Al-Buruj · Makki · ayah 21 of 22

Al-Buruj 85:21

بَلْ هُوَ قُرْءَانٌ مَّجِيدٌ

“But this is an honored Qur’ān”

Saheeh International

Essence

Against every denial, one word turns the surah: rather, this is a Glorious Quran, from a glorious Lord whose Throne is glorious too.

A reflection

Glorious Speaker, glorious word

This surah uses the word majīd twice. Six ayat ago it described Allah as the Owner of the Throne, the Glorious. Now it describes His speech: a Glorious Quran. One classical scholar draws the three together. The Speaker has all glory, so He is the Glorious. His speech is glorious. His Throne is glorious.

The same scholar recalls what majd means: breadth, and an abundance of good, like camels let loose on wide spring pasture. Then he adds a sentence worth sitting with. The full extent of the Quran's good is known only to the One who spoke it.

Other classical explanations fill in the picture. One commentator says majīd here means reaching the utmost in honour, generosity and blessing. It sets out, he says, what people need in the matters of their faith and their world. Early voices simply glossed it as karīm: noble, generous. Another ayah uses that very word: 'It is a noble Quran, in a Book kept hidden' (56:77–78).

Now think about our own words. A political speech is drafted by ten advisers, tested on focus groups, delivered to applause, and forgotten by the evening news. Most of what we say, even at our most polished, is spoken partly to be admired. The ego wants its words to be remembered, quoted, shared. Very few of them survive the week.

This speech has been recited in prayer, memorised by children and wept over by the old for centuries, and it has not worn thin. That is part of what majīd means: glory that does not run out.

Is it vanity for a Book to call itself glorious? That doubt deserves its own answer, and the next reflection gives it. But notice first who gains from the glory. The Speaker needs nothing from our reading. The glory overflows towards the reader. Every hour spent with it is an hour at a table that does not empty.

The humbling part is simple. Our words are small, and they fade. His word is great, and it stays. The sensible response is to spend more of our time listening than speaking.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.