Overview - Surah 85: al-Buruj (The Great Stars)

The Surah speaks about the persecution of the Believers.  Allah watches over His own people and He will bring His enemies to judgment. The Surah warns the opponents of this message. Their end might be the same as that of many nations before who denied Allah's message and persecuted the Believers.

The Surah takes its name from the first Ayat, وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الْبُرُوجِ "By the sky containing great stars" [85:1]

There are 22 Ayat in this Surah.

The Surah speaks about the persecution of the Believers.  Allah watches over His own people and He will bring His enemies to judgment. The Surah warns the opponents of this message. Their end might be the same as that of many nations before who denied Allah's message and persecuted the Believers.

The Surah takes its name from the first Ayat, وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الْبُرُوجِ "By the sky containing great stars" [85:1]

There are 22 Ayat in this Surah.

Theme 1: Firmness upon Belief.

Its theme is to warn the disbelievers of the evil consequences of the persecution and tyranny that they were perpetrating on the reverts to Islam and to console the believers, as to say: “If you remain firm and steadfast against tyranny and coercion, you will be rewarded richly for it and God 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 God’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 God, 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, “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.”

Theme 1: Firmness upon Belief.

Its theme is to warn the disbelievers of the evil consequences of the persecution and tyranny that they were perpetrating on the reverts to Islam and to console the believers, as to say: “If you remain firm and steadfast against tyranny and coercion, you will be rewarded richly for it and God 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 God’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 God, 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, “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.”

• This is the last Surah of the Qur'an that mentions the word 'Qur'an'. 
• The word 'Majeed' [noble] has been used twice - once to describe Allah [85:15] and once to describe the Qur'an [85:21]

• It interesting that Allah Almighty chose to describe both the Believers and the Persecuting Kuffar with 14 words respectively.

  Ayat 10 and 11 both have 14 words.

  إِنَّ الَّذِينَ فَتَنُوا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُوبُوا فَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ الْحَرِيقِ  “Indeed, those who have tortured the believing men and believing women and then have not repented will have the punishment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the Burning Fire.” (85:10)

  إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْكَبِيرُ   “Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds will have gardens beneath which rivers flow. That is the great attainment. (85:11)

• This is the last Surah of the Qur'an that mentions the word 'Qur'an'. 
• The word 'Majeed' [noble] has been used twice - once to describe Allah [85:15] and once to describe the Qur'an [85:21]

• It interesting that Allah Almighty chose to describe both the Believers and the Persecuting Kuffar with 14 words respectively.

  Ayat 10 and 11 both have 14 words.

  إِنَّ الَّذِينَ فَتَنُوا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُوبُوا فَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ الْحَرِيقِ  “Indeed, those who have tortured the believing men and believing women and then have not repented will have the punishment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the Burning Fire.” (85:10)

  إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْكَبِيرُ   “Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds will have gardens beneath which rivers flow. That is the great attainment. (85:11)

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 reverts from Islam.

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 reverts from Islam.

• Surah 85. Al-Buruj - Saad al Ghamidi  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4MOvaV5350&list=PLhM2xiAUdw2cAqW_o3zZkbhJNw0bnaBZN&index=85
• Surah 85. Al-Buruj  Mahmoud Khalil Al Hussary  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwQDec3XeDM&index=85&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfMFWX22VZWOKpzjr-vH_BM​
• Surah 85. Al-Buruj j Muhammad Al Luhaydan  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU75yJsE584&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfKAYuQLRNAZomoezhfhRZe&index=85​
• Surah 85. Al-Buruj  Idris Akbar  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O8SVVyvDGE
• Surah 85. Al-Buruj  Muhammad Minshawi  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1li37T1F-NU&list=PLxpAkjlGauHdUcO_uc-8F8J2NUQRDZjPG&index=85​
• The boy and the king story of the people of the ditch (cartoon) http://youtu.be/Zrt1PgOEN-8