72- Surat Aljinn/Tafseer
28 Verses Meccan (revealed in Mecca)
A'auzu Bellahi mena alshaiytani alrajeem
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan
Besmi Ellahi Alrhmani Alraheem
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Qul auhiya ilayya annahu estamaa nafarun mena al-jinni fa-qalu inna sami'na Quranan ajaba (1).
Say, it has been revealed to Me that a group of the Jinn listened, and said indeed, we have heard an amazing Quran.
Yahdi ila alrushdi fa-amanna bihi wa-lan nushrika be-Rabbina ahada (2).
It guides to the right way, so we have believed in it, and we will never associate anyone with our Lord.
Wa-annahu ta-ala jaddu Rabbina ma-ttakhaza sahibatan wa-la walada (3).
And that Exalted is the Glory of our Lord, He has not taken a wife or a son.
Wa-annahu kana yaqulu safeehuna ala Allahi shatata (4).
And that our foolish one used to say about Allah an excessive transgression.
Wa-anna zananna an lan taqula al-insu wa al-jinnu ala Allahi kaziba (5).
And that we had thought that mankind and the jinn would never tell a lie about Allah.
Wa-annahu kana rijalun mina al-insi ya-auzuna be-rijalin mina al-jinni fa-zaduhum rahaqa (6).
And there were men from mankind who sought refuge in men from the jinn, so they increased them in burden.
Wa-annahum zannu ka-ma zanantum an lan yab-atha Allahu ahada (7).
And they had thought as you thought that Allah would never send anyone.
Wa-anna lamasna alsamaa fa-wajadnaha muli-at harasan shadeedan wa shuhuba (8).
And we have sought the sky, but we found it filled with stern guards and flames.
Wa-anna kunna naq-udu minha maqa-eda lel-sami fa-man yastamii alana yajid lahu shihaban rasada (9).
And we used to sit therein in position for hearing, but whoever listens now will a flame lying in wait for him.
Wa-anna la nadri a-sharrun aurida bi-man fee al-ardi am arada bihim Rabbuhum rashada (10).
And we do not know whether evil is intended for those on earth, or their Lord intends for them a right guidance.
Wa-anna minna al-salihuna wa minna duna zalika kunna tara-iqa qidada (11).
And among us are the righteous, and among us are others not so, we were on different ways.
Wa-anna zananna an lan nu'jiza Allaha fee al-ardi wa-lan nu'jizahu haraba (12).
And we have become certain that we will never cause failure to Allah on the earth, nor can we escape Him by flight.
Wa-anna lamma sami'na al-huda amanna bihi fa-man you'min bi-Rabbihi fa-la yakhafu bakhsan wa-la rahaqa (13).
And when we heard the guidance, we believed in it, and whoever believes in his Lord will not fear deprivation or burden.
Wa-anna minna al-muslimuna wa-minna al-qasituna fa-man aslama fa-aulaeka taharraww rashada (14).
And among us are Muslims, and among us are the unjust, and whoever has become Muslim, then those have sought out the right guidance.
Wa-amma al-qasituna fa-kanu li-jahannama hataba (15).
But as for the unjust, they will be firewood for Hellfire.
Wa-allawi estaqamu ala al-tareeqati la-asqaynahum ma-an ghadaqa (16).
And if they have remained straight on the way, we would have given them water in abundance.
Li-naftinahum feehi wa-man you'rid an zikri Rabbihi yasluk-hu azaban sa-ada (17).
That we might test them therein, and whoever turns away from the remembrance of his Lord, He will cast him into a severe punishment.
Wa-anna al-masajida li-llahi fa-la tad-ou ma-a Allahi ahada (18).
And that the mosques are for Allah, so Do not invoke anyone along with Allah.
Wa-annahu lamma qama abdu Allahi yad-uhu kadu yakununa alayhi libada (19).
And that when the Servant of Allah stood up supplicating Him, they almost became about Him a compacted mass.
Qul innama ad-ou Rabbi wa-la aushriku bihi ahada (20).
Say, I only invoke My Lord, and do not associate with Him anyone.
Qul inni la amliku lakum darran wa-la rashada (21).
Say, indeed, I do not posses for you any harm or right guidance.
