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.
Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds will have gardens beneath which rivers flow. That is the great attainment.
12
١٢
inna baṭsha rabbika lashadīdun
Indeed, the assault [i.e., vengeance] of your Lord is severe.
13
١٣
innahu huwa yub'di-u wayuʿīdu
Indeed, it is He who originates [creation] and repeats.
14
١٤
wahuwa l-ghafūru l-wadūdu
And He is the Forgiving, the Affectionate,
15
١٥
dhū l-ʿarshi l-majīdu
Honorable Owner of the Throne,
16
١٦
faʿʿālun limā yurīdu
Effecter of what He intends.
17
١٧
hal atāka ḥadīthu l-junūdi
Has there reached you the story of the soldiers -
18
١٨
fir'ʿawna wathamūda
[Those of] Pharaoh and Thamūd?
19
١٩
bali alladhīna kafarū fī takdhībin
But they who disbelieve are in [persistent] denial,
20
٢٠
wal-lahu min warāihim muḥīṭun
While Allāh encompasses them from behind.
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Surah Al-Buruj (The Mansions of the Stars) — Full Text
Ayah 1
وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلْبُرُوجِ
By the sky containing great stars
Allah opens this surah by swearing by the sky and its buruj — the great stars or constellations that are visible and magnificent in the heavens. The word buruj literally means something large and prominent, like a fortress or tower, and here it refers to the massive celestial bodies that light up the sky. This oath is meant to grab your attention and set the stage for something serious — the sky with all its grandeur is a sign of the power and precision behind creation, and what follows is going to be heavy.
Ayah 2
وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْمَوْعُودِ
And [by] the promised Day
Next, Allah swears by the Promised Day — the Day of Judgment. Every prophet who ever walked the earth warned people about this Day, and here Allah Himself is affirming its reality by swearing on it. The fact that it is called 'promised' means it is absolutely guaranteed to happen; it is not a maybe, not a possibility, but a locked-in certainty. This builds on the previous verse: the One who built the sky with its massive constellations is the same One promising that a Day of Reckoning is coming.
Ayah 3
وَشَاهِدٍ وَمَشْهُودٍ
And [by] the witness and what is witnessed,
Allah then swears by the witness and what is witnessed. According to a prophetic narration, the witness refers to the day of Friday (Jumu'ah) and the witnessed refers to the Day of Arafah — two of the most blessed days in the Islamic calendar. Both are days of gathering and testimony: Friday gathers the Muslims for prayer, and Arafah gathers the pilgrims during Hajj. These days serve as recurring reminders that the ultimate gathering on the Day of Judgment is real, and they give believers a chance to stock up on good deeds before that Day arrives.
Ayah 4
قُتِلَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْأُخْدُودِ
Destroyed [i.e., cursed] were the companions of the trench1
Now comes the subject of these oaths: cursed and destroyed were the People of the Trench (Ashaab al-Ukhdud). These were a group of ancient disbelievers — specifically identified as a tyrannical king in Yemen named Dhu Nuwas — who dug deep trenches in the ground and filled them with fire to burn alive anyone who believed in Allah. The backstory involves a young boy who brought an entire community to faith through his miracles and courage, and the enraged king retaliated by ordering mass execution of believers. This is one of the most intense stories in the Quran, and it is about to be described over the next several verses.
Ayah 5
ٱلنَّارِ ذَاتِ ٱلْوَقُودِ
[Containing] the fire full of fuel,
The trench was filled with fire that was abundantly fueled — they kept feeding the flames to make sure the fire would not die out. This was not some accidental blaze; it was a deliberate, sustained inferno designed specifically to torture and kill believers. The detail about the fuel emphasizes the calculated cruelty of the oppressors. They went out of their way to make the punishment as horrific as possible, all because the believers refused to abandon their faith.
Ayah 6
إِذْ هُمْ عَلَيْهَا قُعُودٌ
When they were sitting near it.
The oppressors sat right next to the fire as the believers were being thrown in. They watched the whole thing happen, sitting comfortably by the edge of the trench like spectators at a show. There is something deeply chilling about this image — they did not even have the decency to look away. They wanted to witness the suffering they were causing, which speaks to how far hatred can twist a person's humanity.
