Tafseer of The Constellations · Al-Burooj · 85:6
When they were sitting near it
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of His word, the Exalted: إِذْ هُمْ عَلَيْهَا قُعُودٌ ("When they were seated by it") (85:6)
The Exalted, whose praise is mentioned, says: the Fire, full of fuel, when these unbelievers (kuffār) of the People of the Trench (aṣḥāb al-ukhdūd) were upon it — that is, by the Fire. So He said "upon it" (ʿalayhā), while the meaning is that they were seated at the edge of the trench. Thus it was said: "upon the Fire," while the meaning is: at the bank of the trench, on account of the listeners' familiarity with that meaning.
Qatāda used to say concerning this what Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His word: النَّارِ ذَاتِ الْوَقُودِ * إِذْ هُمْ عَلَيْهَا قُعُودٌ ("the Fire full of fuel, when they were seated by it"): by it he meant the believers. And this explanation which Qatāda gave to it is according to the view of the one who says: the People of the Trench who were killed belonged to the believers.
And we have already demonstrated that what is correct in the explanation of this is something other than this view which Qatāda previously ascribed to it.
