According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, stars (النُّجُوم - an-Nujūm) are profound signs (ayat) of Allah's creative power, cosmic order, and mercy. Qatadah, as cited in Sahih al-Bukhari, summarized their purpose in three points: as a majestic adornment for the heavens (Quran 37:6), as missiles to guard against devils (Quran 37:7), and as signs for navigation (Quran 6:97). Islamic theology makes a clear distinction between the permissible science of astronomy (ʻilm al-falak), which has a rich history in Islamic civilization for determining prayer times and direction, and the forbidden practice of astrology, which attributes divine power to created objects and is considered shirk. The Quran swears by stars to emphasize divine truths (86:3) and describes their prostration in perfect submission to God's will (22:18), while also detailing their dramatic scattering and darkening as a major event of the Day of Judgment (81:2), thus encompassing their role from the dawn of creation to the end of time.