Tafseer of Surat Al-Burūj (The Mansions of the Stars)
From Tafseer Namuneh by Ayatullah Naser Makarem Shirazi
Translated into English by Fatima Zabeth beenesh
The virtues of the Sura Buruj
In a narration from the Prophet Muhammad sallaho alaihe vala alehi we read: The one who recites this Sura (Buruj) the merciful God will grant the person good deeds equal to the number of the people prayed in the Friday prayers and ten times the total number of the people gathered to pray namaz in the day of Arafat (in the Arafat). Reading this Sura (Buruj) bestows relief to the man from the fears and the hardships.
The believers before the pits of fire!
We know that the Muslims in the beginning were under the severe pressure and the enemy made lawful to inflict them every kind of torture. The aim of this Sura was to warn these torturing people and console those who were tortured.
In the beginning said: I swear by the sky which full of stars
æóÇáÓøóãóÇÁ ÐóÇÊö ÇáúÈõÑõæÌö (85:1)
ÈõÑõæÌö is the plural of the ÈõÑÌ basically its meaning is the castle. Some say it is a thing which is apparent and had outward appearance. The castle and the high towers had been given this name as they are evident from everywhere. The ÈõÑÌ of the sky give the meaning of the bright and luminous stars or the celestial bodies.
The covenant in their name indicates that in the period of Arabs they were unaware of the importance of its greatness but it is fully known in our era.
In a hadees from prophet Muhammad sallaho alaihe va ala alehi when the people wanted the definition of this ayat, he said: They are the stars.
Then it added: I swear by the day which is promised.
æóÇáúíóæúãö ÇáúãóæúÚõæÏö (85:2
The day which is promised by all the prophets of God and hundreds of ayat and signs of the noble Quran are predicating it. The day is the meeting place of the first and the last person of the creation. The day when the account of everyone is going to be settle down.
In the third and fourth covenant it said: I swear by the witness and the witnessed.
æóÔóÇåöÏò æóãóÔúåõæÏò (85:3
They are various definitions about the witness and the witnessed ÔóÇåöÏò æóãóÔúåõæÏ the important of them is as follows:
1 ÔóÇåöÏò (the witness) is the prophet himself as mentioned in the magnanimous Quran: O Prophet (Muhammad SAW)! Verily, We have sent you as witness, and a bearer of glad tidings, and a Warner,
ãóÔúåõæÏò is the day ofãóÔúåõæÏò is the judgment day as the noble Quran said:
Surat Hūd (Hud) - ÓæÑÉ åæÏ
Ðóáößó íóæúãñ ãøóÌúãõæÚñ áøóåõ ÇáäøóÇÓõ æóÐóáößó íóæúãñ ãøóÔúåõæÏñ (11:103)
2 ÔóÇåöÏðÇ is the witnesses of the acts of human beings. Such as the body parts as we read in Sura e Nur:
íóæúãó ÊóÔúåóÏõ Úóáóíúåöãú ÃóáúÓöäóÊõåõãú æóÃóíúÏöíåöãú æóÃóÑúÌõáõåõã ÈöãóÇ ßóÇäõæÇ íóÚúãóáõæäó (24:24)
24:24
On the Day when their tongues, their hands, and their legs or feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do.
ãóÔúåõæÏò are the human beings and their acts.
3 ÔóÇåöÏò means the Friday which observes the congregations of the Muslims in the most important ceremony of the namaz prayers.
ãóÔúåõæÏò is the day of Arafat where the pilgrims of the house of Allah are the spectators.
In a narrative from prophet Muhammad sallaho alaihe va ala alehi, Imam Muhammad Baqir alaihis salam and imam Sadiq alaihis salam this description is mentioned.
4 ÔóÇåöÏò is the day the festival of the Qurban (sacrifice) and ãóÔúåõæÏò is the day of Arafat (a day before the festival of Qurban).
