بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1. وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلْبُرُوجِ
2. وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْمَوْعُودِ
3. وَشَاهِدٍ وَمَشْهُودٍ
4. قُتِلَ
أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْأُخْدُودِ
5. ٱلنَّارِ ذَاتِ ٱلْوَقُودِ
6. إِذْ هُمْ
عَلَيْهَا قُعُودٌ
7. وَهُمْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَفْعَلُونَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ شُهُودٌ
8. وَمَا نَقَمُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ إِلَّآ أَن يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ
ٱلْحَمِيدِ
9. ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ
عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
10. إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ فَتَنُوا۟ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُوبُوا۟ فَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمْ
عَذَابُ ٱلْحَرِيقِ
11. إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ
لَهُمْ جَنَّٰتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ
ٱلْكَبِيرُ
12. إِنَّ بَطْشَ رَبِّكَ لَشَدِيدٌ
13. إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ
يُبْدِئُ وَيُعِيدُ
14. وَهُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلْوَدُودُ
15. ذُو ٱلْعَرْشِ
ٱلْمَجِيدُ
16. فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ
17. هَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ
ٱلْجُنُودِ
18. فِرْعَوْنَ وَثَمُودَ
19. بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى
تَكْذِيبٍ
20. وَٱللَّهُ مِن وَرَآئِهِم مُّحِيطٌۢ
21. بَلْ هُوَ
قُرْءَانٌ مَّجِيدٌ
22. فِى لَوْحٍ مَّحْفُوظٍۭ
The Surah is so designated after the word al buruj appearing in the first
verse.
Period of Revelation
The subject matter itself
indicates that this Surah was sent down at Makkah in the period when persecution
of the Muslims was at its climax and the disbelievers of Makkah were trying
their utmost by tyranny and coercion to turn away the new converts from Islam.
Theme and Subject Matter
Its theme is to warn the
disbelievers of the evil consequences of the persecution and tyranny that they
were perpetrating on the converts to Islam, and to console the believers, so as
to say: "If you remain firm and steadfast against tyranny and coercion, you will
be rewarded richly for it, and Allah will certainly avenge Himself on your
persecutors on your behalf."
In this connection, first of all the story
of the people of the ditch (ashab al-ukhdud) had been related, who had burnt the
believers to death by casting them into pits full of fire. By means of this
story the believers and the disbelievers have been taught a few lessons. First,
that just as the people of the ditch became worthy of Allah's curse and
punishment, so are the chiefs of Makkah also becoming worthy of it. Second, that
just as the believers at that time had willingly accepted to sacrifice their
lives by being burnt to death in the pits of fire instead of turning away from
the faith, so also the believers now should endure every persecution but should
never give up the faith. Third, that Gods acknowledging Whom displeases the
disbelievers and is urged on by the believers, is Dominant and Master of the
Kingdom of the earth and heavens; He is self-praiseworthy and is watching what
the two groups are striving for. Therefore, it is certain that the disbelievers
will not only be punished in Hell for their disbelief but, more than that, they
too will suffer punishment by fire as a fit recompense for their tyranny and
cruelties. Likewise, this also is certain that those, who believe and follow up
their belief with good deeds, should go to Paradise and this indeed is the
supreme success. Then the disbelievers have been warned, so as to say: "God's
grip is very severe. If you are proud of the strength of your hosts, you should
know that the hosts of Pharaoh and Thamud were even stronger and more numerous.
Therefore, you should learn a lesson from the fate they met. God's power has so
encompassed you that you cannot escape His encirclement, and the Qur'an that you
are bent upon belying, is unchangeable: it is inscribed in the Preserved Tablet,
which cannot be corrupted in any way."