Al-Hijr (The Rock)

16. “And indeed, We have established constellations in the sky and We have decorated them for the beholders,”

The Arabic term /burūj/ originally signifies ‘emergence’, and a woman who shows off his ornaments in Arabic is said: /taburrajat-il-mar’ah/. The Arabic term /burj/ also refers to a palace, and those high-raised buildings which present special splendours. In this verse the celestial globes, or their locations, are likened to constellations.

As the earth rotates around the sun, an imaginary circle is formed which is called ‘the Zodiac’. This circle is divided into twelve equal zones within either of which certain stars are located, according to the shape of that collection of stars, it has been named to it.

In Persian, they are called as Farvardin, Ordibehesht, khordad, … and in Arabic, they are called Hamal, Sour, Jowza, Sarat an, Asad, Sunbulah, Mizan, Aqrab, Qous, Judi, Dalw and Hūt. All of these phenomena represent the power and splendour of Allah.