The short answer
Yes. The Quran and authentic hadith teach that flames (shihab) are shot at devils who try to eavesdrop on the angels in the heavens. The Prophet ﷺ also corrected the pre-Islamic belief that a shooting star means a great person has been born or has died.
The Quran says Allah beautified the nearest heaven with stars and "made [from] them what is thrown at the devils" 1. Ibn Kathir explains that the stars themselves are not thrown; the missiles are meteors beneath them, taken from them 8. The devils try to listen to "the exalted assembly" of angels, but they are pelted from every side; if one snatches a word, "a burning flame, piercing" pursues him 2. In another passage, anyone who "steals a hearing" is pursued by "a clear burning flame" 3.
The jinn themselves describe this change in Surah al-Jinn. They used to sit in listening posts, but now they found the heaven "filled with powerful guards and burning flames", and whoever listens now finds a flame lying in wait 4. Ibn Abbas reported that this happened in the time of the Prophet ﷺ: the devils searched east and west for the cause, and those who reached Nakhla found him leading the Fajr prayer and reciting the Quran 5.
The Prophet ﷺ explained the process. When Allah decrees a matter in the heaven, the angels beat their wings in submission and then ask what their Lord has said. Eavesdropping devils, one above another, try to catch it; a flame may burn one before he passes it on, and whatever reaches the sorcerer or fortune-teller is mixed with a hundred lies 6. That is why fortune-tellers are sometimes "right": a stolen truth buried in lies.
When the Companions saw a meteor, the Prophet ﷺ asked what they used to say about it before Islam. They said it meant a great man was born or had died. He said these flames are shot neither for anyone's death nor for anyone's birth; the news passes down from heaven to heaven, and the jinn who snatch it are pelted 7.
So a shooting star is a sign of how carefully Allah protects His revelation, and a reason never to trust fortune-tellers.
The stars adorn the nearest heaven, and from them are missiles thrown at devils.
وَلَقَدۡ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِمَصَٰبِيحَ وَجَعَلۡنَٰهَا رُجُومࣰ ا لِّلشَّيَٰطِينِۖ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ٥
And We have certainly beautified the nearest heaven with stars and have made [from] them what is thrown at the devils and have prepared for them the punishment of the Blaze
Devils who try to listen to the exalted assembly are pelted; a piercing flame pursues any who snatch a word.
إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِزِينَةٍ ٱلۡكَوَاكِبِ ٦ وَحِفۡظࣰ ا مِّن كُلِّ شَيۡطَٰنࣲ مَّارِدࣲ ٧ لَّا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى ٱلۡمَلَإِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ وَيُقۡذَفُونَ مِن كُلِّ جَانِبࣲ ٨ دُحُورࣰ اۖ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابࣱ وَاصِبٌ ٩ إِلَّا مَنۡ خَطِفَ ٱلۡخَطۡفَةَ فَأَتۡبَعَهُۥ شِهَابࣱ ثَاقِبࣱ ١٠
6 Indeed, We have adorned the nearest heaven with an adornment of stars 7 And as protection against every rebellious devil 8 [So] they may not listen to the exalted assembly [of angels] and are pelted from every side 9 Repelled; and for them is a constant punishment 10 Except one who snatches [some words] by theft, but they are pursued by a burning flame, piercing [in brightness]
The heaven is protected from devils; whoever steals a hearing is pursued by a clear flame.
وَلَقَدۡ جَعَلۡنَا فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ بُرُوجࣰ ا وَزَيَّنَّٰهَا لِلنَّٰظِرِينَ ١٦ وَحَفِظۡنَٰهَا مِن كُلِّ شَيۡطَٰنࣲ رَّجِيمٍ ١٧ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱسۡتَرَقَ ٱلسَّمۡعَ فَأَتۡبَعَهُۥ شِهَابࣱ مُّبِينࣱ ١٨
16 And We have placed within the heaven great stars and have beautified it for the observers 17 And We have protected it from every devil expelled [from the mercy of Allah] 18 Except one who steals a hearing and is pursued by a clear burning flame
The jinn found the heaven filled with guards and flames, lying in wait for any listener.
وَأَنَّا لَمَسۡنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ فَوَجَدۡنَٰهَا مُلِئَتۡ حَرَسࣰ ا شَدِيدࣰ ا وَشُهُبࣰ ا ٨ وَأَنَّا كُنَّا نَقۡعُدُ مِنۡهَا مَقَٰعِدَ لِلسَّمۡعِۖ فَمَن يَسۡتَمِعِ ٱلۡأٓنَ يَجِدۡ لَهُۥ شِهَابࣰ ا رَّصَدࣰ ا ٩
8 And we have sought [to reach] the heaven but found it filled with powerful guards and burning flames 9 And we used to sit therein in positions for hearing, but whoever listens now will find a burning flame lying in wait for him
Flames blocked the devils from heavenly news; the jinn traced the cause to the Prophet's ﷺ recitation.
