SURAH (15) AL-HIJL (AYA 1 to 20)

Sura (15) AL-HIJL (The Rock) Aya 1 to 99 verses in 6 Sections

Revealed at Makka

INTRODUCTION:

The chapter is named after dwellers of the Rock who have been mentioned with reference to what befell them owing to their disbelief and disobedience as a warning to any similar character and conduct.

The term of every people is predetermined--- Zikr i.e., the Reminder, i.e., the Holy Qur’an a revealed Book from ALLAH---The Holy Prophet being called mad by the disbelievers?  Angels are sent not as and when fancy of the people demands but to execute the final decision of the Lord when there is no respite to be given. ALLAH Himself undertakes to guard the Holy Qur’an. The previous prophets also ridiculed. The movement of every heavenly body is strictly regulated and controlled. Heavenly regions closed to satanic forces---The origin of man and the origin of the Devil Iblees---Respite granted to Satan’s challenge to revengefully beguile the seed of Adam save the purified ones. Satan having no authority or holding upon the purified ones, the Ahlul Bait. The seven stages of Hell. Forgiveness and Mercy of ALLAH ready for men seeking it. Abraham being foretold of having a male issue in his advance age. The punishment inflicted upon the peoples of Lot, of the Forest and of the Rock. The certainty of the coming of the Day of Judgment. The Surah of Seven Verses---its position as the essence of the great Qur’an. Kindness to the faithful---Man to be prayerful till death, i.e., throughout his life.

SECTION 1

Qur’an ever protected by ALLAH

People left to enjy this world are only respited---ALLAH Himself promises the protection of the Qur’an (against the corruption or getting extinct as it happen in the case of the previous scriptures).

الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ وَقُرْآنٍ مُبِينٍ {15:1}

[Q15:1] Alif-Laaam-Raa; tilka Aayaatul Kitaabi wa Qur-aa-nim Mubeen. 
[Q15:1] Alif Lam Ra. These are the verses of the Book and (of) a Qur’an that makes (things) clear.

[Q15:1] Alif, Laam, Raa'. Ini ialah ayat-ayat Kitab (yang lengkap sempurna) dan Al-Quran yang memberi penjelasan. 

For Alif, Lam, Ra (huruf muqatti-at) see commentary of al Baqarah 2:I & 2:2 for "the Qur’an which makes things clear."

THE QUR’AN RIGHTLY ASSERTS THAT IT CONTAINS IN ITSELF THE LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM WHICH CAN ENLIGHTEN THE SEEKER OF KNOWLEDGE not only [1] About every aspect of all creation that has been created BUT ALSO [2] About the absolute unity, [3] Omnipotent authority and glorious divinity of the Creator -Lord of the worlds -provided he turns to the "Ahlul Bayt" for guidance as he has been directed by the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) through hadith al thaqalayn; and by the Qur’an itself in Ali Imran 3:7; Nisa 4:162; Nahl 16:43; Anbiya 21:7; Ankabut 29:49; Fatir 35:32; and YaSin 36:12.

ACCORDING TO HADITH AL THAQALAYN THOSE WHO REFER TO THE QUR’AN FOR GUIDANCE BY BYPASSING THE AHLUL BAYT SHALL SURELY GO ASTRAY.

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(15:1) Alif Lam Ra. These are the verses of the Divine Book and the lucid Quran. *1

*1 This verse is the brief introduction to the Surah, and immediately after this begins its theme. "These are the verses of the lucid Qur'an": These are the verses of that Qur'an which makes its meaning lucid and understandable. 

رُبَمَا يَوَدُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْ كَانُوا مُسْلِمِينَ {15:2}

[Q15:2] Rubamaa yawaddul lazeena kafaroo law kaanoo muslimeen. 
[Q15:2] Often will those who disbelieve wish that they had been Muslims.

[Q15:2] Ada masanya orang-orang yang kafir merasa ingin kalaulah mereka telah menjadi orang-orang Islam. 

Every time when a fresh torment afflicts the disbelievers in the hereafter, they will wish that they had been Muslims.

ALLAH (SWT) asks the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) to leave the disbelievers alone to satisfy their lust for worldly enjoyments without grieving much over their condition (as "the mercy unto the worlds" the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) was often worried about the well-being of the people in this world as well as in the hereafter).

