This research examines the issue of genocide in the Quran and its reflections in contemporary history, focusing on a discourse analysis of verses 4-8 of Surah Al-Buruj and the story of the People of the Trench as a symbol of structural violence. Genocide is defined as the organized destruction of human groups based on religious-ethnic identity. The study aims to identify the People of the Trench and the causes of the killings mentioned in Surah Al-Buruj as an early instance of genocide, comparing it to contemporary massacres, including current global events. Employing a descriptive-analytical method with references to Quranic verses, traditions, and historical sources, this research combines fundamental and developmental studies.
It demonstrates that the Quran, through rhetorical mechanisms such as emphatic oaths, vivid depictions of fire, and the use of the present tense, reveals the ideological nature of genocide. By emphasizing the fundamental concepts of inherent human dignity and resistance to injustice, even to the point of accepting death, the Quran provides a normative framework for critiquing collective violence. A comparative analysis of instances like the Najran genocide (523 AD) and contemporary examples such as the killings in Myanmar and Gaza reveals a recurring pattern of systematic elimination of religious-ethnic groups with similar motivations. This research integrates Quranic studies and social history, offering an analytical model that enhances the Quran’s capacity to critically reinterpret violent contemporary phenomena.