Surah 72. Al-Jinn

---

Verses [Section]: 1-19[1], 20-28 [2]

---

Quran Text of Verse 1-1972. Al-Jinn Page 57272. Al-Jinnبِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِقُلْSayاُوْحِیَIt has been revealedاِلَیَّto meاَنَّهُthatاسْتَمَعَlistenedنَفَرٌa groupمِّنَofالْجِنِّthe jinnفَقَالُوْۤاand they saidاِنَّاIndeed weسَمِعْنَاheardقُرْاٰنًاa Quranعَجَبًاۙamazing یَّهْدِیْۤIt guidesاِلَیtoالرُّشْدِthe right wayفَاٰمَنَّاso we believeبِهٖ ؕin itوَ لَنْand neverنُّشْرِكَwe will associateبِرَبِّنَاۤwith our Lordاَحَدًاۙanyone وَّ اَنَّهٗAnd that HeتَعٰلٰیExalted isجَدُّ(the) Majestyرَبِّنَا(of) our LordمَاnotاتَّخَذَHe has takenصَاحِبَةًa wifeوَّ لَاand notوَلَدًاۙa son وَّ اَنَّهٗAnd that heكَانَusedیَقُوْلُ(to) speakسَفِیْهُنَاthe foolish among usعَلَیagainstاللّٰهِAllahشَطَطًاۙan excessive transgression وَّ اَنَّاAnd that weظَنَنَّاۤthoughtاَنْthatلَّنْneverتَقُوْلَwill sayالْاِنْسُthe menوَ الْجِنُّand the jinnعَلَیagainstاللّٰهِAllahكَذِبًاۙany lie وَّ اَنَّهٗAnd thatكَانَ(there) wereرِجَالٌmenمِّنَamongالْاِنْسِmankindیَعُوْذُوْنَwho sought refugeبِرِجَالٍin (the) menمِّنَfromالْجِنِّthe jinnفَزَادُوْهُمْso they increased themرَهَقًاۙ(in) burden وَّ اَنَّهُمْAnd that theyظَنُّوْاthoughtكَمَاasظَنَنْتُمْyou thoughtاَنْthatلَّنْneverیَّبْعَثَwill raiseاللّٰهُAllahاَحَدًاۙanyone وَّ اَنَّاAnd that weلَمَسْنَاsought to touchالسَّمَآءَthe heavenفَوَجَدْنٰهَاbut we found itمُلِئَتْfilled (with)حَرَسًاguardsشَدِیْدًاsevereوَّ شُهُبًاۙand flaming fires وَّ اَنَّاAnd that weكُنَّاused (to)نَقْعُدُsitمِنْهَاthere inمَقَاعِدَpositionsلِلسَّمْعِ ؕfor hearingفَمَنْbut (he) whoیَّسْتَمِعِlistensالْاٰنَnowیَجِدْwill findلَهٗfor himشِهَابًاa flaming fireرَّصَدًاۙwaiting وَّ اَنَّاAnd that weلَاnotنَدْرِیْۤwe knowاَشَرٌّwhether evilاُرِیْدَis intendedبِمَنْfor (those) whoفِی(are) inالْاَرْضِthe earthاَمْorاَرَادَintendsبِهِمْfor themرَبُّهُمْtheir Lordرَشَدًاۙa right path وَّ اَنَّاAnd thatمِنَّاamong usالصّٰلِحُوْنَ(are) the righteousوَ مِنَّاand among usدُوْنَ(are) other thanذٰلِكَ ؕthatكُنَّاWeطَرَآىِٕقَ(are on) waysقِدَدًاۙdifferent وَّ اَنَّاAnd that weظَنَنَّاۤ[we] have become certainاَنْthatلَّنْneverنُّعْجِزَwe will cause failureاللّٰهَ(to) Allahفِیinالْاَرْضِthe earthوَ لَنْand neverنُّعْجِزَهٗwe can escape Himهَرَبًاۙ(by) flight وَّ اَنَّاAnd thatلَمَّاwhenسَمِعْنَاwe heardالْهُدٰۤیthe Guidanceاٰمَنَّاwe believedبِهٖ ؕin itفَمَنْAnd whoeverیُّؤْمِنْۢbelievesبِرَبِّهٖin his Lordفَلَاthen notیَخَافُhe will fearبَخْسًاany lossوَّ لَاand notرَهَقًاۙany burden 72. Al-Jinn Page 573وَّ اَنَّاAnd that weمِنَّاamong usالْمُسْلِمُوْنَ(are) Muslimsوَ مِنَّاand among usالْقٰسِطُوْنَ ؕ(are) unjustفَمَنْAnd whoeverاَسْلَمَsubmitsفَاُولٰٓىِٕكَthen thoseتَحَرَّوْاhave soughtرَشَدًا (the) right path وَ اَمَّاAnd as forالْقٰسِطُوْنَthe unjustفَكَانُوْاthey will beلِجَهَنَّمَfor Hellحَطَبًاۙfirewood وَّ اَنْ لَّوِAnd ifاسْتَقَامُوْاthey had remainedعَلَیonالطَّرِیْقَةِthe Wayلَاَسْقَیْنٰهُمْsurely We (would) have given them to drinkمَّآءًwaterغَدَقًاۙ(in) abundance لِّنَفْتِنَهُمْThat We might test themفِیْهِ ؕthereinوَ مَنْAnd whoeverیُّعْرِضْturns awayعَنْfromذِكْرِthe Remembranceرَبِّهٖ(of) his LordیَسْلُكْهُHe will make him enterعَذَابًاa punishmentصَعَدًاۙsevere وَّ اَنَّAnd thatالْمَسٰجِدَthe masajidلِلّٰهِ(are) for Allahفَلَاso (do) notتَدْعُوْاcallمَعَwithاللّٰهِAllahاَحَدًاۙanyone وَّ اَنَّهٗAnd thatلَمَّاwhenقَامَstood upعَبْدُ(the) slaveاللّٰهِ(of) Allahیَدْعُوْهُcalling (upon) Himكَادُوْاthey almostیَكُوْنُوْنَbecameعَلَیْهِaround himلِبَدًاؕ۠a compacted mass