Qul inni lan youjirani mena Allahi ahadun wa-lan ajida men dunihi multahada (22).
Say, indeed, there will never protect Me from Allah anyone, nor will I find a refuge other than Him.
Illa balaghan mena Allahi wa risalatihi wa-man ya'si Allaha wa rasulahu fa-inna lahu nara jahannama khalideena feeha abada (23).
But only notification from Allah and His messages, and whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, then indeed for him is the fire of Hellfire, they will abide therein forever.
Hatta iza ra-aww ma you-aduna fasa-ya'lamuna man ad-afu nasiran wa aqallu adada (24).
Until when they see that which they are promised, then they will know who is weaker in helpers, and less in number.
Qul inn adri a-qareebun ma tu-aduna am yaj'alu lahu Rabbi amada (25).
Say, I do not know whether that which you are promised is near, or My Lord has appointed for it a distant term.
Alimu alghaybi fa-la youzhiru ala ghaybihi ahada (26).
The Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His unseen to anyone.
Illa mani ertada min rasulin fa-innahu yasluku men bayni yadayhi wa men khalfihi rasada (27).
Except a Messenger whom He has approved, then indeed, He appoints before Him and behind Him observers.
Li-ya'lama an qad ablaghu risalati Rabbihim wa ahata bima ladayhim wa ahsa kulla shay-in adada (28).
That He may know that they have conveyed the messages of their Lord, and He has encompassed whatever is with them, and has enumerated all things in number.
Simplified interpretation:
Surat Aljinn, like Surat Alsaffat, presents two ways to keep the devils away from the Holy Quran, the first way is pelting them with meteors from the sky, and the second is through the Angels who line up and prevent the devils from reaching the Holy Quran lest they steal anything from it and give it to the soothsayers in order to distort it. Surat Aljinn came as an order from Allah Almighty to His Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to inform Quraish that the Jinn had listened to the Holy Quran, and then they believed in Allah, His Messenger, and His Book. Whereas the second part carries an acknowledgment that the Prophet is a humanbeing like them to whom has been revealed, and then Allah threatens the polytheists that whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger will abide in the Hellfire forever, and Allah assures that He does not disclose His unseen to anyone except whom He has approved of Messengers.
Allah Almighty says in the first two verses (1,2) "Say, it has been revealed to Me that a group of the Jinn listened, and said indeed, we have heard an amazing Quran, it guides to the right way, so we have believed in it, and we will never associate anyone with our Lord", that is, Allah commanded His Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) to tell His people that the Jinn heard the Holy Quran and they believed in it, and as narrated by Ibn Abbas: "Allah's Messenger (PBUH) went out along with a group of His companions towards Ukaz market, at that time something intervened between the devils and the news of the sky, and flames were sent down upon them, so the devils returned. Their fellow-devils said What is wrong with you?, they said something has intervened between us and the news of the sky, and fires have been shot at us, their fellow-devils said nothing has intervened between you and the news of the sky, but an important event has happened, therefore, Travel all over the world, east and west, and try to find out what has happened. And so they set out and traveled all over the world, east and west, looking for that thing which intervened between them and the news of the sky, those of the devils who had set out towards Tihama, went to Allah's Messenger at Nakhla (a place between Mecca and Taif), while He was on His way to Ukaz market, they met Him while He was offering the Fajr prayer with His companions, when they heard the Holy Quran being recited by Allah's Messenger (PBUH), they listened to it and said to each other This is the thing which has intervened between you and the news of the sky. Then they returned to their people and said O our people! Indeed, we have heard an amazing Quran, t guides to the right way, so we have believed in it, and we will never associate anyone with our Lord. Then Allah revealed to His Prophet (PBUH) Say, it has been revealed to Me that a group of the Jinn listened (Surat Aljinn), so the statement of the Jinn was revealed to Him" (Sahih Albukhari 4921).
Allah Almighty says in the next three verses (3-5) "And that Exalted is the Glory of our Lord, He has not taken a wife or a son, and that our foolish one used to say about Allah an excessive transgression, and that we had thought that mankind and the jinn would never tell a lie about Allah", that is, the Jinn believed in their Lord and they knew the truth that Allah the Exalted has not taken a wife or a son, and it is not as the foolish among them (Satan) said, where he used to say about Allah an excessive transgression that He has taken a wife and a son, and that they thought that mankind and the jinn will never say a lie about Allah, until they heard the Holy Quran and knew that they were saying lies against Allah regarding the wife and the son.
