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 مِنَّا 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 إِلاَّ عَلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ سَاجِدٌ أَوْ قَايِم
There is no place in the lower heaven without an angel standing or prostrating in it.
This is what Allah says;
وَمَا مِنَّا 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 مِنَّا 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 الصَّافُّونَ