The subject matter itself indicates that this Surah was sent down at Makkah in the period when persecution of the Muslims was at its climax and the disbelievers of Makkah were trying their utmost by tyranny and coercion to turn away the new converts from Islam.

Theme and Subject Matter

Its theme is to warn the disbelievers of the evil consequences of the persecution and tyranny that they were perpetrating on the converts to Islam, and to console the believers, so as to say: "If you remain firm and steadfast against tyranny and coercion, you will be rewarded richly for it, and Allah will certainly avenge Himself on your persecutors on your behalf."

In this connection, first of all the story of the people of the ditch (ashab al-ukhdud) had been related, who had burnt the believers to death by casting them into pits full of fire. By means of this story the believers and the disbelievers have been taught a few lessons. First, that just as the people of the ditch became worthy of Allah's curse and punishment, so are the chiefs of Makkah also becoming worthy of it. Second, that just as the believers at that time had willingly accepted to sacrifice their lives by being burnt to death in the pits of fire instead of turning away from the faith, so also the believers now should endure every persecution but should never give up the faith. Third, that Gods acknowledging Whom displeases the disbelievers and is urged on by the believers, is Dominant and Master of the Kingdom of the earth and heavens; He is self-praiseworthy and is watching what the two groups are striving for. Therefore, it is certain that the disbelievers will not only be punished in Hell for their disbelief but, more than that, they too will suffer punishment by fire as a fit recompense for their tyranny and cruelties. Likewise, this also is certain that those, who believe and follow up their belief with good deeds, should go to Paradise and this indeed is the supreme success. Then the disbelievers have been warned, so as to say: "God's grip is very severe. If you are proud of the strength of your hosts, you should know that the hosts of Pharaoh and Thamud were even stronger and more numerous. Therefore, you should learn a lesson from the fate they met. God's power has so encompassed you that you cannot escape His encirclement, and the Qur'an that you are bent upon belying, is unchangeable: it is inscribed in the Preserved Tablet, which cannot be corrupted in any way."

Maududi: English

Al-Buruj

Juz 30

سورة البروج

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الْبُرُوجِ ‎﴿١﴾‏ وَالْيَوْمِ الْمَوْعُودِ ‎﴿٢﴾‏ وَشَاهِدٍ وَمَشْهُودٍ ‎﴿٣﴾‏ قُتِلَ أَصْحَابُ الْأُخْدُودِ ‎﴿٤﴾‏ النَّارِ ذَاتِ الْوَقُودِ ‎﴿٥﴾‏ إِذْ هُمْ عَلَيْهَا قُعُودٌ ‎﴿٦﴾‏ وَهُمْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَفْعَلُونَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ شُهُودٌ ‎﴿٧﴾‏ وَمَا نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا أَن يُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ ‎﴿٨﴾‏ الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ ‎﴿٩﴾‏ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ فَتَنُوا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُوبُوا فَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ الْحَرِيقِ ‎﴿١٠﴾‏ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْكَبِيرُ ‎﴿١١﴾‏ إِنَّ بَطْشَ رَبِّكَ لَشَدِيدٌ ‎﴿١٢﴾‏ إِنَّهُ هُوَ يُبْدِئُ وَيُعِيدُ ‎﴿١٣﴾‏ وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الْوَدُودُ ‎﴿١٤﴾‏ ذُو الْعَرْشِ الْمَجِيدُ ‎﴿١٥﴾‏ فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ ‎﴿١٦﴾‏ هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ الْجُنُودِ ‎﴿١٧﴾‏ فِرْعَوْنَ وَثَمُودَ ‎﴿١٨﴾‏ بَلِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فِي تَكْذِيبٍ ‎﴿١٩﴾‏ وَاللَّهُ مِن وَرَائِهِم مُّحِيطٌ ‎﴿٢٠﴾‏ بَلْ هُوَ قُرْآنٌ مَّجِيدٌ ‎﴿٢١﴾‏ فِي لَوْحٍ مَّحْفُوظٍ ‎﴿٢٢﴾‏‏

By the heaven with its impregnable castles; (1) by the Promised Day, (2) and by the witness and what is witnessed: (3) the people of the pit were destroyed (4) with fire abounding in fuel, (5) while they sat around it, (6) and were witnessing what they did to the believers. (7) Against these they had no grudge except that they believed in Allah, the Most Mighty, the Most Praiseworthy, (8) to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Allah witnesses everything. (9) Surely those who tormented the believing men and the believing women and then did not repent, theirs shall be the chastisement of Hell, and theirs shall be the chastisement of burning. (10) As for those who believed and acted righteously, theirs shall be Gardens beneath which rivers flow. That is the great triumph. (11) Stern indeed is your Lord's punishment. (12) He it is Who creates for the first time and He it is Who will create again, (13) and He is the Ever Forgiving, the Most Loving (14) – the Lord of the Glorious Throne, (15) the Executor of what He wills. (16) Has the story of the armies reached you, (17) the armies of Pharaoh and Thamud? (18) The unbelievers are indeed engaged in denying it, calling it a lie, (19) although Allah surrounds them. (20) Nay; but this is a glorious Qur'an, (21) inscribed on a well-guarded Tablet. (22)

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