which guides to rectitude to faith and propriety. Therefore we believe in it and we will never after this day associate anyone with our Lord.
قل -أيها الرسول-: أوحى الله إليَّ أنَّ جماعة من الجن قد استمعوا لتلاوتي للقرآن، فلما سمعوه قالوا لقومهم: إنا سمعنا قرآنًا بديعًا في بلاغته وفصاحته وحكمه وأحكامه وأخباره، يدعو إلى الحق والهدى، فصدَّقنا بهذا القرآن وعملنا به، ولن نشرك بربنا الذي خلقنا أحدًا في عبادته.
"يهدي إلى الرشد" أي يهدي إلى السداد والنجاح "فآمنا به ولن نشرك بربنا أحدا" وهذا المقام شبيه بقوله تعالى "وإذ صرفنا إليك نفرا من الجن يستمعون القرآن" وقد قدمنا الأحاديث الواردة في ذلك بما أغنى عن إعادته ههنا.
هذا القرآن ( يهدي إِلَى الرشد ) أى : إلى الخير والصواب والهدى ( فَآمَنَّا بِهِ ) إيمانا حقا ، لا يخالطه شك أو ريب ( وَلَن نُّشرِكَ بِرَبِّنَآ أَحَداً ) أى : فآمنا بما اشتمل عليه هذا الكتاب من دعوة إلى إخلاص العبادة لله - تعالى - وحده ، ولن نشرك معه فى العبادة أحدا كائنا من كان هذا الحد .والمقصود من أمره صلى الله عليه وسلم بذلك ، دعوة مشركى قريش إلى الإِيمان بالحق الذى جاء به صلى الله عليه وسلم كما آمن جماعة من الجن به ، وإعلامهم بأن رسالته صلى الله عليه وسلم تشمل الجن والإِنس .وضمير " أنه " للشأن ، وخبر " أن " جملة ( استمع نَفَرٌ مِّنَ الجن ) ، وتأكيد هذا الخبر بأن ، للاهتمام به لغرابته . ومفعول " استمع " محذوف لدلالة قوله : ( إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآناً عَجَباً ) عليه .ووصفهم للقرآن بكونه ( قُرْآناً عَجَباً . يهدي إِلَى الرشد ) يدل على تأثرهم به تأثرا شديدا ، وعلى إعجابهم العظيم بنظمه المتقن ، وأسلوبه الحكيم ، ومعانيه البديعة . . ولذا أعلنوا إيمانهم به بدون تردد ، كما يشعر بذلك التعبير بالفاء فى قوله : ( فَآمَنَّا بِهِ . . . ) .والتعبير بقوله - تعالى - : ( فقالوا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا . . ) يحتمل أنهم قالوا ذلك فيما بينهم ، أو لإِخوانهم الذين رجعوا إليهم ، كما فى قوله - تعالى - فى سورة الأحقاف : ( قَالُواْ ياقومنآ إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا كِتَاباً أُنزِلَ مِن بَعْدِ موسى مُصَدِّقاً لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ يهدي إِلَى الحق وإلى طَرِيقٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ) ويحتمل أنهم قالوا ذلك فى أنفسهم على سبيل الإِعجاب ، كما فى قوله - تعالى - : ( وَيَقُولُونَ في أَنفُسِهِمْ لَوْلاَ يُعَذِّبُنَا الله بِمَا نَقُولُ ) بل إننا نرجح أن قولهم هذا قد شمل كل ذلك ، لأن هذا هو الذى يتناسب مع إعجابهم بالقرآن الكريم ، ومع حرصهم على إيمان أكبر عدد منهم به .
القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًايقول جلّ ثناؤه لنبيه محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم : قل يا محمد أوحى الله إلىَّ( أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الْجِنِّ ) هذا القرآن ( فَقَالُوا ) لقومهم لما سمعوه: ( إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًا يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ ) يقول: يدلّ على الحقّ وسبيل الصواب ( فَآمَنَّا بِهِ ) يقول: فصدّقناه ( وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا ) من خلقه.وكان سبب استماع هؤلاء النفر من الجنّ القرآن، كما حدثني محمد بن معمر، قال: ثنا أبو هشام، يعني المخزومي، قال: ثنا أبو عوانة، عن أبي بشر، عن سعيد بن جُبير، عن ابن عباس، قال: ما قرأ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على الجنّ ولا رآهم؛ انطلق رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في نفر من أصحابه، عامدين إلى سوق عكاظ، قال: وقد حِيل بين الشياطين وبين خبر السماء، وأُرسلت عليهم الشهب، فرجعت الشياطين إلى قومهم، فقالوا: ما لكم ؟ فقالوا: حيل بيننا وبين خبر السماء، وأُرسلت علينا الشهب، فقالوا: ما حال بينكم وبين خبر السماء إلا شيء حدث.قال: فانطلقوا فاضربوا مشارق الأرض ومغاربها فانظروا ما هذا الذي حدث، قال: فانطلقوا يضربون مشارق الأرض ومغاربها، يتتبعون ما هذا الذي حال بينهم وبين خبر السماء؛ قال: فانطلق النفر الذين توجهوا نحو تهامة إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بنخلة، وهو عامد إلى سوق عكاظ، وهو يصلي بأصحابه صلاة الفجر؛ قال: فلما سمعوا القرآن استمعوا له فقالوا: هذا والله الذي حال بينكم وبين خبر السماء، قال: فهنالك حين رجعوا إلى قومهم، فقالوا: يا قومنا( إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًا يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ فَآمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا ) قال: فأنـزل الله على نبيه صلى الله عليه وسلم: ( قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الْجِنِّ ) وإنما أوحي إليه قول الجنّ.حدثنا ابن حميد، قال: ثنا مهران، عن سفيان، عن عاصم، عن ورقاء، قال: قدم رهط زوبعة وأصحابه مكة على النبيّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فسمعوا قراءة النبيّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثم انصرفوا، فذلك قوله: وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَا إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقُرْآنَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوا أَنْصِتُوا قال: كانوا تسعة فيهم زوبعة.حُدثت عن الحسين، قال: سمعت أبا معاذ يقول: ثنا عبيد، قال: سمعت الضحاك يقول في قوله: ( قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الْجِنِّ ) هو قول الله وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَا إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ لم تُحرس السماء في الفترة بين عيسى ومحمد؛ فلما بعث الله محمدًا صلى الله عليه وسلم حرست السماء الدنيا، ورُميت الشياطين بالشهب، فقال إبليس: لقد حدث في الأرض حدث، فأمر الجنّ فتفرّقت في الأرض لتأتيه بخبر ما حدث. وكان أوّل من بُعث نفر من أهل نصيبين وهي أرض باليمن، وهم أشراف الجنّ، وسادتهم، فبعثهم إلى تهامة وما يلي اليمن، فمضى أولئك النفر، فأتوا على الوادي وادي نخلة، وهو من الوادي مسيرة ليلتين، فوجدوا به نبيّ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي صلاة الغداة فسمعوه يتلو القرآن؛ فلما حضروه، قالوا: أنصتوا، فلما قُضِيَ، يعني فُرِغ من الصلاة، وَلَّوْا إلى قومهم منذرين، يعني مؤمنين، لم يعلم بهم نبيّ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ولم يشعر أنه صُرِف إليه، حتى أنـزل الله عليه: ( قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الْجِنِّ ).
"يهدي إلى الرشد"، يدعوا إلى الصواب من التوحيد والإيمان، "فآمنا به ولن نشرك بربنا أحداً".
يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ فَآَمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا (2)والإِيمان بالقرآن يقتضي الإِيمان بمن جاء به وبمن أنزله ولذلك قالوا { ولن نشرك بربنا أحداً .وقد حصل لهؤلاء النفر من الجن شرف المعرفة بالله وصفاته وصِدق رسوله وصدق القرآن وما احتوى عليه مَا سَمعوه منه فصاروا من خيرة المخلوقات ، وأُكرموا بالفوز في الحياة الآخرة فلم يكونوا ممن ذَرْأَ الله لجهنم من الجن والإِنس .ومتعلق استمع } محذوف دل عليه قوله بعده { فقالوا إنا سمعنا قرآنا عجباً .والرشْد } : بضم الراء وسكون الشين ( أو يقال بفتح الراء وفتح الشين ) هو الخير والصواب والهدى . واتفقت القراءات العشر على قراءته بضم فسكون .وقولهم : { ولن نشرك بربنا أحداً ، } أي ينتفي ذلك في المستقبل . وهذا يقتضي أنهم كانوا مشركين ولذلك أكدوا نفي الإِشراك بحرف التأبيد فكما أكد خبرهم عن القرآن والثناء عليه ب ( إن ) أكد خبرهم عن إقلاعهم عن الإِشراك ب { لن } .
{ يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ } والرشد: اسم جامع لكل ما يرشد الناس إلى مصالح دينهم ودنياهم، { فَآمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا } فجمعوا بين الإيمان الذي يدخل فيه جميع أعمال الخير، وبين التقوى، [المتضمنة لترك الشر] وجعلوا السبب الداعي لهم إلى الإيمان وتوابعه، ما علموه من إرشادات القرآن، وما اشتمل عليه من المصالح والفوائد واجتناب المضار، فإن ذلك آية عظيمة، وحجة قاطعة، لمن استنار به، واهتدى بهديه، وهذا الإيمان النافع، المثمر لكل خير، المبني على هداية القرآن، بخلاف إيمان العوائد، والمربى والإلف ونحو ذلك، فإنه إيمان تقليد تحت خطر الشبهات والعوارض الكثيرة،
يهدي إلى الرشد أي إلى مراشد الأمور . وقيل : إلى معرفة الله تعالى ; ويهدي في موضع الصفة أي هاديا . فآمنا به أي فاهتدينا به وصدقنا أنه من عند الله ولن نشرك بربنا أحدا أي لا نرجع إلى إبليس ولا نطيعه ; لأنه الذي كان بعثهم ليأتوه بالخبر ، ثم رمي الجن بالشهب . وقيل لا نتخذ مع الله إلها آخر ; لأنه المتفرد بالربوبية . وفي هذا تعجيب المؤمنين بذهاب مشركي قريش عما أدركته الجن بتدبرها القرآن .وقوله تعالى : استمع نفر من الجن أي استمعوا إلى النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فعلموا أن ما يقرؤه كلام الله . ولم يذكر المستمع إليه [ ص: 9 ] لدلالة الحال عليه . والنفر الرهط ; قال الخليل : ما بين ثلاثة إلى عشرة . وقرأ عيسى الثقفي يهدي إلى الرشد بفتح الراء والشين .
In this world, in addition to human beings and angels, there is another set of creatures known as jinn. Human beings cannot see them but, in the Quran, they have been mentioned at several places. These verses show that among the jinn also there are guided and misguided types. Just as there are foolish leaders who misguide the common people, similarly there are foolish leaders among the jinn, who go on misguiding them with deceitful utterances. So far as the angels are concerned, they are not being put to the test, and thus do not have free will. They simply follow the commands given by God.
Commentary
Preliminary Remarks
It seems necessary to know a few facts before the start of the study of the Surah, which are as follows:
Fact [ 1]
Before the advent of the Holy Prophet ﷺ the devils used to go up to the heavens and eavesdrop on the conversations of the angels. After his advent, they were pelted with a piercing flame if they attempted to go up and eavesdrop. It is mentioned in Surah Al-Ahqaf that a group of jinn went up to the Holy Prophet to investigate the reason for this new phenomenon.
Fact [ 2]
It was customary in the Days of Ignorance that when people halted in a jungle or valley in the course of a journey, they uttered the following words:
اعوذ بعزیز ھذا الودی من شر سفھاء قومہ
"I seek refuge in the leader of this valley from the foolish mischief-makers of his nation" - believing that the leader of the valley (a Jinn) would protect them.
