Surah Al-Buruj 85:7
سُورَةُ البُرُوجِ · Meccan · Verse 7 of 22
وَهُمْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَفْعَلُونَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ شُهُودٌۭ
Translation
to watch what they were doing to the believers.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This powerful verse, part of Surat al-Buruj, paints a stark picture of heartless oppression. Allah is speaking here, addressing the horrific actions of the "People of the Ditch" against the believers. The verse depicts the tormentors in a chilling posture: "And they were, over what they were doing to the believers, witnesses." (وَهُمْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَفْعَلُونَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ شُهُودٌۭ). It’s a moment of severe condemnation, highlighting the profound cruelty inflicted upon those who held firm to their faith.
The Chilling Spectacle
The core of this verse lies in the word "شهود" (shuhood), which is rich with meaning. Firstly, it means they were "present" or "attending" (حضور). Imagine the scene: the persecutors, having dug trenches and set them ablaze, were "sitting over them" (إِذْ هُمْ عَلَيْهَا قُعُودٌۭ), as the previous verse states. This verse then adds that they were witnessing everything they did to the believers. As Ibn Ashur explains, this signifies the extreme atrocity of their actions. They watched the suffering of the believers, showing no compassion or disgust. This presence wasn't accidental; it was deliberate, a display of their ruthlessness and an attempt to break the believers' spirit. The preposition "عَلَىٰ" (ala), meaning "over" or "upon," reinforces this, suggesting they were overseeing their cruel acts, deriving satisfaction from the torment.
Witnesses to Their Own Crimes
Beyond mere presence, "شهود" also carries the meaning of being "witnesses" in a testimonial sense. Al-Zamakhshari suggests two possibilities. One is that they served as witnesses for each other before their king, confirming that no one had neglected their assigned task of torture. More profoundly, scholars like al-Zamakhshari and al-Razi also interpret this as them being witnesses *against themselves* on the Day of Judgment. On that terrifying day, their own limbs and actions will testify to the atrocities they committed. This transforms their act of witnessing into a guarantee of their future accountability. What they observed with cold indifference in this world will become the irrefutable evidence for their eternal recompense.
A Deeper Gaze
The wording of this verse reveals not only the depths of human cruelty but also the perfection of divine justice. By highlighting that the oppressors were "شهود," Allah emphasizes their full awareness and intent in their actions. There was no room for denial or ignorance. They saw, they knew, and they chose to persist in their evil. This detail ensures that their crime is fully registered, not just by those they tormented, but by their own eyes and by the All-Seeing Lord. It serves as a stark reminder that every action, especially one committed with such callous disregard for human life and faith, is witnessed and recorded, guaranteeing that justice will ultimately prevail.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jalalayn, Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Buruj 85:7 is discussed in 3 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
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