And they, to what they were doing against the believers, were witnesses. 1
And they were fully aware of what they were doing to the believers — they were witnesses to their own crime. This verse removes any possible excuse of ignorance or accident. They knew exactly what they were doing, they saw the pain they were inflicting, and they chose to keep doing it anyway. In the Hereafter, they will not be able to claim they did not know. Their own eyes witnessed their atrocity, and that testimony will stand against them.
And they resented them not except because they believed in Allāh, the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy,
Here is the devastating punchline: the believers had done absolutely nothing wrong. The only reason they were being tortured and burned alive was that they believed in Allah — the Almighty, the Praiseworthy. That was their entire 'crime.' They did not steal, they did not harm anyone, they did not rebel against the state. They simply believed in God. The attributes mentioned here — al-Aziz (the Almighty) and al-Hamid (the Praiseworthy) — are a subtle but powerful reminder that the God these believers trusted is ultimately in control and worthy of all praise, even when the situation looks hopeless.
To whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. And Allāh, over all things, is Witness.1
This verse continues describing Allah: He is the One to whom belongs the entire dominion of the heavens and the earth, and He is a witness over all things. Nothing escapes His knowledge — not the flames of that trench, not the suffering of the believers, not the cruelty of the oppressors. This closes the story section with a profound reassurance: even when it seems like injustice is winning, Allah sees everything. The tyrants may have thought they got away with it, but the Owner of everything was watching, and His justice is inescapable.
Indeed, those who have tortured1 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.
Now Allah delivers the verdict: those who persecuted and tortured the believing men and women, and then did not repent, will face the punishment of Hell and the punishment of burning fire. Notice the incredible detail here — even after they committed this horrific act of burning believers alive, Allah still left the door open for repentance. The phrase 'then did not repent' shows that even the worst sinners are invited to turn back. That is an astonishing level of mercy and generosity from Allah, and it also makes the punishment all the more deserved for those who refuse to take that opportunity.
Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds will have gardens beneath which rivers flow. That is the great attainment.
In beautiful contrast, those who believed and did good deeds will have Gardens with rivers flowing beneath them — that is the ultimate success. After those heavy verses about fire, torture, and punishment, this verse is like a breath of fresh air. The believers who were burned in this world will have gardens in the next. The fire they endured was temporary, but their reward is eternal. Allah calls this 'the great attainment' because nothing in this world — no amount of comfort or wealth — even comes close to it.
Ayah 12
إِنَّ بَطْشَ رَبِّكَ لَشَدِيدٌ
Indeed, the assault [i.e., vengeance] of your Lord is severe.
Allah shifts to a direct, powerful statement: the grip and punishment of your Lord is truly severe. The word 'batsh' means to seize with overwhelming force — when Allah decides to punish, there is no defense, no escape, no negotiation. This verse is a warning aimed at every oppressor and tyrant throughout history: you might feel powerful now, but the One who truly holds power has a grip you cannot withstand. It is a reminder that connects back to the People of the Trench — their story is not just history, it is a pattern.
Ayah 13
إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ يُبْدِئُ وَيُعِيدُ
Indeed, it is He who originates [creation] and repeats.
It is Allah who originates creation and then brings it back again. He started everything from nothing, and He will bring it all back on the Day of Judgment with the same ease. If He can create the entire universe the first time around, repeating it is not even a challenge. This verse addresses one of the core doubts people had: how can the dead be brought back to life? The answer is simple — the One who made you from nothing can obviously do it again.
Ayah 14
وَهُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلْوَدُودُ
And He is the Forgiving, the Affectionate,
And He is the Forgiving (al-Ghafur) and the Loving (al-Wadud). Right after mentioning His severe punishment and His power to create and recreate, Allah reminds you of His love and forgiveness. Al-Wadud means the One who is deeply affectionate and loving toward His servants — not distant, not cold, but genuinely caring. This balance is everything: Allah is powerful enough to destroy, yet merciful enough to forgive and loving enough to embrace those who turn back to Him.