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) went out along with a group of his companions towards `Ukaz Market. At that time something intervened between the devils and the news of the Heaven, and flames were sent down upon them, so the devils returned. Their fellow-devils said, "What is wrong with you? " They said, "Something has intervened between us and the news of the Heaven, and fires (flames) have been shot at us." Their fellow-devils said, "Nothing has intervened between you and the news of the Heaven, but an important event has happened. Therefore, travel all over the world, east and west, and try to find out what has happened." And so they set out and travelled all over the world, east and west, looking for that thing which intervened between them and the news of the Heaven. Those of the devils who had set out towards Tihama, went to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) at Nakhla (a place between Mecca and Taif) while he was on his way to `Ukaz Market. (They met him) while he was offering the Fajr prayer with his companions. When they heard the Holy Qur'an being recited (by Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)), they listened to it and said (to each other). This is the thing which has intervened between you and the news of the Heavens." Then they returned to their people and said, "O our people! We have really heard a wonderful recital (Qur'an). It gives guidance to the right, and we have believed therein. We shall not join in worship, anybody with our Lord." (See 72.1-2) Then Allah revealed to His Prophet (Surat al- Jinn): 'Say: It has been revealed to me that a group (3 to 9) of Jinns listened (to the Qur'an).' (72.1) The statement of the Jinns was revealed to him
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ انْطَلَقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي طَائِفَةٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ عَامِدِينَ إِلَى سُوقِ عُكَاظٍ، وَقَدْ حِيلَ بَيْنَ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَبَيْنَ خَبَرِ السَّمَاءِ، وَأُرْسِلَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّهُبُ فَرَجَعَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ فَقَالُوا مَا لَكُمْ فَقَالُوا حِيلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ خَبَرِ السَّمَاءِ وَأُرْسِلَتْ عَلَيْنَا الشُّهُبُ. قَالَ مَا حَالَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ خَبَرِ السَّمَاءِ إِلاَّ مَا حَدَثَ، فَاضْرِبُوا مَشَارِقَ الأَرْضِ وَمَغَارِبَهَا فَانْظُرُوا مَا هَذَا الأَمْرُ الَّذِي حَدَثَ. فَانْطَلَقُوا فَضَرَبُوا مَشَارِقَ الأَرْضِ وَمَغَارِبَهَا يَنْظُرُونَ مَا هَذَا الأَمْرُ الَّذِي حَالَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ خَبَرِ السَّمَاءِ. قَالَ فَانْطَلَقَ الَّذِينَ تَوَجَّهُوا نَحْوَ تِهَامَةَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِنَخْلَةَ، وَهْوَ عَامِدٌ إِلَى سُوقِ عُكَاظٍ، وَهْوَ يُصَلِّي بِأَصْحَابِهِ صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ، فَلَمَّا سَمِعُوا الْقُرْآنَ تَسَمَّعُوا لَهُ فَقَالُوا هَذَا الَّذِي حَالَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ خَبَرِ السَّمَاءِ. فَهُنَالِكَ رَجَعُوا إِلَى قَوْمِهِمْ فَقَالُوا يَا قَوْمَنَا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًا يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ فَآمَنَّا بِهِ، وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا. وَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم {قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَىَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الْجِنِّ} وَإِنَّمَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْهِ قَوْلُ الْجِنِّ.
Eavesdroppers pass stolen words down; a flame may burn them first; the fortune-teller adds a hundred lies.
Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When Allah has ordained some affair in the Heaven, the angels beat with their wings in obedience to His statement, which sounds like a chain dragged over a rock." (`Ali and other sub-narrators said, "The sound reaches them.") "Until when fear is banished from their (angels) hearts, they (angels) say, 'What was it that your Lord said? They say, 'The truth; And He is the Most High, the Most Great.' (34.23) Then those who gain a hearing by stealing (i.e. devils) will hear Allah's Statement:-- 'Those who gain a hearing by stealing, (stand one over the other like this). (Sufyan, to illustrate this, spread the fingers of his right hand and placed them one over the other horizontally.) A flame may overtake and burn the eavesdropper before conveying the news to the one below him; or it may not overtake him till he has conveyed it to the one below him, who in his turn, conveys it to the one below him, and so on till they convey the news to the earth. (Or probably Sufyan said, "Till the news reaches the earth.") Then the news is inspired to a sorcerer who would add a hundred lies to it. His prophecy will prove true (as far as the heavenly news is concerned). The people will say. 'Didn't he tell us that on such-and-such a day, such-and-such a thing will happen? We have found that is true because of the true news heard from heaven." The above hadith is also narrated by Abu Huraira, starting: 'When Allah has ordained some affair...') In this narration the word foreteller is added to the word wizard
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، يَبْلُغُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ الأَمْرَ فِي السَّمَاءِ ضَرَبَتِ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ بِأَجْنِحَتِهَا خُضْعَانًا لِقَوْلِهِ كَالسِّلْسِلَةِ عَلَى صَفْوَانٍ ـ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ وَقَالَ غَيْرُهُ صَفْوَانٍ ـ يَنْفُذُهُمْ ذَلِكَ فَإِذَا فُزِّعَ عَنْ قُلُوبِهِمْ قَالُوا مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ، قَالُوا لِلَّذِي قَالَ الْحَقَّ وَهْوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ، فَيَسْمَعُهَا مُسْتَرِقُو السَّمْعِ، وَمُسْتَرِقُو السَّمْعِ هَكَذَا وَاحِدٌ فَوْقَ آخَرَ ـ وَوَصَفَ سُفْيَانُ بِيَدِهِ، وَفَرَّجَ بَيْنَ أَصَابِعِ يَدِهِ الْيُمْنَى، نَصَبَهَا بَعْضَهَا فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ ـ فَرُبَّمَا أَدْرَكَ الشِّهَابُ الْمُسْتَمِعَ، قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْمِيَ بِهَا إِلَى صَاحِبِهِ، فَيُحْرِقَهُ وَرُبَّمَا لَمْ يُدْرِكْهُ حَتَّى يَرْمِيَ بِهَا إِلَى الَّذِي يَلِيهِ إِلَى الَّذِي هُوَ أَسْفَلُ مِنْهُ حَتَّى يُلْقُوهَا إِلَى الأَرْضِ ـ وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ سُفْيَانُ حَتَّى تَنْتَهِيَ إِلَى الأَرْضِ ـ فَتُلْقَى عَلَى فَمِ السَّاحِرِ، فَيَكْذِبُ مَعَهَا مِائَةَ كَذْبَةٍ فَيَصْدُقُ، فَيَقُولُونَ أَلَمْ يُخْبِرْنَا يَوْمَ كَذَا وَكَذَا يَكُونُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، فَوَجَدْنَاهُ حَقًّا لِلْكَلِمَةِ الَّتِي سُمِعَتْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ ". حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ الأَمْرَ. وَزَادَ الْكَاهِنِ. وَحَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ فَقَالَ قَالَ عَمْرٌو سَمِعْتُ عِكْرِمَةَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ الأَمْرَ وَقَالَ عَلَى فَمِ السَّاحِرِ. قُلْتُ لِسُفْيَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عِكْرِمَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ. قَالَ نَعَمْ. قُلْتُ لِسُفْيَانَ إِنَّ إِنْسَانًا رَوَى عَنْكَ عَنْ عَمْرٍو عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَيَرْفَعُهُ أَنَّهُ قَرَأَ فُزِّعَ. قَالَ سُفْيَانُ هَكَذَا قَرَأَ عَمْرٌو. فَلاَ أَدْرِي سَمِعَهُ هَكَذَا أَمْ لاَ. قَالَ سُفْيَانُ وَهْىَ قِرَاءَتُنَا.
Meteors are not shot for anyone's death or birth; they strike jinn who snatch heavenly news.