Although the respite appears pleasant and intoxicating but a dreadful severe chastisement is awaiting them. They were sunk deep in infidelity and wickedness. They would never see the light of true guidance.

v  Imam Ali said:

"It breaks my heart when I see your lust for riches and your unbridled covetousness to enjoy the pleasures of this world."

v  The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) said:

"When perfection is attained by a man he remembers death and all his desires recede to the background; and when misfortune afflicts him all his desires come to the front and (the thought of) death disappears from his mind."

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(15:2) The time is not far when the same people who have today refused to accept (the Message of Islam) will regret and say, "we wish we had surrendered to it!"

ذَرْهُمْ يَأْكُلُوا وَيَتَمَتَّعُوا وَيُلْهِهِمُ الْأَمَلُ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ {15:3}

[Q15:3] Zarhum yaakuloo wa tatamatta'oo wa yulhihimul amalu fasawfa ya'lamoon. 
[Q15:3] Leave them that they may eat and enjoy themselves and (that) hope may beguile them, for they will soon know.

[Q15:3] Biarkanlah mereka makan dan bersenang-lenang dengan kemewahan dunia dan dilalaikan oleh angan-angan (daripada bertaubat dan insaf); kemudian mereka akan mengetahui kelak (bencana perbuatan mereka). 

(see commentary for verse 2)

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(15:3) Leave them alone to eat, drink and be merry and to be deluded by false hopes. They will soon realize it.

وَمَا أَهْلَكْنَا مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا وَلَهَا كِتَابٌ مَعْلُومٌ {15:4}

[Q15:4] Wa maaa ahlaknaa min qaryatin illaa wa lahaa kitaabum ma'loom. 
[Q15:4] And never did We destroy a town but it had a term made known.

[Q15:4] Dan tiadalah Kami binasakan (penduduk) sesebuah negeri melainkan ada baginya tempoh yang tertentu dan termaklum. 

FOR **EVERY PEOPLE, AS FOR **EVERY INDIVIDUAL, THERE IS A DEFINITE PERIOD OF LIFE OR EXISTENCE. They have a free choice to mould their will according to ALLAH (SWT)'s will in order to identify themselves with His universal law. During that period they are given plenty of rope BUT AFTER the respite is past there will be no escape. No one can hasten or delay the doom.

THE DESTRUCTION OF A PEOPLE IS NOT AN ARBITRARY PUNISHMENT FROM ALLAH (SWT). THEY BRING IT ON THEMSELVES BY THEIR OWN CHOICE. THE LAW OR DECREE OF ALLAH (SWT) IS ALWAYS MADE KNOWN TO THEM BEFORE HAND, AND IN MANY WAYS.

See commentary of Ali Imran 3:145; Araf 7:34 and Yunus 10:49.

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(15:4) We had prescribed a respite for every habitation that we destroyed before this. *2

*2 This is to refute the fallacious argument of the disblievers that Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him) was not a true Prophet because they had received no prompt punishment for their disbelief. It is like this: "We have never seized a community at the first commital of kufr.
We prescribe a limit for every community to hear and understand the message and reform its ways. Then We tolerate its mischief and evil deeds up to that limit and allow it full freedom to do as it likes, and give it respite till the term expires. That is why We are tolerating their attitude of ridicule and denial. (For the full meaning of respite, please refer to E.N. 18 of Surah Ibrehim). 

مَا تَسْبِقُ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلَهَا وَمَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ {15:5}

[Q15:5] Maa tasbiqu min ummatin ajalahaa wa maa yastaakhiroon. 
[Q15:5] No people can hasten on their doom nor can they postpone (it).

[Q15:5] Sesuatu umat itu tidak dapat mendahului tempohnya yang telah ditentukan dan mereka juga tidak dapat mengundurkannya.  

(see commentary for verse 4)

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(15:5) No community is destroyed before the expiry of its respite nor it is allowed to survive it.

وَقَالُوا يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِي نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ الذِّكْرُ إِنَّكَ لَمَجْنُونٌ {15:6}

[Q15:6] Wa qaaloo yaaa aiyuhal lazee nuzzila 'alaihiz Zikru innaka lamajnoon. 
[Q15:6] And they say: O you to whom the Reminder has been revealed! You are most surely insane:

[Q15:6] Dan mereka yang ingkar berkata (kepada Nabi Muhammad): Wahai orang yang kepadanya diturunkan Al-Quran, sesungguhnya engkau adalah orang gila.

