir:

[وَمَا مِنَّآ إِلاَّ لَهُ مَقَامٌ مَّعْلُومٌ ]

"(And there is not one of us (angels) but has his known place;) Masruq used to narrate that `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, `The Messenger of Allah said:

«مَا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا مَوْضِعٌ إِلَّا عَلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ سَاجِدٌ أَوْ قَائِم»

(There is no place in the lower heaven without an angel standing or prostrating in it.) This is what Allah says:

[وَمَا مِنَّآ إِلاَّ لَهُ مَقَامٌ مَّعْلُومٌ ]

(And there is not one of us (angels) but has his known place (or position)).'' It was reported that Ibn Mas`ud said, "In the heavens there is one heaven in which there is no space a hand span wide but there is the forehead or the foot of an angel on it. '' Then he recited:

[وَمَا مِنَّآ إِلاَّ لَهُ مَقَامٌ مَّعْلُومٌ ]

(And there is not one of us (angels) but has his known place;) Sa`id bin Jubayr similarly said:

[وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الصَّآفُّونَ ]

(And we (angels), we stand in rows.) means, we stand in rows to worship, as we have already seen in the Ayah

[وَالصَّـفَّـتِ صَفَّا ]

(By those ranged in ranks (or rows)) Abu Nadrah said, "When the Iqamah had been given, `Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, would turn to face the people and say: `Make your rows straight, for Allah wants you to follow the ways of the angels.' Then he would say,

[وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الصَّآفُّونَ ]

(And verily, we stand in rows;) `Move back, O so-and-so, move forward, O so-and-so.' Then he would go forward and say `Allahu Akbar''' This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir. In Sahih Muslim it is narrated that Hudhayfah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "The Messenger of Allah said,

«فُضِّلْنَا عَلَى النَّاسِ بِثَلَاثٍ: جُعِلَتْ صُفُوفُنَا كَصُفُوفِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ،وَجُعِلَتْ لَنَا الْأَرْضُ مَسْجِدًا، وَتُرْبَتُهَا طَهُورًا»

(We have been favored above mankind in three things: our rows have been made like the rows of the angels; the whole earth has been made a place of prayer for us; and its soil is a means of purification for us.)''

[وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْمُسَبِّحُونَ ]

(And verily, we indeed are those who glorify.) means, `we stand in rows and glorify the Lord, praising Him, sanctifying Him and declaring Him to be above any faults or shortcomings. We are servants of Him and in need of Him, humbling ourselves before Him.'