سورة الحِجر
Surah Al-Hijr 15:18
The Rock · Verse 18 of 99
إِلَّا مَنِ اسْتَرَقَ السَّمْعَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ شِهَابٌ مُبِينٌ
Abdul Mannan Omar
As to one who wishes to steal a hearing (of the revelation to distort it) a bright fiery flame pursues him.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
But any that gains a hearing by stealth, is pursued by a flaming fire, bright (to see).
Ahmed Ali
Except the ones who listen on the sly, yet they are chased away by a shooting flame.
12 more translations
Ali Unal
Excepting one who listens by stealth, and is pursued (and destroyed) by a shooting-star clear to see.
Daryabadi
Save him who stealeth the hearing, and him there followeth a flame gleaming.
Faridul Haque
Except one who comes to eavesdrop - therefore a bright flame goes after him.
Maulana Muhammad Ali
But he who steals a hearing; so there follows him a visible flame.
Maulvi Sher Ali
But if anyone hears stealthily something of revelation and distorts it, there pursues him a bright flame.
Muhammad Asad
so that anyone who seeks to learn [the unknowable] by stealth is pursued by a flame clear to see.
Muhammad Musin Khan
Except him (devil) that gains hearing by stealing, he is pursued by a clear flaming fire.
Muhammad Pickthall
Save him who stealeth the hearing, and them doth a clear flame pursue.
Muhammad Sarwar
except for those who stealthily try to listen to the heavens, but who are chased away by a bright flame.
Muhammed ali Shakir
But he who steals a hearing, so there follows him a visible flame.
Rashad Khalifa
If any of them sneaks around to listen, a mighty projectile will chase him back.
Shabbir Ahmed
The Shining Flame of knowledge has now come to you to dispel the deceptive claims of every deceiver.
Commentary 15:16-18 Barûj بَروج is the plural of buraj بُرَج, denoting motions of spheres, constellations or towers. It is derived from barija بَرِج, which means to have…
On 15:16–18
وَلَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا فِي السَّمَاءِ بُرُوجًا وَزَيَّنَّاهَا لِلنَّاظِرِينَ﴿١٦﴾ وَحَفِظْنَاهَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ رَّجِيمٍ﴿١٧﴾ إِلَّا مَنِ اسْتَرَقَ السَّمْعَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ شِهَابٌ مُّبِينٌ
15:16-18 Barûj بَروج is the plural of buraj بُرَج, denoting motions of spheres, constellations or towers. It is derived from barija بَرِج, which means to have a good face, beauty, and finery.
Shaitân شَيْطَانٍ is the rebellious and rejected one. Shatana شطَىنَ means “he was or became remote from all that is good and true”. It also signifies one who is excessively proud, rebellious or audacious, whether a simple human being, a jinn, or a beast (Tâj, Râghib, Ibn Jarîr, Kashshaf, Baidzawî cf.: 2:36). The verse contains further information pertaining to certain laws of physics. It informs us that in heaven, which is adorned with stars (cf. 67:5), there are towers and protective constellations, and those shooting stars (meaning meteorites that enter the earths atmosphere), guard these. Most meteorites disintegrate because of the heat that is generated; see also the verses 37:10-11, 67:5 and 72:10-11, which deal with the same topic. There are additional verses in the Holy Qur’ân (for example 77:1-9 and 79:1-8) that convey similar information when their more profound meanings are taken into consideration. These verses also undermine the claims of fortunetellers, psychics, and astrologers. These people pretend to receive communication from “above” but in reality fabricate their prophecies and have no access to the true source of purity and holiness. The description of spiritual truth in words relating to physical laws is a common occurrence in the Holy Qur’ân (cf. 37:8; 67:5; 72:8).