Commentary on the verse “Blessed be He Who has placed in the heaven big stars, and has placed therein a great lamp (sun), and a moon giving light” [al-Furqaan 25:61]
Question

                What is the interpretation of the verse in which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Blessed be He Who has placed in the heaven big stars, and has placed therein a great lamp (sun), and a moon giving light” [al-Furqaan 25:61]?.
Praise be to Allah.
      Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the 
      meaning): “Blessed be He Who has placed in the heaven big stars, and 
      has placed therein a great lamp (sun), and a moon giving light” 
      [al-Furqaan 25:61]. 

    And He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “And indeed, We have put the big stars in the heaven and 
    We beautified it for the beholders”

    [al-Hijr 15:16] 

    “By the heaven holding the big stars”

    [al-Burooj 85:1]. 

    The words “Blessed be He” mean: May He be exalted, 
    Whose giving is plentiful and Whose blessings are abundant. 

    So the Lord, may He be exalted, deserves gratitude, 
    veneration and praise for His blessings. 

    See: Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 6/92; al-Jaami‘ li Ahkaam 
    al-Qur’aan, 7/223 and 13/1; Fath al-Qadeer, 3/683 

    “…Who has placed in the heaven big stars, and has placed 
    therein a great lamp (sun), and a moon giving light” 

    “big stars”: Ibn ‘Abbaas, Mujaahid, al-Dahhaak, al-Hasan, 
    Qataadah and al-Saddi stated that “burooj” [translated here as “big 
    stars”] refers to stars. 

    Tafseer Ibn Katheer (8/363) 

    Shaykh al-Sa‘di (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

    Allah says, describing His perfect power and His Mercy 
    towards His creation:

    “And indeed, We have put the big stars in the heaven” 
    i.e., stars like towers, and great signs by which man may navigate in the 
    darkness on land and sea, “and We beautified it for the 
    beholders”[al-Hijr 15:16], for were it not for the stars, this wondrous 
    sight in the heavens would not exist. This is something that calls those who 
    gaze upon it to ponder it, seek its meaning and see it as evidence of its 
    Creator. End quote. 

    Tafseer al-Sa‘di, 1/430 

    And it was said that burooj refers to the 
    constellations. Al-Shawkaani (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

    What is meant by burooj is the groups of stars, i.e., 
    their constellations. And it was said that it refers to big stars, but the 
    former is more correct. They are called burooj, which refers to lofty 
    palaces, because they are like high built dwellings. The word burj is 
    derived from tabarruj, which refers to an open display. End quote. 

    Fath al-Qadeer, 4/122 

    The word “a lamp” refers to the sun, and “a moon 
    giving light” means it shines. 

    Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

    “and has placed therein a great lamp” refers to the 
    shining sun. 

    “and a moon giving light” means it shines with the 
    light of another. 

    To sum up, what the verse means is: Exalted and venerated be 
    Allah, Whose giving is plentiful, for His blessings upon His creation are 
    evident. He is the One Who, by His grace, has adorned the lowest heaven with 
    these great stars and planets, and the sun and the moon which give light by 
    night and day. He has created that as part of His perfect blessings to His 
    creation; His blessings are vast and His generosity and kindness are 
    immense. So let them ponder the great signs that are above them, and the 
    blessings that they enjoy, so that they might believe in their Lord and give 
    thanks to Him.

    And Allaah knows best.