Surah Al-Buruj; Story of Christians Who Were Persecuted for Believing in God

TEHRAN (IQNA) – Throughout history, there have been many believers who were persecuted by tyrants and oppressors.

For instance, there were Christians who were tortured, killed or exiled from their lands.  

The story of one group of these Christians is mentioned in Surah Al-Buruj of the Holy Quran.

Al-Buruj is the 85^th chapter of the Quran that has 22 verses and is in the 30^th Juz. It is Makki and the 27^th Surah revealed to the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Buruj is the plural of Burj, which means palace or mansion. The Surah’s name comes from the word al-Buruj in the first verse: “I swear by the mansions of the stars.”

Ancient astronomers divided the orbit of the sun into 12 sections, each of which was called a Burj. Some Quran interpreters believe that this verse is unrelated to the view of ancient astronomers and that Buruj in this verse refers to the position of stars not stars themselves.

The chapter begins with swearing by the heavens and the Resurrection Day and the certainty of its happening. It then talks about the people of Ukhdud who persecuted the believers and were, therefore, punished and destroyed.

Verses 4 to 8 are about the people of Ukhdud. Ukhdud means a big pit. The people of Ukhdud made fires in large pits and threw the believers into them so that they would burn alive.

There are different views among interpreters about when and where this happened. Some say these verses refer to a Jewish king in Yemen who invited the Christians of Najran to become Jews but they refused. So he ordered large pits to be filled with fire and threw the Christians into them.  

The Surah says the reason these believers were persecuted was just because they believed in God.  

God uses their example to urge Muslims to be patient and steadfast, reminding them that believers have been persecuted in the past and that there has always been a confrontation between kufr (disbelief) and faith, but that the believers will ultimately prevail and will also be rewarded for their good deeds by entering paradise.

On the other hand, the fire of hell is ready for those who persecute believers and refuse to repent.

In this Surah there is also a mention of Luh Mahfouz (a well-guarded tablet). It emphasizes that the Quran is in Luh Mahfouz where all events in the world, from the beginning to the end, have been registered in full detail and there is no change and alteration in it.