A young beautiful and well behaved man was narrating a hadees of prophet Muhammad sallaho alaihe va ala alehi when a man asked him: relate the description of this ayat he said: ÔóÇåöÏò is Muhammad sallaho alaihe va ala alehi and ãóÔúåõæÏò is the judgment day. Do not you know that the Benevolent God said: And do not you heard that
Hud [11:103]
Ðóáößó íóæúãñ ãøóÌúãõæÚñ áøóåõ ÇáäøóÇÓõ æóÐóáößó íóæúãñ ãøóÔúåõæÏñ
11:103 That is a Day for which mankind will be gathered together: that will be a Day of Testimony (declaration of a witness).
5 By ÔóÇåöÏðÇ means the days and the nights and the ãóÔúåõæÏis mankind. In the prayers of imam Zainul Abedin in the prayers of day and night, we read: This is the fresh day which is the alert witness upon our deeds. If we do the virtues deeds it bids us farewell with thanks and blessings and if we commit ill deeds it separates us by objections and complaints.
6 By ÔóÇåöÏðÇ means the angels and the ãóÔúåõæÏis the Noble Quran.
7 By ÔóÇåöÏðÇ means ÇáÍÌÑ ÇáÃÓæÏ the black stone and ãóÔúåõæÏ are the pilgrims of the hajj.
8 By ÔóÇåöÏðÇ means the nation of Islam and ãóÔúåõæÏ is God, the Truth, the one who truly exists.
9 By ÔóÇåöÏðÇ means the nation of Islam and ãóÔúåõæÏ are the other nations as revealed in Sura e Baqara
æóßóÐóáößó ÌóÚóáúäóÇßõãú ÃõãøóÉð æóÓóØðÇ áøöÊóßõæäõæÇú ÔõåóÏóÇÁ Úóáóì ÇáäøóÇÓö 
Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow) - ÓæÑÉ ÇáÈÞÑÉ
2:143
Thus We have made you [true Muslims - real believers of Islamic Monotheism, true followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah (legal ways)], a Wasat (just) (and the best) nation, that you be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) be a witness over you.
10 By ÔóÇåöÏðÇ means the prophet of Islam Muhammad sallaho alaihi va ala alehi and the ãóÔúåõæÏ are the other prophets as it is written in the magnanimous Quran: How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring you (O Muhammad SAW) as a witness against these people?
Or
By ÔóÇåöÏðÇ means the prophet of Islam Muhammad sallaho alaihi va ala alehi and the ãóÔúåõæÏ is the leader of the believers amir mominin Ali alaihis salam.
They are many definitions about the ÔóÇåöÏðÇ and the ãóÔúåõæÏ in the ayat the ÔóÇåöÏðÇ is every type of witness and the ãóÔúåõæÏ is every type of the one how is witnessed. It exists the greatness of the Quran which includes such vast meanings.
When they were cold bloodedly sitting near those pits of fire.
ÅöÐú åõãú ÚóáóíúåóÇ ÞõÚõæÏñ (85:6
They were mercilessly watching (the scene), whatever was happening to the righteous believers.
æóåõãú Úóáóì ãóÇ íóÝúÚóáõæäó ÈöÇáúãõÄúãöäöíäó ÔõåõæÏñ (85:7
Though the interpreters have different opinions about those people and the period in which they were living.
They dug extremely large pits filled with abundant fire and forcing the believers to abandon their faith and when they were facing their resistance. They were throwing them into these furnaces and burning them alive.
ÇáúæóÞõæÏö basically this word means, the material from which the fire is created such as; fire wood.
ÅöÐú åõãú ÚóáóíúåóÇ ÞõÚõæÏñ
The meaning of the next ayat is a group of people who were sitting and watching cold bloodedly and mercilessly those scenes of torture, enjoying them and it was the sign of cruelty.
Some count them as two group: one group was that who tortured (the innocent people) and another group was the coldblooded and merciless spectators who were satisfied with what the torturers were committed.
íóÝúÚóáõæäó
Is indicating the active verb, It proves that this deed was continued for a period of time and it was not momentary.
The torturers were not having any objection with the believers except that they brought faith in the Praiseworthy and Mighty God.
