Abstract:
The Quranic concept of lapidating devils with meteors has received a variety of interpretations throughout Islamic history. In the past, it was interpreted to mean heavenly meteors thrown at devils in order to prevent them from giving ear to heavenly tidings. However, in the fourteenth century AH and as a result of modern scientific achievements, different non-literal interpretations were suggested. These interpretation and their place in the contemporary Quranic exegesis will be studied in this article.
Machine summary:
Some commentators, such as Sayyid Qutb, believe that the literal meaning of the verses should not be forsaken in favour of human science, especially that lapidating devils with meteors is a metaphysical matter, which falls outside the realm of science.
And still others, such as Misbah Yazdi, while agreeing with the use of science in the exegesis of the Quran, believe that a function of meteors is in fact to drive devils away from listening to heavenly news.
A narration also quotes the Prophet as saying, "The fall of a meteor is not related to the death or birth of anyone; rather … Jinn listen [to the news of the heavens], and they get shot" (Ibn Hanbal 2008, 1:218; Baghawi 1992, 5:161).
b) Traditions related to the lapidation after the advent of Islam In these traditions, the themes of the previous category are mentioned with the emphasis that the fall of meteors to protect the heavens against jinn was restarted with the Prophet’s mission.
1 In the literary works of the Age of Ignorance, nothing can be found on the concept of lapidating devils with meteors, except simply the idea of stars moving in the heavens and falling.
In his commentary on Sura al-Saffat (Quran 37), Ayatollah Javadi Amoli writes, Indeed angels prevent the devils from listening to heavenly tidings; therefore, to regard these verses literally or figuratively depends on whether angels are regarded to be material or immaterial.
The Quran responded to their accusations by saying that jinn had no access to the heavenly tidings, as the heavens were protected with meteors.