---

Translation of Verse 1-19In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

1. (O Prophet ! ) say: It is revealed to me that a group of the jinn ¹ listened (to the Quran) and said: We have heard a very wondrous Quran.²

2. Which leads to the guidance ³ so we believed in it ⁴ and we will never ascribe any partner to our Lord.⁵

3. And that the grandeur of our Lord is very high. HE has taken neither a wife for HIM nor any children.⁶

4. And that the ignorant among us used to say untruth against Allah. ⁷

5. And that we thought that men and jinn would never tell lie against Allah. ⁸

6. And that persons among men have been seeking refuge with persons among the jinn; thus they added to their rebellion. ⁹

7. And they imagined, as you imagined, that Allah would not send anyone as HIS Messenger. ¹⁰

8. And that we groped the sky and found that it is filled with strong guards and meteors.¹¹

9. And that we used to sit eavesdropping at some of its places but, now, whoever tries to eavesdrop finds a meteor in wait for him. ¹²

10. And that we did not know whether it had been decided to send down a calamity on those on the earth or their Lord intended to bestow guidance on them.¹³

11. And that there are righteous among us and also non-righteous. Our ways are different. ¹⁴

12. And that we thought that we cannot escape Allah on the earth nor can we escape Him by fleeing (into the sky).¹⁵

13. And that when we heard the Word of Guidance we believed in it. And whosoever will believe in his Lord will fear neither injustic nor any kind of excess.¹⁶

14. And that among us are Muslims (who surrender themselves to Allah) and also wrong-doers. So those who adopted Islam (obedience to Allah) found the path of Guidance.¹⁷

15. And those who are the wrong-doers will be the fuel of the Hell.¹⁸

16. And (it is revealed to me that) ¹⁹ had these people treed the right path WE would have given them drinking water in abundance. ²⁰

17. So that WE may try them in it ²¹and who ever will turn away from the remembrance of his Lord²² HE will thrust him in a hard torment.

