Surah Al-Mulk 67:5

وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيحَ وَجَعَلْنَاهَا رُجُومًا لِّلشَّيَاطِينِ ۖ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابَ السَّعِيرِ

67:5 The three words Rajûmرُجُومًا, Shayâtîn شَّيَاطِينِand Sa‘îrالسَّعِيرِ need explanation. The translation of this verse becomes confused if the in-depth meanings of these words are ignored. Rajamرجَمَ means throwing stones at random. It also means conjectures, as conjectures are like throwing of stones at random. The word is derived from rajama ÁUi meaning to stone (Lisân, Tâj, Lane). Shaitân is something that harms people, something that creates trouble. The word should not be translated as devil (see also 2:36). Shayâtîn, its plural form, means things that are harmful to the people (Qâmûs, Jauharî, Lane, Tâj, Lisân). Here in the verse the plural form has been used, so it should not be confused with the word satan. Sa‘îr means flaming fire, kindled fire, blaze, flame. Sa‘îr is derived from s‘araسَعَرَ - to kindle fire; create trouble (Lisân, Tâj, Lane). The verse gives us a clue into some cosmic laws. We learn that in our cosmic world, which is adorned with stars, and “decked fair for the beholders” (cf.: 15:16) there are meteorites that are stones thrown at random intervals” and that when they reach the earth can harm the people. Therefore, they are destroyed by a flaming fire. This is an example of Divine grace of Mercy (Rahmânîyyat). A meteorite is a natural stone originating in outer space that survives an impact with the earth’s surface. While in space, it is called a meteoroid. When it enters the earth’s atmosphere, impact pressure causes the body to heat up and emit light, thus forming a fireball, also known as a meteor or shooting star. Most meteoroids disintegrate because of the heat and blaze when entering the earth’s atmosphere. However, a number ranging in size from marbles to basketballs or larger do reach the earth’s surface sometimes. Some Divine blessing behind these phenomena serves as a kind of protection and a continuous source of benefit for human beings. The trace elements they contain are fertilizer for the earth as the verse 15:19 also indicates. Ibn Kathîr says there are two kinds of protections behind the shooting stars – the physical protection of the earth from destruction by the meteorite and the spiritual protection of the earth by the advent of a Prophet or Divine reformer. This meaning is supported in the verse 72:10. It is a known historical fact that at the time of the advent of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), shooting stars were observed in large numbers.

Some other cosmic laws have been pointed out in 15:16-20. There we read “We have indeed set up constellations in the heaven, and we have decked it fair for the beholders, and We have guarded it against the intrusion of every rejected, harmful (thing).” Verses 15:16-18, 37:10-11 and 72:10-11 deal with the same subject matter. There are more verses such as 77:1-9, and 79:1-8 that convey similar information.

Some commentators explain this verse as saying that, astrologists and conjecture makers use the stars to make their random guesses, that Allâh dislikes this practice and that they will be punished for this practice.