æóãóÇ äóÞóãõæÇ ãöäúåõãú ÅöáøóÇ Ãóä íõÄúãöäõæÇ ÈöÇááøóåö ÇáúÚóÒöíÒö ÇáúÍóãöíÏö (85:8
Yea their only fault was that they believed in the unity of God. The Mighty Creator who deserves every kind of praise and in every way, complete in perfection.
ÇáúÚóÒöíÒö means the Powerful, Mighty and Unconquerable and ÇáúÍóãöíÏö means worthy of every kind of Praise and Perfect in every way.
Along with it warned the torturers of the entire history, the Praise Worthy and Tolerant God is in ambush to catch them.
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ÇáøóÐöí áóåõ ãõáúßõ ÇáÓøóãóÇæóÇÊö æóÇáúÃóÑúÖö æóÇááøóåõ Úóáóì ßõáøö ÔóíúÁò ÔóåöíÏñ (85:9
The God in whose control is the reign of the Heavens and the Earth and he observes everything and He is the witness upon them.
In fact these four qualities completely deserves to be worshiped, being Mighty, Able with all the Perfection, being the Lord and Master of Heaven and the Earth and possessing the knowledge of everything.
WHo were the people of Akhdud?
ÃóúÍóÇÈõ ÇáúÃõÎúÏõæÏö
As it is said ÃõÎúÏõæÏö means the deep and broad pits filled with fire to throw the believers into them to burn.
And to which period and which nation it belonged? Or was it connected to the specific period or time. Or it is indicating the various similar events in different places of the world; the historians have varied opinions about it.
The most popular of them all is the story of the king Zunavas the last king of Hameer in the kingdom of Yemen.
This king was a Jew and the people of Hameer too were following him. He named himself as Yusuf and a period of time passed. Then he was informed that in the land of Najran, the north of Yemen they are people who are still practicing the faith of Christianity. The people of the religion of Zunavas urged him to make the people of Najran to bring faith in the Jewish religion in any manner. The king Zunavas moved towards Najran, gathered the inhabitants of that place, presented them the Jewish religion and insisted them to accept it. But they refused him and became ready to accept the martyrdom but they did not wanted to accept the new religion.
The king Zunavas ordered to dug a very huge pit, filled it with firewood and burnt alive a group of the people into it. He killed a group of people by sword and torn them apart. The number of the people killed in that event reached to 20,000.
Some said: In this group, a man ‘A Christian of Najran’ fled away and went to the court of the Roman king and complained about the king Zunavas.
King ‘Qaisar’ of Rome"said: your country is far away from here. But I will write a letter to the king of Ethiopia who is a Christian, your neighbor and I will request him to help you. Then he wrote a letter to the king of Ethiopia and requested him to take revenge of the bloodshed of the innocent martyrs killed by the king Zunavas.
The man from Najran came to the king of Ethiopia Najjashi and narrated him the entire story. The king became very much aggrieved, felt regretful that the flame of the Christianity was put off in the land of Najran and decided to take revenge of the bloodshed of the innocent fire pit martyrs.
The army of Ethiopia marched towards the kingdom of Zunavas and in a fiercely bloody war defeated the army of Zunavas. The country of Yemen was conquered by Najjashi within a brief period and became one of the states in Ethiopia.
Some of the interpreters said the length of the fire ditch was 40 Zara’ [cubit (an ancient measure based on the length of forearm) every Zara’ is equal to half meter] and the breadth was 12 Zara’. According to some historians there were seven ditches.
As it is mentioned above, the cruel torturers at last entangled in the calamity inflicted by the Almighty and the all powerful God revenged them and the punishment of the hereafter is also awaiting for them.
The human burning ditches are created by the Jews in the history of man. Besides that the Jewish king Zunavas who was the main founder of these ghastly pit structures, reached to the consequences of his evil deeds.
In our period too we come across to many examples and observed a young follower who to protect his faith and religion faced all the dangers for his life and with deep love and dedication steped forward to hug the martyrdom. We must say that to maintain the survival of all the faiths, in the present days and past, it is impossible without these sacrifices.