Ayah 15
ذُو ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْمَجِيدُ
Honorable Owner of the Throne,
He is the Owner of the Throne — the magnificent, glorious Throne (al-Arsh) that is above all of creation. This is the ultimate symbol of authority and sovereignty. Every king and ruler on earth sits on a throne to show their power, but their thrones are nothing compared to the Throne of Allah. He is the true King, the real authority, and His Throne encompasses everything. The word 'Majid' (Glorious) can describe both Allah Himself and His Throne — both meanings are correct, and both point to unmatched greatness.
Ayah 16
فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ
Effecter of what He intends.
He does whatever He intends — no limitations, no restrictions, no one to stop Him. When Allah decides something, it simply happens. This verse is both awe-inspiring and comforting. It means that no tyrant can override Allah's plan, and no injustice will go unanswered. It also means that when Allah decides to show mercy, bless you, or forgive you, nothing can stand in the way of that either. His will is absolute, and that should give you both reverence and hope.
Ayah 17
هَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ٱلْجُنُودِ
Has there reached you the story of the soldiers -
Has the story of the great armies reached you? After establishing Allah's power, forgiveness, and absolute authority, the surah now asks a rhetorical question to the Prophet (and through him, to all of us). The word 'junud' means soldiers or armies — powerful forces that thought they were invincible. This question is setting up historical examples to prove the point that was just made: that Allah's grip is severe and no army, no matter how strong, can escape it.
Ayah 18
فِرْعَوْنَ وَثَمُودَ
[Those of] Pharaoh and Thamūd?
Those armies were the forces of Pharaoh and the people of Thamud. Two different civilizations, two different time periods, same result — total destruction. Pharaoh drowned in the sea after chasing the Israelites, and Thamud were annihilated by a catastrophic blast after they killed the she-camel sent as a sign from Allah. Both thought they were untouchable. Both were wrong. These are not just bedtime stories — they are real historical warnings that confirm what verse 12 said: when Allah seizes the wrongdoers, His punishment is severe and final.
Ayah 19
بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى تَكْذِيبٍ
But they who disbelieve are in [persistent] denial,
Yet despite all these warnings and all these historical examples, the disbelievers persist in their denial. They have the stories of Pharaoh and Thamud right in front of them, they have the Quran being recited to them, they can see the signs in creation — and they still choose to reject it. The word used here implies an ongoing, stubborn state of denial, not a one-time mistake. They are actively and continuously choosing to look away from the truth.
Ayah 20
وَٱللَّهُ مِن وَرَآئِهِم مُّحِيطٌۢ
While Allāh encompasses them from behind.1
But while they are busy denying and turning away, Allah completely encompasses them from all sides. They think they are free, they think they are in control, but they are actually surrounded by Allah's power and knowledge at every moment. There is no escape route, no backdoor, no plan B. This verse is a wake-up call: denial does not change reality. You can close your eyes, but that does not make the sun disappear.
Ayah 21
بَلْ هُوَ قُرْءَانٌ مَّجِيدٌ
But this is an honored Qur’ān
This is a Glorious Quran — the very book being recited to them that they keep denying. Despite all the rejection, the Quran remains noble, honored, and magnificent. Human denial does not diminish its status one bit. It is glorious in its content, its eloquence, its guidance, and its origin. The surah is essentially saying: look, you can deny all you want, but this Book is majestic and its message is the truth whether you accept it or not.
Ayah 22
فِى لَوْحٍ مَّحْفُوظٍۭ
[Inscribed] in a Preserved Slate.
It is preserved in al-Lawh al-Mahfuz — the Preserved Tablet. This is where the Quran is recorded in the heavens, completely protected from any change, distortion, addition, or deletion. No one can tamper with it, no one can corrupt it, and no one can suppress it. The surah ends with this powerful closing because it ties everything together: the same God who controls the constellations, who destroyed Pharaoh and Thamud, who promises the Day of Judgment — He also sent this Book, and He personally guarantees its preservation until the end of time.