Abdullah. Ibn 'Abbas reported:A person from the Ansar who was amongst the Companions of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) reported to me: As we were sitting during the night with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), a meteor shot gave a dazzling light. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: What did you say in the pre-Islamic days when there was such a shot (of meteor)? They said: Allah and His Messenger know best (the actual position), but we, however, used to say that that very night a great man had been born and a great man had died, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: (These meteors) are shot neither at the death of anyone nor on the birth of anyone. Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, issues Command when He decides to do a thing. Then (the Angels) supporting the Throne sing His glory, then sing the dwellers of heaven who are near to them until this glory of God reaches them who are in the heaven of this world. Then those who are near the supporters of the Throne ask these supporters of the Throne: What your Lord has said? And they accordingly inform them what He says. Then the dwellers of heaven seek information from them until this information reaches the heaven of the world. In this process of transmission (the jinn snatches) what he manages to overhear and he carries it to his friends. And when the Angels see the jinn they attack them with meteors. If they narrate only which they manage to snatch that is correct but they alloy it with lies and make additions to it
حَدَّثَنَا حَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، قَالَ حَسَنٌ حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ، وَقَالَ، عَبْدٌ حَدَّثَنِي يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ صَالِحٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُسَيْنٍ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي رَجُلٌ، مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ أَنَّهُمْ بَيْنَمَا هُمْ جُلُوسٌ لَيْلَةً مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رُمِيَ بِنَجْمٍ فَاسْتَنَارَ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَاذَا كُنْتُمْ تَقُولُونَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ إِذَا رُمِيَ بِمِثْلِ هَذَا " . قَالُوا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ كُنَّا نَقُولُ وُلِدَ اللَّيْلَةَ رَجُلٌ عَظِيمٌ وَمَاتَ رَجُلٌ عَظِيمٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَإِنَّهَا لاَ يُرْمَى بِهَا لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلاَ لِحَيَاتِهِ وَلَكِنْ رَبُّنَا تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى اسْمُهُ إِذَا قَضَى أَمْرًا سَبَّحَ حَمَلَةُ الْعَرْشِ ثُمَّ سَبَّحَ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ التَّسْبِيحُ أَهْلَ هَذِهِ السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ قَالَ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَ حَمَلَةَ الْعَرْشِ لِحَمَلَةِ الْعَرْشِ مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ فَيُخْبِرُونَهُمْ مَاذَا قَالَ - قَالَ - فَيَسْتَخْبِرُ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ السَّمَوَاتِ بَعْضًا حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ الْخَبَرُ هَذِهِ السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا فَتَخْطَفُ الْجِنُّ السَّمْعَ فَيَقْذِفُونَ إِلَى أَوْلِيَائِهِمْ وَيُرْمَوْنَ بِهِ فَمَا جَاءُوا بِهِ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ فَهُوَ حَقٌّ وَلَكِنَّهُمْ يَقْرِفُونَ فِيهِ وَيَزِيدُونَ " .
The Virtues of Surat Al-Mulk Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Hurayrah that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, إِنَّ سُورَةً فِي الْقُرْآنِ ثَلَاثِينَ آيَةً شَفَعَتْ لِصَاحِبِهَا حَتّٰى غُفِرَ لَهُ: تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ (Verily, there is a chapter in the Qur'an which contains thirty Ayat that will intercede on behalf of its reciter until he is forgiven. (It is): (Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion.)) This Hadith was collected by At-Tirmidhi and the four Sunan Compilers. At-Tirmidhi said concerning it, "This is a Hasan Hadith." At-Tabarani and Al-Hafiz Ad-Diya' Al-Maqdisi both recorded from Anas that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, سُورَةٌ فِي الْقُرْآنِ خَاصَمَتْ عَنْ صَاحِبِهَا حَتّٰى أَدْخَلَتْهُ الْجَنَّةَ: تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ (There is a chapter of the Qur'an that will argue on behalf of its reciter until it causes him to enter into Paradise. (It is): (Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion.)) بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ - الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ - الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ طِبَاقًا ۖ مَا تَرَىٰ فِي خَلْقِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ مِنْ تَفَاوُتٍ ۖ فَارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِنْ فُطُورٍ - ثُمَّ ارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيْنِ يَنْقَلِبْ إِلَيْكَ الْبَصَرُ خَاسِئًا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ - وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيحَ وَجَعَلْنَاهَا رُجُومًا لِلشَّيَاطِينِ ۖ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابَ السَّعِيرِ (1. Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion; and He is Able to do all things.)(2. Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving;)(3. Who has created the seven heavens one above the other; you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious. Then look again. Can you see any rifts?)(4. Then look again and yet again, your sight will return to you Khasi', and worn out.)(5. And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps, and We have made such lamps (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin, and have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.) Glorification of Allah and mentioning the Creation of Death, Life, the Heavens and the Stars Allah the Exalted glorifies His Noble Self and informs that the dominion is in His Hand. This means that He deals with all of His creatures however He wishes and there is none who can reverse His decree. He is not questioned concerning what He does because of His force, His wisdom and His justice. For this reason Allah says, وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ (and He is Able to do all things.) Then Allah says, الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ (Who has created death and life) Those who say that death is an existing creation use this Ayah as a proof because it is something that has been created. This Ayah means that He brought creation into existence from nothing in order to test the creatures. He examines them to see which of them will be best in deeds. This is similar to Allah's statement, كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَكُنْتُمْ أَمْوَاتًا فَأَحْيَاكُمْ ۖ (How can you disbelieve in Allah? Seeing that you were dead and He gave you life.)