Sa`id bin Jubayr similarly said:

وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الصَّافُّونَ ﴿١٦٥﴾

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 الصَّافُّونَ (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.''