The story of the wife of Firuan
We have heard Aasia the wife of pharaoh, to protect hazrat Musa ibn Imran, underwent too many tortures and at last she lost her life in this cause.
In a narration from Amiral momineen Ali Alaihis salam it is mentioned: In Ethiopia the merciful God sent for the people a prophet. They denied the prophet and a war occurred between them. Finally they killed a group of the prophet’s companions, captivated the prophet and his remaining associates. Then in a place they dug a pit and filled it with fire. And called the people before those pit and said: Get aside, the person who follows our faith and those who do not follow our religion must jump into this fire. The companions of the prophet felt there is no other way except to jump into the fire. They overtook each other to throw themselves into the fire.
Meanwhile a woman in her mother’s tender love, with a month old infant in her lap was hesitating to throw herself in the fire. The Infant spoke by the will of Benevolent God and said: Mother do not get frightened, throw yourself along with me in the fire. I swear by the name of Allah it is very meagre (sacrifice) in the way of Sovereign Lord Allah. The infant was one among those who had spoken in the cradle.
The story of the parents of Ammar Yasir and the others, above them all the companions of imam Husain alaihis salam in Karbala. They were preceding each other in the battle field to drink the goblet of martyrdom; it is very famous in the history of Islam.
In our period too we come across many such examples or heard about them that the old and the young ones in protecting their belief and religion wholeheartedly and with heart full of love stepped towards the martyrdom. We can say: The survival of the God’s religion without such sacrifices had been impossible in the past and in the present.
The torture before the punishment of God, the Subduer and the Dominant
After describing the crimes of the ancient nations where they were burning alive the true believers in the fire. These ayaat indicated the severe punishment for them and the abundant rewards for the believers.
First it said: those who tortured and tormented the dedicated men and women with true believe and burnt them alive and then not repented. The punishment of Hell is prepared for them, the same way the chastisement of severe fire too.
Åöäøó ÇáøóÐöíäó ÝóÊóäõæÇ ÇáúãõÄúãöäöíäó æóÇáúãõÄúãöäóÇÊö Ëõãøó áóãú íóÊõæÈõæÇ Ýóáóåõãú ÚóÐóÇÈõ Ìóåóäøóãó æóáóåõãú ÚóÐóÇÈõ ÇáúÍóÑöíÞö (85:10)
ÝóÊóäõæÇ means to put the gold in the fire to measure its purity. Then this word is used for the test as well and also gives the meaning of punishment and gives the meaning of the leading astray and wrong guidance.
The words Ëõãøó áóãú íóÊõæÈõæÇ indicates that the way of repentance is open for these torturers also. It shows the extreme mercy of the Glorious God for the sinners. Simultaneously the Lord of Lords, the Compassionate God warns the people of Mecca: before getting too late leave torturing the believers and return towards the All Powerful God.
Basically the Quran never closes the way of returning back for anyone. It shows that fixing the hard and painful punishment is for the reformation of the immoral and perverted people and to make them return to the right path. It is noteworthy that this ayat mentioned two types of punishment for them: one chastisement of Hell and another is torture of the extreme fire. The declaration of these two torments may be for the reason that in the hell they are many kinds of the tortures and one of them is the blazing fires. And the definition of it is specifically for the reason that the aforementioned torturers who burnt the believers, they must be punished in the fire but the difference between these two fires is incomparable (the fire of the world and the hereafter).
That fire is ignited by the flames of the God’s wrath and anger, the eternal and perpetual fire along with the insults and rage but the fire of the world is impermanent which is created by week hands of the man, the believers who are burnt in it, feel proud and exalted. They have the place in the first row of the martyrs (in the Paradise).
Then the rewards of the believers are defined and said: Those who brought faith (in one God) and practiced the right deeds, for them there are gardens of the Heaven under which the streams are flowing and this is the great success and liberation.
