85:1وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الْبُرُوجِ
By the heaven with its Houses,
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 85:1
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:1]
See commentary of Hijr: 16 for buruj the imaginary belt of the constellations marking the twelve signs of the Zodiac. The constellations are as follows:
(i)
Aries (Ram)
(ii)
Taurus (bull).
(iii)
Gemini (Twins)
(iv)
Cancer (Crab).
(v)
Leo (Lion).
(vi)
Virgo (Virgin).
(vii)
Libra (Balance).
(viii)
Scorpio (Scorpion).
(ix)
Sagittarius (Archer).
(x)
Capricorn (Goat).
(xi)
Aquarius (Water-bearer).
(xii)
Pisces (Fishes).
85:2وَالْيَوْمِ الْمَوْعُودِ
by the Promised Day,
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 85:2
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:2]
The promised day is the day of judgement which will inevitably come to pass. See commentary of Waqi-ah; Haqqah; Ma-arij; Qiyamah; Nazi-at; Takwir; Infitar; Inshiqaq and other references mentioned therein.
85:3وَشَاهِدٍ وَمَشْهُودٍ
by the Witness and the Witnessed:
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 85:3
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:3]
On the day of judgement there will be certain persons who will be witnesses, and certain persons or things which will be the subjects of the witness.
The witnesses may be:
Allah (All Imran: 81 and Yunus: 61).
(ii) The prophets (Nisa: 41 ).
The recording angels (Qaf: 21).
(vi) The sinner's limbs (Nur: 24).
(v) The records of deeds (Bani Israil: 14).
(vi) The sinner (Bani Israil: 14).
(vii) The Holy Prophet (Barat : 105; Ahzab : 45).
The subject of the witness may be the crimes of the sinners and the sinners against whom the witnesses bear witness. So the sinner will not be able to escape the consequences of his crimes, but if he repents, before death seizes him, make amends and lives a life free from sins, thereafter he may be forgiven.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
The literal meaning of shahidin wa mash-hud is clear, but its application has been explained in a variety of ways by different commentators.
Imam Hasan bin Ali al Mujtaba said:
"Shahid is the Holy Prophet and mash-hud refers to the day of resurrection."
85:4قُتِلَ أَصْحَابُ الْأُخْدُودِ
perish the People of the Ditch!
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 85:4
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:4]
In every age there were people who believed in Allah and the truth, did good deeds and opposed tyranny and despotism, so the tyrants persecuted the righteous servants of Allah. In Arab tradition there is the story of Ibrahim whom Nimrud tried to burn to death (see Anbiya: 51 to 70). Another case cited is that of Zu-Nuwas. The true events concerning him and those whom he persecuted have been narrated by Imam Ali as follows:
"Allah sent a prophet to the people of Abyssinia. Zu Nuwas, the king, was a pagan and asked the people to worship him as their god. The prophet prevented the people from worshipping him. The king killed many of the companions of the prophet and arrested him along with a few remaining believers. A huge pit of burning fire was prepared and it was announced that whoso believed in the God whom the prophet worshipped should jump into that pit. A believing woman came with a baby in her arms but stopped at the eleventh hour on account of her love for her child. The child cried (as Allah willed so): "Mother, jump into the fire with me. It is a test to prove our faith in Allah." She jumped and the prophet along with his remaining followers also jumped into the fire. By Allah's command all of them were saved from the fire.
The words are no doubt general but the reference can very appropriately be construed to be the persecution to which the Ahl ul Bayt and their followers were subjected by the rulers who usurped power after the departure of the Holy Prophet.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
The Quran condemns not only the cruel persecutors but also those who witnessed the cruelties and did not take steps to prevent persecution, nor even said a word of disapproval. It was a warning to the pagans of Makka who were persecuting those who accepted Islam as their religion. It also refers to those who persecuted and killed the Imams of the Ahl ul Bayt and their followers.
In Ziyarat Imam Husayn it is said:
"O Allah, curse those who persecuted you, and also those who hear about it and remain agreeable to it, or rejoice."
The persecutors who inflicted cruelty on men for their faith in Allah deserve to be punished in the fire of hell.
85:5النَّارِ ذَاتِ الْوَقُودِ
The fire abounding in fuel,
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 85:5
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:5] (see commentary for verse 4)
85:6إِذْ هُمْ عَلَيْهَا قُعُودٌ
above which they sat
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 85:6
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:6] (see commentary for verse 4)
85:7وَهُمْ عَلَى مَا يَفْعَلُونَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ شُهُودٌ
as they were themselves witnesses to what they did to the faithful.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 85:7
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:7] (see commentary for verse 4)
85:8وَمَا نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا أَن يُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ
They were vindictive towards them only because they had faith in Allah, the All-mighty and the All-laudable,
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 85:8
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:8] (see commentary for verse 4)
85:9الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
to whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is witness to all things.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 85:9
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:9] (see commentary for verse 4)
85:10إِنَّ الَّذِينَ فَتَنُوا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُوبُوا فَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ الْحَرِيقِ
Indeed those who persecute the faithful, men and women, and do not repent thereafter, there is the punishment of hell for them and the punishment of burning.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:10] (see commentary for verse 4)
85:11إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْكَبِيرُ
Indeed those who have faith and do righteous deeds—for them will be gardens with streams running in them. That is the supreme success.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:11]
85:12إِنَّ بَطْشَ رَبِّكَ لَشَدِيدٌ
Indeed your Lord’s striking is severe.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:12]
85:13إِنَّهُ هُوَ يُبْدِئُ وَيُعِيدُ
It is indeed He who originates and brings back,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:13]
85:14وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الْوَدُودُ
and He is the All-forgiving, the All-affectionate,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:14]
85:15ذُو الْعَرْشِ الْمَجِيدُ
Lord of the Throne, the All-glorious,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:15]
85:16فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ
doer of what He desires.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:16]
85:17هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ الْجُنُودِ
Did you receive the story of the hosts
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:17]
Refer to the commentary of Araf: 73 to 79 for the people of Thamud, and Yunus: 75 to 92 for the hosts of Firawn.
85:18فِرْعَوْنَ وَثَمُودَ
of Pharaoh and Thamud?
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:18] (see commentary for verse 17)
85:19بَلِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فِي تَكْذِيبٍ
Indeed the faithless dwell in denial,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:19]
In spite of the examples of the past, the disbelievers persist (in all ages) in refusing to believe in Allah and His religion.
85:20وَاللَّهُ مِن وَرَائِهِم مُّحِيطٌ
and Allah besieges them from all around.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:20] (see commentary for verse 19)
85:21بَلْ هُوَ قُرْآنٌ مَّجِيدٌ
Indeed it is a glorious Quran,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:21]
Refer to the commentary of Baqarah: 2; All Imran: 7; Hidr: 9 and Waqi-ah: 77 to 79.
85:22فِي لَوْحٍ مَّحْفُوظٍ
in a preserved tablet.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 85:22] (see commentary for verse 21)