(2:28) In this Ayah Allah named the first stage, which is non-existence, "death." Then he named the origin or beginning of existence, "life." This is why Allah says, ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ (Then He will give death, then again will bring you to life (on the Day of Resurrection))(2:28). Concerning Allah's statement, لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا (He may test you which of you is best in deed.) it means best in deeds. This is as Muhammad bin 'Ajlan said. It should be noted that Allah did not say "which of you does the most deeds." Allah then says, وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ (And He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving.) This means that He is the Almighty, the Most Great, the Most Powerful and the Most Honorable. However, along with this He is Most Forgiving to whoever turns to Him in repentance and seeks His pardon after having disobeyed Him and opposed His commandment. Even though Allah is Almighty, He also forgives, shows mercy, pardons and excuses. Then Allah says, الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ طِبَاقًا ۖ (Who has created the seven heavens one above the other;) meaning stacked one on top of the other. Are they connected to each other, meaning that they are in elevated ascension, some of them being stacked above others, or separated with space between them? There are two views concerning this, and the most correct opinion seems to be the latter as is proven in the Hadith of Isra' (the Prophet's Night Journey) and other narrations. Concerning Allah's statement, مَا تَرَىٰ فِي خَلْقِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ مِنْ تَفَاوُتٍ ۖ (you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious.) means, it (the creation) is done in a flawless manner, and these are connected with each other so as to forms a straight level, having no disunion, conflict, inconsistency, deficiency, flaw or defect. This is the reason that Allah says, فَارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِنْ فُطُورٍ (Then look again. Can you see any rifts) meaning, look at the sky and pay close attention to it. Do you see any flaw, deficiency, defect or rifts in it? Ibn 'Abbas, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Ath-Thawri and others said concerning Allah's statement, فَارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِنْ فُطُورٍ (Then look again. Can you see any rifts) that it means cracks. As-Suddi said that, هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِنْ فُطُورٍ (Can you see any rifts?) means any tears. Qatadah said, هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِنْ فُطُورٍ (Can you see any rifts?) means, 'do you see any defects O Son of Adam (mankind)?' In reference to Allah's statement, ثُمَّ ارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيْنِ (Then look again and yet again,) Qatadah said, "It means (look) twice." يَنْقَلِبْ إِلَيْكَ الْبَصَرُ خَاسِئًا (your sight will return to you Khasi',) Ibn 'Abbas said that Khasi' means humiliated. Mujahid and Qatadah both said that it means despised. وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ (and worn out.) Ibn 'Abbas said that this means it will be exhausted. Mujahid, Qatadah and As-Suddi all said that it means broken down fatigue that comes from weakness. Thus, the Ayah means that if you continuously looked, no matter how much you look, your sight will return to you. خَاسِئًا (Khasi') due to the inability to see any flaw or defect (in Allah's creation). وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ (and worn out.) meaning, exhausted and broken down feebleness due to the great amount of repeated looking without being able to detect any deficiency. Then, after Allah negated any deficiency in the creation of the heavens, He explains their perfection and beauty. He says, وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيحَ (And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps,) This refers to the stars which have been placed in the heavens, some moving and some stationary. In Allah's statement, وَجَعَلْنَاهَا رُجُومًا لِلشَّيَاطِينِ (and We have made them (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin,) The pronoun 'them' in His statement, "and We have made them" is the same type of statement as the stars being referred to as lamps. This does not mean that they are actually missiles, because the stars in the sky are not thrown. Rather, it is the meteors beneath them that are thrown and they are taken from the stars. And Allah knows best. Concerning Allah's statement, وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابَ السَّعِيرِ (and We have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.) means, 'We have made this disgrace for the devils in this life and We have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire in the Hereafter.' This is as Allah said in the beginning of Surat As-Saffat, إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِزِينَةٍ الْكَوَاكِبِ - وَحِفْظًا مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ مَارِدٍ - لَا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى الْمَلَإِ الْأَعْلَىٰ وَيُقْذَفُونَ مِنْ كُلِّ جَانِبٍ - دُحُورًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ وَاصِبٌ - إِلَّا مَنْ خَطِفَ الْخَطْفَةَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ شِهَابٌ ثَاقِبٌ (Verily, We have adorned the near heaven with the stars (for beauty). And to guard against every rebellious devil. They cannot listen to the higher group (angels) for they are pelted from every side. Outcast, and theirs is a constant (or painful) torment. Except such as snatch away something by stealing, and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness.)(37:6-10) Qatadah said, "These stars were only created for three purposes: Allah created them as adornment for the heaven (sky), as missiles for the devils and as signs for navigation. Therefore, whoever seeks to interpret any other meanings for them other than these, then verily he has spoken with his own opinion, he has lost his portion and burdened himself with that which he has no knowledge of." Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim both recorded this statement.
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