Commentary · Quran
Surah 85: The Mansions of the StarsThe Mansions of the Stars
If you don’t know me, my name is Rachel, and these are my scripture notes on the Quran. The ayat are presented sequentially in English and Arabic, followed by my commentary. Think of it as a living midrash: whenever I learn something new, I add a note. My notes draw from an eclectic range of ancient sources, both Jewish and Gentile. See my about page for more.
I’ve used Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall’s 1930 translation of the Quran’s meanings since it’s both public domain and very pretty.
Surah 85: The Mansions of the Stars, The Constellationsسُورَةُ البُرُوجِ
1By the heaven, holding mansions of the stars, 2And by the Promised Day. 3And by the witness and that whereunto he beareth testimony, 4(Self-)destroyed were the owners of the ditch 5Of the fuel-fed fire, 6When they sat by it, 7And were themselves the witnesses of what they did to the believers. 8They had naught against them save that they believed in Allah, the Mighty, the Owner of Praise, 9Him unto Whom belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is of all things the Witness. 10Lo! they who persecute believing men and believing women and repent not, theirs verily will be the doom of hell, and theirs the doom of burning. 11Lo! those who believe and do good works, theirs will be Gardens underneath which rivers flow. That is the Great Success. 12Lo! the punishment of thy Lord is stern. 13Lo! He it is Who produceth, then reproduceth, 14And He is the Forgiving, the Loving, 15Lord of the Throne of Glory, 16Doer of what He will. 17Hath there come unto thee the story of the hosts 18Of Pharaoh and (the tribe of) Thamud? 19Nay, but those who disbelieve live in denial 20And Allah, all unseen, surroundeth them. 21Nay, but it is a glorious Qur'an. 22On a guarded tablet.
1بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلْبُرُوجِ 2وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْمَوْعُودِ 3وَشَاهِدٍۢ وَمَشْهُودٍۢ 4قُتِلَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْأُخْدُودِ 5ٱلنَّارِ ذَاتِ ٱلْوَقُودِ 6إِذْ هُمْ عَلَيْهَا قُعُودٌۭ 7وَهُمْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَفْعَلُونَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ شُهُودٌۭ 8وَمَا نَقَمُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ إِلَّآ أَن يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ 9ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ شَهِيدٌ 10إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ فَتَنُوا۟ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُوبُوا۟ فَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ ٱلْحَرِيقِ 11إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ لَهُمْ جَنَّٰتٌۭ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْكَبِيرُ 12إِنَّ بَطْشَ رَبِّكَ لَشَدِيدٌ 13إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ يُبْدِئُ وَيُعِيدُ 14وَهُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلْوَدُودُ 15ذُو ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْمَجِيدُ 16فَعَّالٌۭ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ 17هَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ٱلْجُنُودِ 18فِرْعَوْنَ وَثَمُودَ 19بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى تَكْذِيبٍۢ 20وَٱللَّهُ مِن وَرَآئِهِم مُّحِيطٌۢ 21بَلْ هُوَ قُرْءَانٌۭ مَّجِيدٌۭ 22فِى لَوْحٍۢ مَّحْفُوظٍۭ