Revealed in Makkah, Surah Al-Buruj (The Mansions of the Stars) begins by swearing by the star-studded sky to console the persecuted Muslims. It recounts the historical tragedy of the People of the Ditch (Ukhdud), where a tyrant threw early believers into a blazing fire for refusing to renounce their faith. It promises destruction to persecutors and notes the preservation of the Quran on a Guarded Tablet.
Transliteration
Waalssamai thati alburooji
Translation
By the sky with the constellations
God swears an oath by the celestial heavens adorned with colossal star constellations, galactic clusters, and planetary towers.
Transliteration
Waalyawmi almawAAoodi
Translation
And by the Promised Day
God swears by the Day of Judgment, which God has solemnly promised with absolute certainty to all humanity.
Transliteration
Washahidin wamashhoodin
Translation
And by the witness and the witnessed
God swears by the witnesses (such as the Prophet, the angels, and the Day of Friday) and what is witnessed (the Day of Arafah and the supreme gathering of all mankind on Judgment Day).
Transliteration
Qutila ashabu alukhdoodi
Translation
Destroyed were the People of the Trench
Memorializes the 'Companions of the Trench' (Ashab al-Ukhdud): refers to an ancient historical atrocity in southern Arabia (Najran, c. 523 CE) where a tyrannical ruler (Dhu Nuwas) dug long trenches, filled them with roaring fire, and cast thousands of monotheistic believers—including nursing mothers and children—alive into the flames.
Transliteration
Alnnari thati alwaqoodi
Translation
The fire supplied with fuel
Transliteration
Ith hum AAalayha quAAoodun
Translation
While they sat around it
Transliteration
Wahum AAala ma yafAAaloona bialmumineena shuhoodun
Translation
And were witnessing what they did to the believers
Condemns the chilling sadism of the persecutors: describes them sitting comfortably on chairs along the edges of the burning trenches, casually watching and gloating over the agony of the burning martyrs.
Transliteration
Wama naqamoo minhum illa an yuminoo biAllahi alAAazeezi alhameedi
Translation
They begrudged them only because they believed in God the Almighty, the Praiseworthy
Identifies the sole 'crime' of the martyrs: they committed no treason, theft, or physical harm; their only crime was their unwavering conviction in the One Almighty God, exposing the evil of ideological persecution.
Transliteration
Allathee lahu mulku alssamawati waalardi waAllahu AAala kulli shayin shaheedun
Translation
To Whom belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. God is witness over everything
Transliteration
Inna allatheena fatanoo almumineena waalmuminati thumma lam yatooboo falahum AAathabu jahannama walahum AAathabu alhareeqi
Translation
Those who tempt the believers, men and women, then do not repent; for them is the punishment of Hell; for them is the punishment of Burning
Transliteration
Inna allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati lahum jannatun tajree min tahtiha alanharu thalika alfawzu alkabeeru
Translation
Those who believe and do righteous deeds will have Gardens beneath which rivers flow. That is the great triumph
Transliteration
Inna batsha rabbika lashadeedun
Translation
The onslaught of your Lord is severe
Transliteration
Innahu huwa yubdio wayuAAeedu
Translation
It is He who begins and repeats
Transliteration
Wahuwa alghafooru alwadoodu
Translation
And He is the Forgiving, the Loving
Pairing divine attributes: combines 'Al-Ghafur' (The Perpetual Forgiver) with 'Al-Wadud' (The Deeply Loving and Affectionate), reassuring persecuted believers that God loves His faithful servants with profound tenderness.
Transliteration
Thoo alAAarshi almajeedi
Translation
Possessor of the Glorious Throne
Transliteration
FaAAAAalun lima yureedu
Translation
Doer of whatever He wills
Transliteration
Hal ataka hadeethu aljunoodi
Translation
Has there come to you the story of the legions
Transliteration
FirAAawna wathamooda
Translation
Of Pharaoh and Thamood
Transliteration
Bali allatheena kafaroo fee taktheebin
Translation
In fact, those who disbelieve are in denial
Transliteration
WaAllahu min waraihim muheetun
Translation
And God encloses them from beyond
Transliteration
Bal huwa quranun majeedun
Translation
In fact, it is a Glorious Quran
Transliteration
Fee lawhin mahfoothin
Translation
In a Preserved Tablet
Concludes by affirming the primordial origin and textual invulnerability of the Quran: preserved immutably within 'Al-Lawh al-Mahfudh' (The Preserved Tablet)—the celestial master record immune to alteration, deletion, or corruption.