Meccan, and its verses are 17 [revealed after Al-Balad]. 'In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.' The piercing star, as if it pierces the darkness with its light, penetrating it, as it is said: it drives away, meaning: it repels it. It is described as the 'morning star' because it appears at night, as the one who comes at night is called a 'morning star'; or because it strikes the jinn, meaning it hits them. The intended meaning is the category of stars, or the category of meteors with which they are stoned. If you say: What resembles his saying 'And what will make you know what the morning star is?' The piercing star is nothing but a translation of one word with another, so clarify for me what benefit lies beneath it? I say: Allah, the Exalted, means by saying: to swear by the piercing star in order to honor it, for what is known in it of wondrous power and subtle wisdom, and to draw attention to that, so He came with what is a shared attribute between it and others, which is the morning star, then He said: 'And what will make you know what the morning star is?' Then He explained it by saying: 'The piercing star.' All of this is to show the greatness of its status, as He said: 'So I swear by the positions of the stars, and indeed, it is a great oath if you only knew.' It is narrated that Abu Talib was with the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, when a star fell, and the place was filled with light. Abu Talib was startled and said: What is this? He, peace be upon him, said: This is a star that has been thrown, and it is a sign among the signs of Allah. Abu Talib was amazed. [Thus reported by Al-Thalabi and Al-Wahidi without a chain of narration.]