Allah Almighty says in the next two verses (6,7) "And there were men from mankind who sought refuge in men from the jinn, so they increased them in burden, and they had thought as you thought that Allah would never send anyone", that is, before Islam, there were men who used to seek refuge with the Jinn instead of Allah, and thought that they would be able to protect them, so the Jinn increased them in sin and disbelief, and they both (disbelievers from men and jinn) thought that Allah will never send a Messenger to His servants to guide them to the straight path. The Jinn believed in Allah, in His Messenger and in the Holy Quran, so as mentioned in Aya (30) of Surat Alahqaf when they returned to their people as warners {They said O our people! Indeed, we have heard a Book revealed after Moses confirming what was before it, guides to the truth and to a straight path}.
Allah Almighty says in the next three verses (8-10) "And we have sought the sky, but we found it filled with stern guards and flames, and we used to sit therein in position for hearing, but whoever listens now will a flame lying in wait for him, and we do not know whether evil is intended for those on earth, or their Lord intends for them a right guidance", that is, there was something intervened between the Jinn and the news of the sky, so they were unable to eavesdrop lest they steal anything from the Quran and give it to the soothsayers in order to distort it, so they found that the sky filled with stern guards from among the Angels and that the burning flames were sent down upon them and this is similar to Aya (8) of Surat Alsaffat "They can not listen to the exalted assembly, and are pelted from every side". And because of their knowledge that they were not prevented from the news of the sky except in two cases: Allah sends down torment upon a people or sends a Prophet with the right guidance, they said in the next verse (10): "And we do not know whether evil is intended for those on earth, or their Lord intends for them a right guidance".
Allah Almighty says in the next five verses (11-15) "And among us are the righteous, and among us are others not so, we were on different ways, and we have become certain that we will never cause failure to Allah on the earth, nor can we escape Him by flight, and when we heard the guidance, we believed in it, and whoever believes in his Lord will not fear deprivation or burden, and among us are Muslims, and among us are the unjust, and whoever has become Muslim, then those have sought out the right guidance, but as for the unjust, they will be firewood for Hellfire", that is, the Jinn said that they were on different ways, so among them are the righteous, and among them are the disbelievers, and that they have become certain that they will never cause failure to Allah on the earth, nor can they escape Him by flight, and that when they heard the Holy Quran, they believed in it, and they become certain that whoever believes in his Lord will not fear any loss nor any burden, so he is not afraid that his good deeds will be decreased nor his evil deeds will be increased. Also they said that among them are the Muslims, and among them are the unjust, and they become certain that whoever accepts Islam, then those have sought out the right guidance and the path of salvation where the unjust will be firewood for the Hellfire. These five verses are similar to the verse (32) of Surat Alahqaf when they said to their people {And He who does not respond to the caller of Allah, then he can not cause failure on the earth, and there is no protectors for him besides Allah, those are in a clear error}.
Allah Almighty says in the next two verses (16,17) "And if they have remained straight on the way, we would have given them water in abundance, that we might test them therein, and whoever turns away from the remembrance of his Lord, He will cast him into a severe punishment", that is, Allah assures that if the disbelievers were upright on the way and believed in Him, He will surely give them water in abundance, so Allah will give them abundant sustenance for water is the main source of man's livelihood as Allah has stated in Aya (30) of Surat Alanbiyaa {And We made from water every living thing}, and Allah might test them by it, whether they will be grateful or ungrateful to Him, and Allah threatens whoever turns away from the remembrance of Allah and from the Holy Quran, with a severe torment in Hellfire.
Allah Almighty says in the next two verses (18,19) "And that the mosques are for Allah, so Do not invoke anyone along with Allah, and that when the Servant of Allah stood up supplicating Him, they almost became about Him a compacted mass", that is, the mosques belong to Allah alone, and He commanded mankind to worship Him alone, not invoking or associating anyone besides Him, and Allah assures that when the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) started calling to worship Allah, the infidels of Mecca were collaborators against Him in order to stop that matter, so this verse came as a kind of reprimand for them, as if Allah were saying when the Jinn heard the Quran, they believed in it, so how can you not believe in it?, and Allah has stated this explicitly in Aya (2021) of Surat Alinshiqaq {So What is with them that they do not believe, and when the Quran is recited to them, they do not prostrate}.
