Al-Buruj (The Constellations): (17) Has the news reached you...

Know that when the Almighty explained the state of the People of the Ditch (Ashab al-Ukhdud) regarding the harm inflicted upon the believers by the disbelievers, He then clarified that those before them were also in a similar situation.

Know that Pharaoh and Thamud are substitutes for "the soldiers" (al-jund). By Pharaoh, the intent is him and his people, as in the verse: "from Pharaoh and his chiefs." Thamud were in the Arabian lands, and their story was well-known among them. Thus, the Almighty mentioned Pharaoh from the later generations and Thamud from the earlier ones.

The purpose is to demonstrate that the condition of the believers vis-à-vis the disbelievers has been continuous in all ages following this pattern. This is what is meant by His saying: {Nay, those who disbelieve are in denial.}

When the Messenger (PBUH) was comforted by recounting the histories of the former people in this regard, he was then consoled in another way, which is His saying: {But Allah is encompassing them from behind.}

There are several interpretations regarding this:

1. The first: The meaning is to describe His absolute power over them, that they are in His grasp and domain. Like a besieged person who is surrounded from behind, blocking his escape route, He says: They are thus in My grasp, and I am capable of destroying them and hastening the punishment upon them for their denial of you. So, do not be distressed by their denial; they cannot escape Me when I intend to take vengeance upon them.
2. The second: The meaning of this encompassing might be the imminent destruction awaiting them, like His saying: {And [there is] another [punishment] that you have not yet been able to [inflict], which Allah has encompassed.} (Al-Fath: 21) And His saying: {And [mention] when We said to you, "Indeed, your Lord encompasses the people."} (Al-Isra: 60) And His saying: {And they thought that they were encompassed.} (Yunus: 22). All of this is an expression of being on the verge of doom. He means: These deniers of yours have approached destruction.
3. The third: The meaning might be that Allah encompasses their deeds, meaning He is fully aware of them, and thus He is poised to punish them for those deeds.

Furthermore, the Almighty then consoled His Messenger in a third way, which is His saying: {Nay, it is a glorious Qur'an.}

Regarding this, there are several issues:

The connection is that this Qur'an is glorious and preserved from change or alteration. Since it has decreed the felicity of one group and the misery of another, and the persecution of one group by another, its decree cannot be altered or changed. Therefore, acceptance of it is obligatory, and this is undoubtedly one of the greatest causes for solace.

It has been recited as {Nay, it is a Qur'an} (with the definite article al-), meaning "a glorious Qur'an from the Lord."

Yahya ibn Ya'mur recited it as {Nay, it is the Qur'an} (with the definite article al-), referring to the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawh al-Mahfuz), which is the tablet above the seventh heaven.

It has also been recited with mahfuz (preserved) in the nominative case (raf') as an adjective for the Qur'an, as we said: {Indeed, it is We who sent down the Dhikr, and indeed, We will be its guardian.} (Al-Hijr: 9).

The Almighty stated here: {in a Preserved Tablet} (fi lawhin mahfuz), while in another verse He said: {Indeed, it is a noble Qur'an in a protected Book} (fi kitabin maknun). (Al-Waqi'ah: 77-78).

It is possible that the Protected Book and the Preserved Tablet are one and the same.

The description of it being "preserved" (mahfuz) could mean:

• It is preserved from being touched except by the purified ones, as He said: {None shall touch it except the purified ones.} (Al-Waqi'ah: 78).
• Or, it means it is preserved from the sight of creation, except for the nearest angels.
• Or, it means that no alteration or change will ever befall it.

Some theologians stated that the Tablet (al-Lawh) is something that appears (yalūh) to the angels so they may read it. Since reports and traditions confirm this, belief in it is obligatory.

And Allah, the Glorified and Exalted, knows best. May peace and blessings be upon our Master Muhammad and upon his family and companions.