Sūrah Al-Burūj (سورة البروج)
Verses: 22
Place of Revelation: Meccan
🌌 Name Origin
The word "Al-Burūj" (البروج) appears in the first verse and refers to the great constellations or celestial towers in the sky. The surah opens by invoking the majesty of the stars and then quickly shifts to recount a horrific event on earth — drawing a contrast between the vastness of the universe and the cruelty of humans.
📖 Full Thematic Breakdown
1. Cosmic Oaths (Verses 1–3)
"By the sky containing great stars,
And [by] the promised Day,
And [by] the witness and what is witnessed..."
Allah swears by:
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The sky filled with majestic constellations (possibly symbolic of divine order).
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The Promised Day — the Day of Judgment.
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The witness and the witnessed — interpreted by scholars as:
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The Prophet ﷺ and his ummah, or
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The witnessing of deeds, or
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Friday (witness) and Arafah (witnessed) — all reflect how nothing escapes God's awareness.
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2. The People of the Ditch (Verses 4–10)
"Cursed were the companions of the trench —
The fire full of fuel,
When they were sitting near it
And they, to what they were doing against the believers, were witnesses."
This refers to a historical tragedy where innocent believers were burned alive in trenches of fire for their faith.
Some scholars say it refers to the story of the boy and the king, found in hadith (Sahih Muslim), where a tyrant king ordered believers to be burned for rejecting idol worship and believing in the One God.
"And they resented them not except because they believed in Allah, the Almighty, the Praiseworthy..."
The victims' only 'crime' was belief. This is a reminder that faith often requires sacrifice — but God sees and remembers.
3. God’s Power and Judgment (Verses 11–16)
"Indeed, those who have tortured the believing men and believing women and then have not repented will have the punishment of Hell...
Indeed, the vengeance of your Lord is severe."
God promises justice:
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Punishment for the oppressors
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Reward for the patient believers — “Gardens beneath which rivers flow…”
He is:
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Al-‘Azīz (The Mighty)
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Dhū Intiqām (Owner of Retaliation) — but only against those who persist in oppression and disbelief without repentance.
“He is the One who originates creation and repeats it.”
“He is the Forgiving, the Loving.” (85:13–14)
Despite speaking of judgment, Allah also emphasizes that He is Al-Ghafūr (The Forgiving) and Al-Wadūd (The Loving). His justice is not cruel — it is measured, balanced, and rooted in truth.
4. The Fate of Previous Tyrants (Verses 17–20)
"Has there reached you the story of the soldiers —
[Those of] Pharaoh and Thamud?"
Even the mightiest of tyrants were destroyed when they defied God:
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Pharaoh with his arrogance.
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Thamūd with their rejection of the Prophet Ṣāliḥ.
This reminds us that no worldly power lasts forever — but God's judgment does.
5. The Eternal Qur'an (Verses 21–22)
"But this is an honored Qur'an,
[Inscribed] in a Preserved Tablet (al-Lawḥ al-Maḥfūẓ)."
The surah closes by lifting the perspective again:
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While humans commit injustice,
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While the sky holds the stars,
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There exists a perfect, eternal Qur'an, preserved with God — unchanging, sacred, and true.
🌿 Key Themes of Sūrah Al-Burūj
| Theme | Description |
|---|---|
| Divine Majesty | The stars and cosmos are signs of God's greatness. |
| Human Injustice | History is filled with those who tortured the innocent — but none escape God's judgment. |
| Faith Under Fire | Believers may suffer in this world, but are honored eternally. |
| God’s Dual Nature | He is both Severe in punishment and Endlessly Loving. |
| The Qur'an’s Eternity | The Qur’an is protected in the Lawḥ al-Maḥfūẓ — preserved, unalterable truth. |
🕊️ Reflection
Would you remain faithful if the fire was lit before you?
This surah honors those who did — and warns those who lit the flames.
It reminds us:
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No deed is lost.
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No oppressor is truly safe.
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No believer suffers in vain.
Would you like:
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A full Arabic + English translation of this surah?
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A recitation audio/video?
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A tafsīr from classical scholars like Ibn Kathir, or a thematic summary comparing it to other Meccan surahs?
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