As the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) spoke of higher, purer and nobler things than the obstinate pagans would agree to appreciate, adopt and act upon, so there was nothing they could do except making false accusations.

Ä  See commentary of An-am 4:8 and 9 for bringing angles or showing miracles.

The disbelievers believe neither # in ALLAH (SWT) nor # in angels nor # in revelation nor in anything good save material things.

ANGELS ARE NOT SENT DOWN TO SATISFY THE WHIM OR CURIOSITY OF THE DISBELIEVERS. They are sent to bring ALLAH (SWT)'s commands to His messengers and to execute His decrees, and when they are commanded to inflict just punishment, then the respite given to the ungodly is over.

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(15:6) They say, "You, upon whom the Divine word *3 has been sent down, are surely insane.

*3 The word (Zikr) literally means "to cause to remember, "to caution" and "to give advice". But the Qur'an has used it as a technical term for "Admonition", which comes as a precept. Thus all the Books that had been sent down to the Messengers were Zikr, and the Qur'an is also Zikr. 

لَوْ مَا تَأْتِينَا بِالْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ {15:7}

[Q15:7] Law maa taateenaa bil malaaa'ikati in kunta minas saadiqeen. 
[Q15:7] Why do you not bring to us the angels if you are of the truthful ones?

[Q15:7] Sepatutnya engkau membawakan malaikat kepada kami (untuk menjadi saksi tentang kerasulanmu), jika betul engkau dari orang-orang yang benar!  

(see commentary for verse 6)

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(15:7) Why do you not bring angels before us, if what you say be true?"

مَا نُنَزِّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةَ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَمَا كَانُوا إِذًا مُنْظَرِينَ {15:8}

[Q15:8] Maa nunazzilul malaaa'ikata illaa bilhaqqi wa maa kaanooo izam munzareen. 
[Q15:8] We do not send the angels but with truth, and then they would not be respited.

[Q15:8] Tiadalah Kami menurunkan malaikat melainkan dengan cara yang sungguh layak dan berhikmat dan pada ketika itu mereka (yang ingkar) tidak akan diberi tempoh lagi.  

(see commentary for verse 6)

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(15:8) We do not send down angels in this way. When they come down, *4 they come down with truth, and then the people are not given respite. *5

*4 This was a sarcastic remark that was made by the opponents, for they did not acknowledge that the "Admonition" had been sent down to the Holy Prophet: otherwise they could not say that he was "insane". What they really meant by this remark was: "You, who claim that the "Admonition" has been sent down to you, are insane". A similar remark was also made by Pharaoh concerning Prophet Moses. Addressing his courtiers, he said, "The Messenger who has been sent to you is insane". (XXVI: 27)
*5 "We do not send down the angels in this way": We do not send down the angels for the mere fun of it in response to the request of the people: nor are they sent to unveil the Reality before them in order to show to them all the "unseen" things to which the Messengers invite them to believe. As a matter of fact, angels are sent down on that occasion when it is decreed to pass judgment on sane wicked people. At that time the judgment comes into operation without extending any invitation to the condemned people to accept the Message, for their period of respite ends as soon as the "Reality" is unveiled before them.
"......they come down with truth": "......they bring down truth with them". That is they come down to eradicate falsehood and to establish truth in its stead. Or, in other words, it means.....they come down to put into force the judgment of Allah".

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ {15:9}

[Q15:9] Innaa Nahnu nazalnaz Zikra wa Innaa lahoo lahaa fizoun.
[Q15:9] Surely We have revealed the Reminder and We will most surely be its guardian.

[Q15:9] Sesungguhnya Kamilah yang menurunkan Al-Quran dan Kamilah yang memelihara dan menjaganya. 

ALLAH (SWT) HAS TAKEN THE WORK OF GUARDING THE QUR’AN. ALLAH (SWT)'S PURE AND HOLY TRUTH WILL NEVER SUFFER TAHRIF (ALTERATION).