Åöäøó ÇáøóÐöíäó ÂãóäõæÇ æóÚóãöáõæÇ ÇáøóÇáöÍóÇÊö áóåõãú ÌóäøóÇÊñ ÊóÌúÑöí ãöä ÊóÍúÊöåóÇ ÇáúÃóäúåóÇÑõ Ðóáößó ÇáúÝóæúÒõ ÇáúßóÈöíÑõ (85:11
Which success is greater to be near to the Merciful God, living in between the various everlasting blessings with honor, high spirits and extreme gladness? We must not forget that the key of this success and prosperity is the right believe and the virtues deeds. It is the real capital, asset, all branches and the leaves.
The meaning ofÚóãöáõæÇ ÇáøóÇáöÍóÇÊ is ( øóÇáöÍóÇÊö is the plural of øóÇáöÍó ) it indicates that a single good act or some virtues deeds is not enough but the whole program of life, everywhere must be move around the axis of the virtues acts.
The meaning of Ðóáößó in the Arabic vocabulary is used to indicate the faraway place and to represent the importance and sanctity of it. That means their (the dwellers of paradise) salvation; success and honor are to such extent that it is out of our imagination.
Then again it warned the unbelievers and the torturers and added: Certainly the wrathful punishments of your firm and trusted God are very much severe.
Åöäøó ÈóØúÔó ÑóÈøößó áóÔóÏöíÏñ (85:12)
ÈóØúÔó Means to take with anger and power. The punishment of the Glorious God is very extremely high.
Next it is said: do not think that there is no judgment day and returning back to God Almighty. He is the one who started the creation and he will return us all back.
Åöäøóåõ åõæó íõÈúÏöÆõ æóíõÚöíÏõ (85:13
Then it describes the five descriptions of the Praiseworthy and the Originator God and said: He is the Forgiver of the servants who are repentant and kind to the believers.
æóåõæó ÇáúÛóÝõæÑõ ÇáúæóÏõæÏõ (85:14
He possesses the Throne Of The Power and the Sovereign Rule upon the whole universe and Lord with the high grandeur and magnificence.
Whatever He decides he performs it.
ÝóÚøóÇáñ áøöãóÇ íõÑöíÏõ (85:16)
ÇáúÛóÝõæÑõ and ÇáúæóÏõæÏõboth refers as the superlative degrees and indicates the ultimate gifts of rewards, bounties and His love. Forgiving and Generous in accepting the repentance of sinners and affectionate towards the virtues servants.
To define this fact that the way of return is open and the Eternal and the Dominant God being the extremely severe in giving punishments, side by side He is Benevolent, Lovable, Kind and Forgiver.
The word ÇáúÛóÝõæÑõ defines the love of the Beneficent God towards the creatures not the adoration of the creations for the Protector God.
Ðõæ ÇáúÚóÑúÔö Means the high royal throne ÝóÚøóÇáñ áøöãóÇ íõÑöíÏõ is the essential tool of this absolute ruler ship.( He performs as He wishes).
ÇáúãóÌöíÏõ Means widespread kindness, Nobility and Glory, it is the specific character of the Mighty God, but for others this definition of the character is used very less.
These five descriptions have a very bright accomplishment as for being the ÇáúÛóÝõæÑõ and ÇáúæóÏõæÏõon must possess power and his generosity must be wide with endless blessings so that He performs as He intends, nothing can stop him. No one have the power to collide with him and there should not be any kind of weakness, hesitation, laziness and decay in Him.
Have you seen what the God did to the army of Firaun and the Samud (Thamud)?
After warning the infidels and the torturers and to make them sure told that these warning are not only the words and slogans but they are practical and ayat turned towards the prophet and said: Did the story of the army reached you?
åóáú ÃóÊóÇßó ÍóÏöíËõ ÇáúÌõäõæÏö (85:17
The enormous big armies who embattled before the prophets of God and stood to fight them and supposed to declare their entity in front of the power of the God.
Then indicated the two clear and open examples in which one was very ancient and another was closer to their period and added: Those armies of the Firaun (Pharaoh) and the race of Samud (Thamud).
