The Divine religions always attract immense resistance for accepting Allah's sovereignty means recognizing that even a king is accountable to a higher moral law. Acceptance of faith of One True God by the oppressed and those in bondage means weakening of their power as their subjects and slave now possess a faith that is far stronger than mere power of their masters. If someone derives power from being treated as the highest authority—whether a ruler, priest, or social elite—this message limits that power.
The Quran portrays a similar mindset quoting Pharaoh as saying: "I do not know of any god for you other than myself." And he then persecuted even his trusted magicians when they saw the Divine power in front of the whole of Egypt when their snakes were eaten up by the spell produced by stick of Prophet Musa (Moses).
Here it would be appropriate to mention an anecdote mentioned in Surah 85. Al-Burūj of Al Qur'an which tells us of persecution of almost everyone whop had accepted the Divine faith. The place associated with Al-Ukhdūd (الأخدود)—often referred to today as Al-Ukhdood Archaeological Site—holds significance because it is traditionally linked to one of the Quran's most moving accounts of steadfast faith under persecution. Here a people is mentioned who did not have any personal animosity with their people, but it was detaching from the main stream on account of accepting the Divine faith, leaving faith of their forefathers.
The Verse
The 8th verse of the 85th Surah of Al Qur'an, Surah Al-Burūj (The Constellations), reads:
وَمَا نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ
"And they resented them not except because they believed in Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy."
This is one of the Quran's most powerful statements about persecution for faith.
Context of the verse
Surah Al-Buruj begins by describing a tragic event known as the People of the Ditch (Aṣḥāb al-Ukhdūd). Verses 85:4–10 describe believers who were persecuted and burned alive because they refused to renounce their faith.
85:4: "Cursed were the companions of the trench..."
85:5–7: They sat watching as believers were thrown into the fire.
85:8: The Quran reveals the only "crime" of these believers.
85:9–10: Allah reminds readers that He has complete knowledge and ultimate authority over all things, and warns the persecutors of accountability.
What does verse 8 literally mean?
The verse says: "They had no grievance against them except that they believed in Allah." This is a striking expression. The persecutors could not point to theft, violence, or wrongdoing. The believers' only "offense" was their faith in Allah. The verse exposes the irrationality of religious persecution. It shows that sometimes people are opposed not because they have done wrong, but because their beliefs challenge existing power, prejudice, or injustice.
Historical background
Many classical commentators connect these verses with the persecution of Christians in Najran by the Jewish ruler Dhu Nuwas in the 6th century CE. According to this understanding, many believers were killed because they refused to abandon their faith.
Why is Najran associated with it? Many classical Muslim scholars and historians connected these verses with an event that took place in Najran around the early 6th century CE. According to this traditional account, the ruler Dhu Nuwas persecuted Christians in Najran, who refused to renounce their faith were killed in trenches of fire. The event later became well known in Arabian history.
An AI generated photo depicting sad incident where Christians were thrown into pits of burning fire - On the right are ruins of the dammed city (Wikipedia)
What does "Al-Ukhdūd" mean? The Arabic word الأُخْدُود (al-ukhdūd) literally means a trench, a ditch, or a deep groove dug into the ground. The Quran describes trenches filled with blazing fire into which believers were thrown because they refused to abandon their faith (85:4–10). Archaeological remains at the modern Al-Ukhdood site have made this association plausible, but the Quran itself does not explicitly identify the location.
It has been documented that Dhu Nuwas burned 20,000 Christians alive in a burning trench because they refused to convert to Judaism (Wikipedia)
In Surah Al-Buruj, Allah says: "Cursed were the companions of the trench." (85:4). That is when the criminal act of the ruler Dhu Nuwas went too far, the wrath of Allah fell on to them and the entire city was thrown upside down, killing those who persecuted their very own people for accepting a new faith.
Ibn Kathir explains that the disbelieving king of Yemen (Dhu Nuwas) or similar tyrannical rulers constructed massive, blazing trenches. They threw the believing men, women, and children into the fire because they refused to renounce their monotheistic faith. The verse highlights that the believers were not guilty of any crime or rebellion; their only "fault" in the eyes of the tyrants was their sincere belief in Allah.
Ibn Kathir notes that these incidents of tyrannical rulers throwing believers into trenches of fire occurred multiple times in history. Through these trials, Allah honors the steadfastness of the faithful. The ultimate lesson from this verse is that the worldly disbelievers may persecute the righteous for their faith, but Allah remains fully aware, encompasses the oppressors, and provides an eternal reward for the steadfast believers.