The heavenly scriptures revealed prior to the Qur’an had been profusely tampered with. Some were restyled and disguised and some were consigned to oblivion. See "The Tawrat" and "The Injil".

THEREFORE, the Almighty ALLAH (SWT) decisively willed to keep His final book of wisdom free from permutation. FOR THIS PURPOSE HE SELECTED THE AHLUL BAYT. THE QUR’AN AND THE AHLUL BAYT ARE THE TWO EQUAL AND CORRELATIVE CHOICES OF ALLAH (SWT). TOGETHER THEY CONSTITUTE GUIDANCE, WISDOM AND MERCY FROM THE LORD OF THE WORLDS UNTO MANKIND.

See hadith al thaqalayn and commentary of al Baqarah 2:2.

This verse gives answer to the accusation the disbelievers have made in verse 6 of this surah. When the Qur’an is kept safe in its original purity the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) is also protected from all types of ungodly influences.

THE AHLUL BAYT ARE NOT ONLY [a] THE CUSTODIANS OF THE BOOK OF ALLAH (SWT) BUT ALSO [b] THEY KEEP THE TRUE CHARACTER OF THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) SAFE FROM DISTORTION BY THE FALSE TRADITIONS FABRICATED by some of his companions in order to bring him on the level of their heroes.

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(15:9) As regards this Admonition, it is We Who have sent it down, and We Ourself will preserve it. *6

*6 That is, "You should note it well that it is We Who have sent this `Word'. Thus it is not Our Messenger whom you are calling `insane' but in fact this abusive remark applies to Us. Moreover, you should know that it is Our 'Word' and We are preserving it; therefore, you can do no harm to it; nor can you discredit it by your ridicules, taunts and objections: nor can you hamper its progress, whatever you may do against it: nor will anyone be ever able to change or tamper with it. " 

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فِي شِيَعِ الْأَوَّلِينَ {15:10}

[Q15:10] Wa laqad arsalnaa min qablika fee shiya'il awwaleen; 

[Q15:10] And certainly We sent (messengers) before you among the nations of yore.
[Q15:10] Dan demi sesungguhnya! Kami telah utuskan Rasul-rasul sebelummu (wahai Muhammad), dalam kalangan kaum-kaum yang telah lalu.

Shiya' is the plural of shi-ah, derived from mushaya-at which means to follow. SHI-AHS OF ALI MEANS THOSE WHO FOLLOW ALI AS THEIR GUIDE APPOINTED BY THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) UNDER THE COMMAND OF ALLAH (SWT). See commentary of Ma-idah 5:67. In this verse shiya-il awwalin means the ancient nations.

ß  The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) said:

"O Ali, you and your followers will be in paradise." (Sawa-iq al Muhriqah).

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(15:10) (O Muhammad!) already We have sent Messengers before you among many of the ancient peoples.

وَمَا يَأْتِيهِمْ مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ {15:11}

[Q15:11] Wa maa yaateehim mir Rasoolin illaa kaanoo bihee yastahzi'oon. 
[Q15:11] And there never came a messenger to them but they mocked him.

[Q15:11] Dan tiadalah seseorang Rasul pun yang datang kepada mereka, melainkan mereka mempersenda dan mengejek-ejeknya.  

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(15:11) But they mocked at each of the Messengers who came to them.

كَذَٰلِكَ نَسْلُكُهُ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ {15:12}

[Q15:12] kazaalika naslukuhoo fee quloobil mujrimeen – 

[Q15:12] Thus do We make it to enter into the hearts of the guilty;
[Q15:12] (Sebagaimana hati kaum-kaum yang telah lalu dimasuki perasaan mempersendakan Rasul-rasul) demikianlah pula Kami masukkan perasaan yang seperti itu ke dalam hati orang-orang yang berdosa (yang menentangmu). 

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(15:12) Though We cause it (Admonition) to enter into their hearts (like a rod),

لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ ۖ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ سُنَّةُ الْأَوَّلِينَ {15:13}

[Q15:13] Laa yu'minoona bihee wa qad khalat sunnatul awwaleen. 
[Q15:13] They do not believe in it, and indeed the example of the former people has already passed.

[Q15:13] Mereka tidak percaya kepada Al-Quran yang engkau bawa, padahal telahpun berlaku undang-undang membinasakan orang-orang yang telah lalu (yang mendustakan Rasul-rasulnya). 