18. And that the mosques are for Allah, so invoke not anyone along with Allah.²³

19. And when Allah’s slave stands up to invoke (pray) Him, these people surge upon Him. ²⁴

---

Commentary

1. Explanatory notes regarding Jinns (genii) have been given on several places earlier. Please see Surah Anaam, note 190 and 287, Surah Hijr, note:25, Surah Ahqaf, notes 48 - 49.

Jinn is a hidden creation of God and hence it is one of the unseen things. The only source to know anything about the unseen is Divine revelation. Therefore, whatever the Book and the Holy Prophet’s traditions show should suffice us. Those who have talked a lot on the basis of imagination have opened up gates for superstitions and nonsense. It is strange that some ulema also have, quoted hearsay and unreliable stories generously. Consequently, relying on such baseless things, people have adopted wrong and irreligious behaviours. Some such are noted below briefly:-

(1) Whenever a person suffers from epileptic fits or any other mind trouble, especially whenever a woman becomes hysterias, instead of referring the case to a physician, they announce that she has fallen pray to an evil spirit, that a genie has seized her and that she is uttering the words of that genie (jinn). That is to say, the personal existence of that man or woman becomes totally suspended. Then they turn toward ignorant ‘Baawas’ for driving away that ‘jinn’. They take the patients to various shrines (dargahs). In this way they are given doses of Shirk (polytheism) and Bida’at (innovations) and they are beaten severely, thinking that this beating gives pain to the invader Jinn and not to the affected person. So the intruder has to flee. But on several occasions all these tricks do not work and the ailing fellow never recovers. The truth is that all this is mere superstition. Otherwise, such attacks of evil spirits are never proved in the light of the Holy Quran or the traditions. Neither it is a thing which appeals reason. What is the ground or basis on which it can be decided whether somebody is suffering from natural trouble or an attack of an evil spirit ? If, imagining him or her a sufferer from evil spirit that fellow is beaten up, will his or her illness not increase if it was due to natural reasons’? And where is the religious authority for resorting to such harsh punishment? Is it not a sheer oppression? It is totally false to say that such beating gives no pain to the affected person and that it only hurts the jinn. If it is so, blood should not come out from the injury (cuts) on that person’s body. But is it ever possible? This and such other several questions are enough to prove that this is nonsense.

(2) They also think the jinns can be brought under control. There is no basis for this thinking. It was only the speciality of prophet Sulaiman (Peace be Upon Him) that Allah had granted him control over the genie who were doing jobs like construction etc. for him. It was indeed a miracle granted by God to one of His Messengers.

(3) One more corrupt thought is that the jinns also marry with some human females and also that they beget children from them. This is a very foolish imagination, because, in such circumstance, a woman who is unlawfully impregnated can claim that a jinn had raped her. Will her statement be accepted as true? Will the punishment fixed by Shariat not be given to her?

(4) Some also think that jinns indulge in stealing also. Could they really do so, it could have created a terrible turmoil in human society. It would, then, have become extremely difficult to detect whether a certain theft was committed by a jinn or by a man. A watchman turned thief can easily claim that a jinn took the things away, not I. Will his statement be relied upon by the court? If not, why not?

In this connection some refer to this ayah of the Holy Quran according to which Allah had, addressing the devil (Shaitan), said:-

“and be a partner in their wealth and children.” (Bani Israail: 64)

They say that jinns become partners in wealth and children by stealing human property and by indulging in sexual intercourse with human females. But both these assertions are nonsense. This, certainly, is not the meaning of the Holy Verse. The meaning of Shaitan’s partnership in human wealth and off springs is that man may think that these things have been given to him not by God but by others, whereas they have been bestowed by ONLY ONE GOD.

(5) It has also been propagated that jinns know the unseen. But this is a totally false belief.

