Tafsir of As-Saffat 37:2

It has been said: Saffan (ranks) is an objective case (maf‘ūl bihi), appearing in the singular form but intended to convey the plural; meaning, those who range their ranks. However, this is not a strong interpretation.

The intended meaning of al-zājirāt (the drivers away) is also the angels—peace be upon them—according to the majority of scholars. Zajr (driving away) fundamentally means repelling something through dominance and shouting. They cite the verse: "The driving away of Abū ‘Urwa of the beasts," when he feared they would mingle with the sheep. It is also used in the sense of driving or urging, and in the sense of forbidding and prohibiting, even without shouting. The description is either treated as an inherent quality (lāzim), or its object is elliptical—meaning: those who perform the act of driving away, or those who drive away whatever they are commissioned to drive away among the celestial and terrestrial bodies and others, in a manner befitting the one being driven.

Among these acts is the driving away of servants from disobedience by inspiring them toward good, the driving away of devils from whispering and seduction, and from eavesdropping, as will be discussed shortly, God willing.

According to Qatādah, what is intended by al-zājirāt are the verses of the Qur’an, due to their inclusion of religious prohibitions. It has also been said that it refers to everything that restrains one from the disobedience of God—Exalted and Majestic is He. The reliable interpretation, however, is the one mentioned first.