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(15:13) they would not believe in it. *7 And the same has been the way of such people since ancient times.

*7 The majority of the translators and commentators are of the opinion that the pronoun `it' in ".... cause it" in v. 12, refers to their "mockery", occurring in v. 11, and in .... would not believe in it" in v. 13, refers to the "Admonition" occurring in v. 9. Then vv. 12-13 will be rendered like this: "Thus we cause mockery enter into the hearts of the criminals and they do not believe in the Admonition .... " Though grammatically there is nothing wrong with this version, yet our version of "it" will be better even grammatically. According to this v. 12 will mean, "When the Admonition enters into the hearts of the believers it gives them peace of mind and comfort of heart. But when the same enters into the hearts of the criminals it becomes a hot rod, and burns their minds and hearts". 

وَلَوْ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ بَابًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَظَلُّوا فِيهِ يَعْرُجُونَ {15:14}

[Q15:14] Wa law fatahnaa 'alaihim baabam minas samaaa'i fazaloo feehi ya'rujoon, 
[Q15:14] And even if We open to them a gateway of heaven, so that they ascend into it all the while,

[Q15:14] Dan kalau Kami bukakan kepada mereka mana-mana pintu langit, kemudian mereka dapat naik melalui pintu itu (pada siang hari yang membolehkan mereka menyaksikan segala kenyataan yang ada di sana); 

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(15:14) Even if We had opened a gate for them in heaven, and they had begun to ascend through it higher during day time, 

لَقَالُوا إِنَّمَا سُكِّرَتْ أَبْصَارُنَا بَلْ نَحْنُ قَوْمٌ مَسْحُورُونَ {15:15}

[Q15:15] Laqaaloo innamaa sukkirat absaarunaa bal nahnu qawmum mashooroon. 

[Q15:15] They would certainly say: Only our eyes have been covered over, rather we are an enchanted people.
[Q15:15] Tentulah mereka akan (mengingkari kenyataan yang benar itu dengan) berkata: Hanya mata kami telah disilapkan penglihatannya bahkan kami adalah kaum yang telah disihirkan (oleh Muhammad).  

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(15:15) they would have said. "Our eyes have been dazzled; nay, we have been bewitched."

SECTION 2

Everything in the Universe takes place by ALLAH’s command

The strongholds in Heaven guarded against every accursed devil---Everthing is orginated and sustained by ALLAH alone---All shall be collected to account for on the Day of Judgment.

وَلَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا فِي السَّمَاءِ بُرُوجًا وَزَيَّنَّاهَا لِلنَّاظِرِينَ {15:16}

[Q15:16] Wa laqad ja'alnaa fissamaaa'i buroojanw wa zaiyannaahaa linnaazireen. 
[Q15:16] And certainly We have made strongholds in the heaven and We have made it fair seeming to the beholders.

[Q15:16] Dan demi sesungguhnya! Kami telah menjadikan di langit: Bintang-bintang (yang berbagai bentuk dan keadaan) serta Kami hiasi langit itu bagi orang-orang yang melihatnya. 

IN THE COUNTLESS STARS IN THE UNIVERSE THERE IS A MARVELLOUS ORDER, BEAUTY AND HARMONY, ON A SCALE WHICH MAN IS APPRECIATING MORE AND MORE AS HIS KNOWLEDGE IS INCREASING. The first distinct belt is the Zodiac, which marks the position of the sun with reference to the movement of various constellation of stars of the solar system. Its twelve divisions are called the signs of the Zodiac. Through them we can mark off the seasons in our solar year, and express in definite laws the most important facts in meteorology, agriculture, seasonal winds, and tides. All these are vitally important and affect our physical life on the earth. THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON WE DRAW FROM THEM IS THAT THE AUTHOR OF THE WONDERFUL ORDER AND BEAUTY IS ONE, AND HE ALONE IS ENTITLED TO OUR WORSHIP.