No one’ except God knows the unseen (ghaib). The Quran has emphatically rejected this belief that the jinns have a knowledge of the unseen. The Quran narrates the event of Prophet Sulaiman (Peace Be Upon Him) and says:

“And when he fell down, the jinns realised that had they had the knowledge of what was hidden, they would not have continued in this abject hardship.” (Saba:14)

2. The summary of the event of the jinns’ hearing the Holy Quran as narrated by Abdullah bin Abbas in Bukhari is like this. While proceeding to the market of Ukaz (situated between Makkah and Taif) the Holy prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) offered the Fajr prayer (Salat) at a place called Nakhlah, along with his companions. At that time a party of the jinns passing by that place heard the Quran being recited. That group of the genie had set out to find out what important event was to occur as they had seen in the skies that meteors were hurtling unusually amidst extraordinary defense arrangement in the outer space. Immediately on hearing the Holy Quran from the mouth of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). they said that this was that very thing for hiding which we were prevented from eavesdropping in the heavens. They were profoundly influenced by the Divine Words of the Holy Quran. So they at once accepted its call to believe in it. They went back to their community and told them the things narrated in these verses. Allah Almighty informed the Holy Prophet about this happening. (Bukhari Kitabut Tafseer).It has been further clarified in Tirmizi that Abdullah bin Abbas said: The Holy Prophet had not recited the Holy Quran in the presence of (in front of) the jinns nor had he seen the jinns. (That is, the jinns, per chance, heard the recitation and the prophet came to know of it only through revelation). (See Tirmizi, Tafseer Surah Jinn)

This statement of the jinns makes it clear that they knew the Arabic language and, therefore, when they heard the Quran they were wonderstruck by its miraculous fluency. Recognizing its extraordinary character, they at once followed that it was the Divine Word, And, really speaking, this is the very intention of this verse, It is to show that Quran in itself is the proof of its being the Divine Word. If there is a longing to know the Truth, not only men but even jinns find no difficulty in recognizing the Word of their Lord.

3. The hearing of the Holy Quran opened up the path way to Truth for the jinns. They were convinced that the path shown by the Quran is the path of Guidance which leads to Truth and toward God.

4. This group of the genie believed in the Holy Quran. It is thus clear that this scripture has been revealed for both the mankind and the jinns. Both a have been called upon to believe. Surah Rahman addresses both very explicitly and directly. Now when it is necessary for jinns to believe in the Quran they are also required to put Faith in the bearer of the Quran that is the Holy prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). For this purpose Almighty Allah has been making such arrangements through which the jinns themselves may reach the prophet and they may be able to hear the Quran from his own mouth. Besides this ayah, another verse 29 of Surah Ahqaf also testifies to this.

5. This shows that, like mankind, jinns also are affected by the false belief in polytheism. When such a group of the jinns heard the Quranic call to believe in Allah’s unity (Tawheed), they gave up their polytheistic thinking, expressed their displeasure for it and emphatically declared that they would always remain steadfast on Tawheed and would never ascribe any partner to Allah.

This ayah also clarifies that Guidance begins with Tawheed and that it totally negates polytheism (Shirk).

6. That the Grandeur of our Lord is so high that it is below His dignity to possess wife and children.To imagine Him like humans is to underestimate His Highness.

7. Like men, jinns also sometime.” talk foolishly about God.

8. We had been under the wrong impression

that the humans and jinns would never venture to tell the untruth regarding God. But now we have come to know that both of them have been telling untruth and ascribing falsehood to Him and that an entire structure of polytheism has been constructed on the ground of such falsehood.

9. It is mentioned in narrations that formerly when a caravan of the Arabs used to camp in a fearful lonely place in the desert they used to beseech shelter of the chief of the jinns of that place so that he may protect them from any genie harassment. It was a totally ignorant and polytheistic belief. Yet it added to the arrogance and to the superiority complex of the jinns who turned rebellious.

The protector is ONLY ONE GOD. Therefore to seek the protection of the jinns is totally wrong and false. Yet, even today, many ignorant people seek the help of jinns. This corruption of belief is a very serious evil which misleads people badly.

10. These jinns told their people that just as you had imagined that no prophet would ever come So also polytheistic men had also imagined that no messenger would ever arrive from God. But both are proved wrong. God has, to pave the way for Guidance of men and jinn, sent His Messenger Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) who)has arrived with this Holy Quran.

11. The jinns can fly in the outer space. When the Holy Prophet was sent to this world a strict guard of angels was posted in the sky and the atmosphere was filled with comets So that the jinns may not be able to interfere with the Divine communication with the prophet and so that they may not be able to eavesdrop.