Allah Almighty says in the next four verses (20-23) "Say, I only invoke My Lord, and do not associate with Him anyone, Say, indeed, I do not posses for you any harm or right guidance, Say, indeed, there will never protect Me from Allah anyone, nor will I find a refuge other than Him, but only notification from Allah and His messages, and whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, then indeed for him is the fire of Hellfire, they will abide therein forever", that is, Allah commanded His Prophet (PBUH) to say to the disbelievers that He invokes His Lord, and He does not associate with Him anyone, and to say that He does not posses for them any harm in their religion or in the worldly affairs nor does He guide them to the right guidance, so He is a human being like them and Allah is the One who has control over everything, so He guides whom He wills and lets go astray whom He wills, and this is similar to the last verse of Surat Alkahf (110) {Say indeed, I am only a human being like you, it is revealed to Me that your God is One God}. Allah also commanded His Prophet (PBUH) to say to them that there will never protect Him from Allah anyone if He disobeyed Him and no one will be able to save Him from His torment, and He will never find a refuge other than Allah, but what He possesses for them and what protects Him from Allah is to convey the notification of Allah and His messages, then Allah confirms that whoever rejects the notification and the message of Allah, so he disobeys Allah in what He commanded him to do, and in what He forbade him, will enter Hellfire on the day of resurrection, abiding therein for ever.
Allah Almighty says in the next two verses (24,25) "Until when they see that which they are promised, then they will know who is weaker in helpers, and less in number, Say, I do not know whether that which you are promised is near, or My Lord has appointed for it a distant term", that is, Allah threatens the disbelievers from among the men and the Jinn, assuring that when they see that which they are promised on day of resurrection, they will know whether they are weaker in helpers and fewer in number or the believers who have believed in Allah and His messages, assuredly the disbelievers have no supporter at all, and they are fewer in number than the believers. Then Allah commanded His Messenger (PBUH) to say to them that He does not know whether the day of resurrection) is near, or that Allah has appointed for it a distant term, so the knowledge of the Hour belongs to Allah alone, as H has stated in Aya (44) Surat Alnazi'at Aya (44) {To Your Lord is its finality}.
Allah Almighty says in the last three verses (26-28) "The Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His unseen to anyone, except a Messenger whom He has approved, then indeed, He appoints before Him and behind Him observers, that He may know that they have conveyed the messages of their Lord, and He has encompassed whatever is with them, and has enumerated all things in number", that is, Allah is the Knower of the unseen, so He does not give the knowledge of the unseen to anyone, except a Messenger whom He has approved, then indeed, He makes to march before Him and behind Him watching guards, so there were watching guards in front of Gabriel, and watching guards behind Him from among the Angels when He conveyed Allah's message to His Messenger Muhammad (PBUH), lest the devils steal anything from the Holy Quran and give it to the soothsayers in order to distort it, and that is Allah's saying about the Holy Quran in Aya (42) of Surat Fussilat "The falsehood can not come to it from before it nor from behind it, a revelation from All-Wise, Praiseworthy", and Allah has described Gabriel and the Angels with Him in the first three verses of Surat Alsaffat saying {By those who lined up in rows, then by those who prevent strongly, then those who recite the reminder}. Thereupon, as just the devils have been prevented from the news of sky as mentioned above in Aya (9), they also have been prevented from reaching the Holy Quran at the time of its conveying to Allah's Messenger, and the Angels were in front of Gabriel and behind Him to ensure that the message was delivered as it is without distortion by the devils and their human supporters, so Allah has placed Angels in front of Gabriel and Angels behind Him to ensure that they have conveyed the messages of their Lord, and He has encompassed what is with them, and He has enumerated all things in number. Although Allah knows everything they have and nothing was hidden from Him, but He begins the verse by "That He may know" as if He says that the presence of the Angels is nothing but a guarantee that they have conveyed the messages of their Lord as it is.