The Zodiac belt is the lowest heaven. The heavens above it are more spiritual than physical. Celestial factors effect the terrestrial events. Some of the determinative occurrences of the celestial realm manifest themselves before they produce an effect upon the terrestrial world. Those who delve in occult sciences rely upon these manifestations to foretell the future. Such attempts are not reliable because the radiating celestial bodies (shihabun mubin or shahab thaqib) prevent them from reading the actual consequences. The shooting star or flaming fire, most probably, is the continuous radiation from the celestial bodies which pierces into the terrestrial hemisphere. It may mean that the conjunctions of radiations from different celestial sources neutralise the effect of each other and it becomes immeasurable and incomprehensible to those who try to foretell the future.

SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING, order, beauty, harmony, light and truth are repugnant to evil. THEREFORE the bliss of the heavens are denied to the forces of evil. IT IS RESERVED ONLY FOR THE VIRTUOUS. The crooked nature of evil try to gain access by fraud or stealth but a flaming fire stops them from even hearing the sound of harmony ringing in the land of eternal bliss.

ß  Qummi in his commentary says that when the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) was born a mass of shooting stars was seen in the sky.

°          A Jew named Joseph came to Makka and asked the Quraysh if a male child was born in their tribe. They did not know, BUT when he told them that it was written in Pentateuch that when the last prophet of ALLAH (SWT) would be born the devilish forces will be driven away from the heaven by the shooting stars and their access to the higher regions would be blocked for ever, they made inquiries and found out that in the night before a son was born to Abdullah bin Abd al Muttalib.

°          In the same night the palace of Kisra in Persia was cracked and the fire burning in the temple for a thousand years was extinguished.

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(15:16) It is We Who have divided the heavens into many fortified spheres *8 for the sake of administration and adorned and decked them out fair to the beholders, *9

*8 In the preceding verses (14-15) it was stated that the disbelievers had become so hardened against the Qur'an that they would not have believed in it even if they had ascended the Heaven and seen with their own eyes the Signs mentioned in it. Now in vv.16-22, some of the Signs are being cited in order to convince there of its trurth.
"Fortified spheres" (buruj) are Signs of AIlah for it is not possible to pass through one sphere of the Heaven into another, as each sphere of the space has been fortified by invisible boundaries. In this connection, it may be noted that literally the Arabic word burj means "a fortified place" but as a technical term of ancient astronomy this stood for each of the twelve Signs of the Zodiac, which marked the sun's path through the heavens. This has led some of the commentators to form the opinion that in this verse the word buruj refers to the same. But there are some others who think that it means "planets". However, if we consider this word in the context of v. 19, we are led to the conclusion that probably it stands for "spheres".
*9 "We have adorned and decked the "fortified spheres": "We have placed a shining star or planet in each of these spheres and made them look beautiful". In other words, it means; "We have not made the boundless universe dismal, desolate and frightful, but so beautiful that one finds marvellous order and harmony in it everywhere, and sights therein are so attractive that each one of these charms hearts and minds. This wonderful structure of the universe is a clear proof of the fact that its Creator is not only Great and All-Wise but is also a perfect Artist". The Qur'an has also stated this aspect of the Creator in XXXII: 7: "(AIIah is) that God Who has created in perfect beauty everything He has created". 

وَحَفِظْنَاهَا مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ رَجِيمٍ {15:17}

[Q15:17] Wa hafiznaahaa min kulli Shaitaanir rajeem. 
[Q15:17] And We guard it against every accursed Shaitan,

[Q15:17] Dan Kami pelihara (urusan) langit itu dari (masuk campur) tiap-tiap Syaitan yang kena rejam.  

(see commentary for verse 16)

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(15:17) and guarded them from every accursed Satan. *10 No Satan can pass through them

*10 That is, "These spheres are so fortified that they are beyond the reach of every Satan, for all Satans including those of jinns, have been confined to that sphere in which the Earth has been placed and they enjoy no more access to visit other spheres than the other dwellers of this sphere. This has been mentioned in order to remove a common misunderstanding. The common people believed, .and still believe, that Satan and his descendants have a free access to every place in the universe. On the contrary, the Qur'an says that Satans cannot go beyond a certain limit and they have no unlimited power of ascension. 

إِلَّا مَنِ اسْتَرَقَ السَّمْعَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ شِهَابٌ مُبِينٌ {15:18}

[Q15:18] Illaa manis taraqas sam'a fa atba'ahoo shihaabum mubeen. 
[Q15:18] But he who steals a hearing, so there follows him a visible flame.