12. That is, we had made such spots in the sky wherefrom we were trying to sense the talks of the heavenly people, But now it is not possible. Now, whenever we try to eavesdrop, a flame of fire (comet or meteor) follows us.

It should be understood that these comets (shihab) are flames gushing forth from stars at a very high altitude in the sky. They are lying in ambush for the intruding jinns.

For further clarification please see Surah Hijr, note:16.

13. It could be imagined by observing such extraordinary arrangements in the sky that some revolutionary event was to take place on the earth. May be the earthly people were to receive Divine punishment or may be they were to get a lofty Guidance. This precaution was taken to prevent the jinns from getting any advance hint of it. They could not know which one of the two important events was to take place. Of course, when they heard the Holy Quran, their doubt was removed and they knew that the heavenly endoblast was for the sake of bestowing Divine Guidance on the earthly people.

14. It thus became clear that all the jinns are not evil. There are also righteous among them. Like human beings the jinns also follow different beliefs and practices. Since jinns to are responsible for their deeds they are also put to test by God and they have also been given the f reed om to choose between guidance and deviation.

15. That is, we knew that though we can fly in outer space, we are certainly not out of God’s control. If HE intends to arrest us we can never find any refuge on earth. Nor can we flee in sky. This statement of jinns shows their weakness before god. This negates the belief which makes them partners of God’s power.

16. The jinns not only informed their people about their becoming believers (Muslim) but also invited them too to become believers and told them that if they believed they would get full reward of it.

17. This statement of the jinns made the truthfulness of Islam all the more explicit. It shows that Muslims are not only in mankind but also in jinns. The converted jinns also told their people that to accept Islam is to gain Guidance.

18. In other words, those who are opposed to the true religion (Islam) will be sentenced in the Hell. Thus they expressed their belief in the ideology of reward and punishment (depending upon one’s deeds).

19. The narration of the jinns concludes here. Henceforth begin Allah’s Words.

20. Means the polytheists of Makkah and what is meant is that had they tread the high way of Islam they would have got a lot of wa ter. A ll prod uction d epend s on the availability of water. Its need is more in the sandy lands of Arabistan. Here as well as at other places, the Holy Quran has explained that God Almighty provides abundance in the provisions of those people who accept Guidance and walk straight.

For further explanation please see Surah Aaraf, note:152.

21. There always is an aspect of test in worldly bounties. It is to ascertain whether man becomes grateful to God or behaves thanklessly.

22. Here Masjids means places of worship which are always built to worship God. The Masjide Haram (Makkah) and the Bait al Maqdis (Jerusalem) are necessarily included herein. So also all the masjids which Muslims built. They also include the places of worship of the People of the Book because, originally they too were built for worshipping Allah.

What is intended to be conveyed is that the places of worship are reserved for ONLY ONE GOD and therefore HE alone should be worshipped therein. The worship of idols therein and rituals of polytheism therein are very big and serious criminal gestures.

Despite this hurmat (dignity) of the mosques there are some among Muslims who invoke others besides Allah for help and for hearing complaints. Instead of calling ‘Yaa Allah’ aur ‘Yaa Rabb’ they cry ‘Yaa Ghaus’ or ‘Yaa Pir Dastageer’ etc. Despite such invoking others than God they think their belief in the unity of God is not harmed.

23. One more of the ever-increasing innovations (Bida’ats) in the introduced recently in the mosques is that (in the direction of Madina) they hang a picture of the Prophet’s mosque, then they standup with reverence before it reciting ‘Yaa Rasoolallah , and offer Durood. As if there are two Quiblas, not one. The one is toward the Haram of Makkah for offering salaat, and the other toward Madina’s Masjide Nabavi (Gunbade Khidraa) for offering Durood. May Allah guide Muslims so that they may keep their mosques clean of polytheism and innovations.

My mission is only to convey Allah’s Word and His Messages and who ever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he shall have the fire of Hell wherein he will abide forever. (Al-Quran)

24. The word ‘Abdullah’ (Allah’s slave) means the Holy Prophet. When he used to stand in the mosque and invoke (pray) only ONE ALLAH, the polytheists used to become very angry. They assembled all around him so furiously as if they were about to fall on him to crush him.