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Chapter 85

The Housesal-Burūj ( البروج )

22 verses • revealed at Meccan

»The surah that opens with a three-part oath of the Divine One, who swears by the sky studded with The Houses, by the assurance that the Day of Resurrection shall come, and by His Own Universal Witness, which beholds all, that the believers shall have their reward, and the unbelievers their punishment, in the Hereafter. It takes is name from “the houses” (burūj) mentioned in verse 1, normally understood in conjunction to the constellations. The surah strengthened the heart of the Prophet Muḥammad and his followers by referring to the fate of those who tortured earlier believers. The title expresses God’s power over the whole universe, from the stars in the sky to the evildoers referred to in this surah. Indeed, His all-encompassing power is a recurring theme throughout the surah.«

The surah is also known as Signs of the Zodiac, The Constellations, The Houses of the Zodiac, The Towering Constellations, Zodiacal Signs

بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ

Yusuf Ali: In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

1
وَالسَّماءِ ذاتِ البُروجِ

Yusuf Ali

This is one of the earlier Meccan Sūras, chronologically cognate with S. 91. The subject-matter is the persecution of God’s votaries. God watches over His own, and will deal with the enemies of Truth as He deals with them in the past.
[85:1-22] Woe to those who persecute Truth! They are being watched by mighty Eyes; they will have to answer when the Judgment comes; and a clear Record will witness against them. Are they cruel to men because of their Faith? The Fire they use will be turned against them. For God is strong, and will subdue the mightiest foes. Be warned, and learn from His gracious Message, preserved through all Time!
By the sky, (displaying)1 the Zodiacal Signs;2
  • Here is an appeal to three symbols in verses 1-3, and the substantive proposition is in verses 4-8, a denunciation of wicked persecutors of the votaries of God, persecutors who burnt righteous men for their Faith. The three mystic Symbols are: (1) the Glorious Sky, with the broad belt of the Constellations marking the twelve Signs of the Zodiac; (2) the Day of Judgment, when all evil will be punished; and (3) certain Persons that will be witnesses, and certain Persons or things that will be the subjects of the witness. See the notes following.
  • See second n. to 15:16. The Stars of the Zodiac as well as of other Constellations are like the eyes of the Night. It may be that crimes are committed in the darkness of night (literally or metaphorically). But countless eyes (metaphorically) are watching all the time, and every author of evil will be brought to book.