[Q15:18] Kecuali Syaitan yang curi mendengar percakapan (malaikat di langit), maka ia diburu dan diikuti (dengan rejaman) api yang menyala, yang nyata kelihatan.  

(see commentary for verse 16)

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(15:18) except that an eaves-dropper might hear something *11, but a fiery flame pursues that eaves-dropper. *12

*11 This is the answer to the false claim of the soothsayers, diviners, hermits, conjurers and the like who pretended to receive communications from the Heaven. The Qur'an says that in fact they do not possess any means of obtaining information about unseen things. Satans, however, try to eaves-drop because they are by nature more like angels than human beings, but in reality, they succeed in obtaining very little information about it. 
*12 In Arabic the word shihab-i-mubin literally means "fiery flame". In XXXVII: 10, the same thing has been called shihab-i-thaqib ("flame that pierces through darkness"). 'This may or may not necessarily be a "meteor" for it is just possible that it may be some type of rays such as "Cosmic Rays" or even a stronger type which we have not been able to discover as yet. Anyhow if the "fiery flame" that pursues Satans may be taken to be a meteor, a countless number of these can form a fortification around our sphere of the universe. Scientific observations made with the help of the telescope have shown that billions of these meteors are rushing from space in mass of "rainfall" towards the earth's atmosphere. Such a scene was witnessed in an eastern pan of North America on November 13, 1833. This is so strong a fortification that it can prevent Satans from passing through any fortified sphere.
With the help of the above, one can form a mental picture of the "fortified spheres". Though there is no visible "wall" to keep distinct and separate one sphere from the others, Allah has securely guarded each of these spheres by invisible "walls" against each other. That is why our "planet" has remained safe in spite of the occasional "rainfall" of countless meteors. For as soon as they cross the protective wall of our sphere, they are burnt to ashes. But sometimes a meteorite reaches the earth from outer space as if to warn the dwellers of this planet of the existence of the "power" of the Creator. For instance, the biggest of these weighs 645 pounds and it is obvious from this that if the earth had not been made safe and secure by means of "fortified spheres" the rain of the shooting stars would have utterly annihilated it long long ago. It is these "fortified spheres" which the Qur'an calls "buruj". 

وَالْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَاهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَأَنْبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مَوْزُونٍ {15:19}

[Q15:19] Wal arda madadnaahaa wa alqainaa feehaa rawaasiya wa ambatnaa feehaa min kulli shai'im mawzoon. 
[Q15:19] And the earth-- We have spread it forth and made in it firm mountains and caused to grow in it of every suitable thing.

[Q15:19] Dan bumi ini Kami bentangkan dan Kami letakkan padanya gunung-ganang yang kukuh terdiri, serta Kami tumbuhkan padanya tiap-tiap sesuatu yang tertentu timbangannya. 

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(15:19) We stretched forth the Earth, and set mountains firmly upon it, and caused to grow therein every kind of vegetable in balanced measure. *13

*13 The growth of every kind of plant in a limited extent is another Sign of the wisdom and power of Allah. For the generative power of every vegetable plant is so great that if free growth had been allowed to even one kind of plant, it would have covered the whole surface of the Earth. But it is by the design of the All-Wise and All-Powerful Creator that every kind of vegetable is produced in a balanced measure. There is another aspect of the vegetable life. Each and every kind of it is allowed to grow only to a fixed size, height, and thickness, which is a proof of the fact that the Creator himself prescribed the structure, the shape, the size, the height, the leaves and branches, and the number of each and every plant, and no plant is allowed to go beyond any of these fixed limits. 

وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَايِشَ وَمَنْ لَسْتُمْ لَهُ بِرَازِقِينَ {15:20}

[Q15:20] Wa ja'alnaa lakum feehaa ma'aayisha wa mal lastum lahoo biraaziqeen. 

[Q15:20] And We have made in it means of subsistence for you and for him for whom you are not the suppliers.
[Q15:20] Dan Kami jadikan untuk kamu pada bumi ini segala keperluan hidup, juga Kami jadikan makhluk-makhluk yang kamu bukanlah orang yang sebenar menyediakan rezekinya. 

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(15:20) And We provided therein means of sustenance for you and for many other creatures for whom you do not provide.