ÝöÑúÚóæúäó æóËóãõæÏó (85:18
Those, some of them brought the east and some acquired the west under their sovereign power. And some ripped apart the mountains and pulled off the rocks and massive stones and constructed houses and castles out of it. No one was there to oppose and challenge them.
But the most Great and Gracious God tore apart, one of that race with water and the another race with wind, the substances which are considered very tender and delicate. The waves of River Nile engulfed down the Pharaoh and his army in its mouth. And the cold and harsh wind pounded the people of Samud like a blade of leaf, snatched and threw back their dead bodies on the face of earth.
So that the infidels of the Arab realize that they too are helpless. When the Strong and Firm God could revenge with such powerful, potent and dynamic armies, the situation of those who are weaker than them is quite clear, though the weak and mighty are equal before The Mighty God.
The selection of the people of Samud (Thamud) and the Pharaoh (Firaun) from among the other ancient nations are taken as an example because these two nations were leading the others with the extreme power. One belonged to the far off period such as the people of Samud and the other one was to the nearer past (the people of the Pharaoh). Moreover the Arabs were well aware of their names and their brief history.
In the next ayat it added: But those who became infidels and constantly denied and refused the truth.
Èóáö ÇáøóÐöíäó ßóÝóÑõæÇ Ýöí ÊóßúÐöíÈò (85:19
It is not that the signs of truth are concealed and hidden from anybody. The stubbornness and malice did not permit them to get their way and step into the path of truth.
The meaning of Èá points that the infidels and polytheist were more stubborn than the people of Samud and pharaoh. They were perpetually refusing the Noble Quran and they were sticking to any means for proving themselves right.
But they must know that the Capable and Avenger God surrounded them and everyone is in his mighty grip.
æóÇááøóåõ ãöä æóÑóÇÆöåöã ãøõÍöíØñ (85:20
If the Everlasting and Supreme Inheritor, God give them a chance it is not because of His inability and weakness. If He is not punishing them straightforwardly it is not that they are away from His territory and power.
æóÑóÇÆöåöã
Means (behind their back), it indicates that they in every way are under the power and hold of the Almighty God, and He has surrounded them from every dimension. Hence it is impossible to run away from the grasp of his justice and punishment.
In the next ayat it adds: Their persistence in denying the Quran and comparing it to the baseless poetry, magic and fortune foreteller. But that noble Quran is great with highest status.
Èóáú åõæó ÞõÑúÂäñ ãøóÌöíÏñ (85:21
It is the commandment which is inscribed and saved on a slab áæÍ ãÍÝæÙ and the hands of devils, fortune tellers and evil people will not reach it. And it is protected from every alteration, change, addition and deduction.
Ýöí áóæúÍò ãøóÍúÝõæÙò (85:22
Hence if they are giving you the bad and unjust relations by calling you magician, poet, fortune teller and insane, do not feel sad and sorrowful. The one upon whom you are reliant is firm and our way is bright and your supporter and pillar is all powerful and all able.
ãÌیÏ means widespread nobleness and honesty and this meaning is completely true for describing the Quran. As the contents of the Noble Quran are great and boundless, its meaning is high and resourceful in the field of the belief, education, morals, sermons, rules and customs.
áæÍ is the thing which is used for writing. áæÍ is a page upon which the holy Quran is written and saved, but its pages are not like the pages we use for writing. In the interpretation of Ibn Abbas it is mentioned: Its length is the distance between the earth and the Heaven and its width is the distance between the east and the west.
Yea Quran is taken from the fountain head of the limitless knowledge. It is not created by the human thoughts or introduced by the devil and its contents are proving its claim.
O God, the Enricher, make us fully acquainted with the facts of this heavenly book.
O God the Incomparable Guide, the day when the virtues believers reach the great success and the unbelievers attains the burning punishment; you give us protection with your wings of support.
O God, the Supreme Inheritor and the Light of Guide, You are Forgiver, Benevolent, Kind and the Loving, treat us what the qualities of your names affirms about you, not according to our deeds and qualities.
Ameen! O God the Provider of the whole universe.