وَالسّابِحاتِ سَبحًا

By those who swim smoothly.

EXEGESIS

Sabḥ is accelerated motion.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Mizan, 20/179.”][1][/su_tooltip]} Sabaḥa, the root of the word sabḥ, can also mean to float or swim.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Lisan, 2/470.”][2][/su_tooltip]}

From a strictly linguistic angle, verse 3 can refer to any one of: 1. The angels that come hastily from the heavens with a command from God.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Tibyan, 10/252, narrated from Mujāhid.”][3][/su_tooltip]} 2. The stars, in reference to this verse: and each swims in an orbit (36:40).^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Tabrisi, 10/652, narrated from Qatādah and Jubbāʾī.”][4][/su_tooltip]} 3. The horses of soldiers as they charge forward.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Tabrisi, 10/652, narrated from Abū Muslim.”][5][/su_tooltip]} 4. The ships that travel over water.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Tabrisi, 10/652, narrated from ʿAṭāʾ.”][6][/su_tooltip]} 5. The clouds.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Mizan, 20/180.”][7][/su_tooltip]} 6. The sea creatures.^{‎[su_tooltip content=”Mizan, 20/180.”][8][/su_tooltip]}

[1] Mizan, 20/179.
[2] Lisan, 2/470.
[3] Tibyan, 10/252, narrated from Mujāhid.
[4] Tabrisi, 10/652, narrated from Qatādah and Jubbāʾī.
[5] Tabrisi, 10/652, narrated from Abū Muslim.
[6] Tabrisi, 10/652, narrated from ʿAṭāʾ.
[7] Mizan, 20/180.
[8] Mizan, 20/180.