Question
Assalamu Alaikum!
Dear Sir,
Kindly guide me about the meaning of Burooj with reference to the context of Surah Al-Burooj, if possible in the light of Hadiths, please.
Regards,
Answer
wa alaikumussalaam
Thank you for writing to us.
Explaining the word Burooj in this Surah, Ustaz Ghamidi writes in his Tafseer:
The word بُرْج (burj) means forts and castles. Here, it refers to the forts and observation posts in which angels of God are always stationed to protect the universe. Their evidence is presented to warn the arrogant leaders of Makkah and Ta’if that soon they will be held accountable for the wave of oppression they have let loose on the Muslims. The forts of the heavens bear witness that everything is in God’s sight and His angels sitting in them guard every part of this universe. This arrangement has been made because the purpose is to make this world culminate in a Day of Judgement.
Kindly note that the word Burooj has been used in the Qur’an in this meaning (castles) in 4:78. This is the straightforward meaning of the word, well-established in Arabic, and there is no need to refer to sources outside the Quran to determine its meaning. There are no reported statements from the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarding the meaning of this word. However, various opinions exist among the Tabi’in scholars, with some interpreting “Burooj” as “stars.” The companion Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have said that “Burooj” refers to “castles” (Qusoor).
I hope this helps.
Answered by: Mushfiq Sultan
Date: 2019-01-16