By ending the verse with "Al-Aziz" (The Almighty) and "Al-Hamid" (The Praiseworthy), Ibn Kathir and other commentators emphasize a divine contrast: Al-Aziz: Allah is the Supreme and All-Mighty. Even though the believers suffered a horrific physical death in the fires, Allah possesses ultimate power over the tyrants and will exact divine justice. Al-Hamid: Allah is the One truly worthy of all praise. The believers who chose the blazing fire over abandoning their faith understood that Allah's love and pleasure are worth every earthly sacrifice.
Why is this place significant in the Quran? The significance is not primarily geographical. Unlike places such as: Kaaba, Jerusalem, or Mecca, Al-Ukhdūd is not presented as a sacred place to visit. Instead, it symbolizes:
1. Faith under persecution The believers accepted death rather than abandoning their belief in Allah.
2. The abuse of power The persecutors sat watching while innocent people were burned. The Quran highlights not only the violence but also the cruelty and indifference of those who watched it happen.
3. Allah's justice
- Although the oppressors seemed victorious, Allah reminds us: "Indeed, your Lord is severe in assault. Indeed, it is He who originates creation and repeats it." (85:12–13).
- It is to be remembered that Earthly power is temporary - but Divine justice is ultimate.
4. The value of sincere belief
- Verse 85:8 says: "They had no grievance against them except that they believed in Allah."
- This means faith itself became the reason for persecution.
- The Quran honors those believers by preserving their story forever.
What should we reflect upon today?
Al-Ukhdūd represents something much larger than one historical tragedy. It reminds us that throughout history:
- Truth has often carried a cost,
- Oppression can appear powerful,
- Innocent people may suffer,
- But injustice never escapes Allah's knowledge.
It also challenges believers to ask:
- Would I remain true to my principles under pressure?
- Do I defend the rights of people who are persecuted for their beliefs?
- Do I use my own influence with justice rather than oppression?
- A profound lesson
One of the most striking features of the story is that the Quran never tells us the names of the believers. History may forget the names of the oppressed. But Allah does not.
Their identities are unknown to us, yet their sacrifice is remembered in the Quran and recited by millions around the world. This conveys a powerful message: in the Quranic worldview, what gives a person lasting honor is not fame or status, but sincerity, steadfastness, and faithfulness to Allah. Their names may have faded from history, but their example endures as a reminder that integrity before Allah is never lost, even if it is overlooked by the world.
While many people today enjoy freedom of religion, others still experience discrimination or persecution because of their beliefs. The verse reminds believers to stand against injustice and to uphold the dignity of every person's right to practice their faith.
It also speaks to more subtle forms of pressure:
- Being mocked for religious commitment,
- Feeling pressured to compromise one's ethical principles,
- Facing exclusion because of sincerely held beliefs.
Thus the above quoted verse:
- Encourages steadfastness without responding with oppression in return. At the same time, its message is not limited to Muslims. It affirms a broader moral principle: no one should be harmed simply because of their sincere religious belief.
- Reminds believers that truth is not measured by popularity or power. The persecuted believers appeared weak in the eyes of the world, yet the Quran honors them, while those who held worldly power are condemned.
For contemporary readers, Quran 85:8 is a call to remain faithful to one's principles, to reject persecution and coercion in matters of belief, and to trust that Allah's justice ultimately transcends human injustice. It encourages moral courage, compassion for those who suffer because of their convictions, and respect for the freedom of conscience that the Quran consistently upholds.
Muslims' Faith under Persecution
As of today or from the day 1 of formal invitation to Islam, we see a repetition of same events as mentioned above. Muslims from day one have been persecuted, hated and seen with indifference for following a new faith as did the people mentioned above. Since those days kings and rulers were generally unanswerable, they threw the Christians into pits of fire so that Christianity should not flourish - but it did. Likewise, Muslims are being persecuted in one form or the other and are generally sidelined, attacked and mocked even today. Instead of burning Muslims alive, copies of Al Qur'an are torched as a sign of hatred against Islam. In India, Muslims are facing the worst kind of treachery and are beaten, forced to drink urine of the cow by the Hindus. Their places of worship are attacked, even destroyed. Yet despite every move with heinous intentions against Islam, Islam continues to flourish and is now the second most accepted religion after Christianity. Many an analyst fear that by 2050, Islam may become the leading religion of the world.
This is an eye opener. Despite all hurdles, Islam is expanding everyday for it is the ultimate truth and by and by non Muslims have started to find Divine wisdom and truth and reverting to Islam.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
You may also refer to our exclusive reference pages:
- Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
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- Selected Verses from the Qur'an.
You may also refer to our Reference Pages and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
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