Surah al-Hijr (The Valley of Stone) 15 : 16

Overview (Verses 16 - 18)

Endless Wonders

The sūrah now moves on to an exhibition of universal signs. It starts with a scene in heaven followed by one on earth, then an image of winds fully loaded with water, before we have pictures of life and death, resurrection and gathering.

“We have indeed set up in the heavens constellations, and endowed them with beauty for all to behold, and We have guarded them from every cursed devil, so that anyone who tries to eavesdrop is pursued by a flame clear to see.” (Verses 16-18) This is the first line in the great universal scene which tells of God’s creative power. It delivers a more telling testimony to the inimitability of God’s creation than any coming down of angels. It reflects God’s elaborate planning and His limitless power that puts into place this great piece of creation, the universe. The ‘constellations’ may refer to the stars and planets themselves with their huge entities, or it may refer to their positions which define their orbits. In both cases, they testify to the great power behind their creation and to the accuracy and beauty that they reflect. “We have indeed set up in the heavens constellations, and endowed them with beauty for all to behold.” (Verse 16)

The reference here to the beauty of the universe, particularly the type seen in the sky, suggests that beauty is an intended purpose behind such creation. It is not merely size or accuracy that are intended, but beauty which is clearly seen in all its aspects. A quick glance at the sky in a dark moonless night, with so many stars and planets sending their faint light our way, gives us a sense of that unique beauty. The same feeling will be aroused by a similar look at the sky in a night with a full moon, moving along in a romantic air, with the rest of the universe holding its breath so that it does not disturb a happy dreamer. One glance like that is sufficient to indicate the depth of the beauty in the creation of the universe. It will tell us more about the Qur’ānic expression here: “We have indeed set up in the heavens constellations, and endowed them with beauty for all to behold.” (Verse 16)

With the beauty comes preservation, pure and intact: “We have guarded them from every cursed devil.” (Verse 17) None, then, can spoil this purity by trying to spread evil in it. Satan is allowed to do his evil work only on earth, to tempt human beings to follow his wicked designs. The sky, which is a symbol for what is exalted and sublime, is beyond his reach. He may attempt to do so, but every attempt he makes is foiled: “Anyone who tries to eavesdrop is pursued by a flame clear to see.” (Verse 18)

Who is the devil, and what is his nature; and how does he eavesdrop, and on whom; and what does he try to hear? All these are matters that belong to a world beyond our reach. We have only the texts available to us. It is useless to try to go further into this, because it adds nothing to anyone’s faith. Investigating it does not produce anything other than preoccupying man’s mind with something that is not among its concerns.

Let us then be satisfied with knowing that there is no room in the heavens for the devil and his work. Its breathtaking beauty is preserved. The sublimity it symbolizes is kept free from anything impure. And if the devil so much as attempts to climb up, a fast moving flame pursues him.