Fact [ 3]
A terrible famine held Makkah in its grip for several years as a result of the Holy Prophet's ﷺ prayer.
Fact [ 4]
When the Holy Prophet ﷺ called the pagans towards Islam, they opposed him tooth and nail. The first two incidents are taken from Tafsir Durr Manthur and the last two incidents are taken from Tafsir Ibn Kathir.
نَفَرٌ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ (...a group from Jinn....72:1). The word nafar is used for a group consisting of three to ten people. The Jinn referred to here are said to be a group of nine Jinns from a place called Nasibin.
Reality of Jinn
Jinn is one of the Divine creatures. They have body and soul. They, like human beings, have intellect and senses, but they are hidden from human eyes. This species of creation is called 'Jinn' because it literally means 'hidden' or 'invisible'. They, like human beings, are created from the four primal elements: dust, water, air and fire, but the element of fire predominates in them, whereas in man the element of dust predominates. They, like human beings, are males and females; and they, like human beings, marry and procreate. Apparently, the word shaitan [ pl. shayatin ] 'Shaitan' refers to the 'arrogant mischief-making Jinn'. The existence of Jinn and angels is established by conclusive and incontestable evidence in the Qur'an and Sunnah, the denial or rejection of which amounts to disbelieving the Qur'an. [ Tafsir Mazhari ].
قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ Say, (It has been revealed to me 72:1). This shows that the Holy Prophet ﷺ did not see the group of Jinn who heard him recite the Qur'an. Allah informed him by the revelation of Surah Al-Jinn.
Circumstances of Revelation
Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ narrates, as recorded in Sahih of Bukhari, of Muslim, and in Tirmidhi and other collections, that Allah's Messenger ﷺ did not by deliberate design make the Jinn listen to the Qur'an, nor did he see them. The true story is that the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، with his Companions, was going to the marketplace of ` Ukaz. This incident took place at a time when the devils were barred from going to the skies and eavesdropping on the conversations of the angels by being pelted with piercing flames. When the Jinn realised that they were no longer free to eavesdrop, they discussed among themselves that the incident could not be coincidental. There must be a genuine reason for that. So they divided themselves into groups and each group went in different direction to investigate the cause of the new phenomenon. One of the groups arrived at a place called Nakhlah in Tihamah where Hijaz is situated. At that juncture, the Holy Prophet ﷺ was leading the Sahabah in Fajr salah and the Jinn had the opportunity to hear the Qur'an. When this group of Jinn heard the Qur'an, they listened to it very attentively and concluded on oath that it was the Qur'an that prevented them from eavesdropping in the heavens. Then they returned to their fellow Jinns and recounted to them the entire episode, which is mentioned in the following verse:
فَقَالُوا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًا (...and said [ to their people ], Indeed we have heard an amazing Recital [ Qur'an ]....72:1). Allah informed His Messenger about the entire incident of the Jinn in the verses under discussion.
Abu Talib's Death and the Holy Prophet's ﷺ Journey to Ta'if
Most commentators say that after the death of Abu Talib the Holy Prophet ﷺ felt lonely, having no friend or supporter in Makkah. So, he undertook a journey to Ta'if where he approached Banu Thaqif for assistance against the hostility and persecution of his people. According to Muhammad Ibn Ishaq's narration, when the Holy Prophet ﷺ arrived in Ta'if, he approached the three brothers of Banu Thaqif. They were recognized as the leaders and honorable members of the tribe. The three brothers were ` Umair's sons, their names being ` Abd Yalil, Sa’ ud and Habib. They had a Quraishite lady in their house. Allah's Messenger ﷺ invited them to the call of Islam and mentioned about his people's hostility and persecution and asked for help. But they responded very harshly and did not speak to him about anything.
Allah's Messenger ﷺ saw that these three people were the most respected leaders of Banu Thaqif, from whom he expected a favourable response, but he was disappointed. He said to them that if they did not wish to help him, they should at least keep his arrival and request for help confidential and not tell his people; because if they came to know about it, they would persecute him even more harshly. But the oppressors did not concede to this either. On the contrary, they let loose on him foolish hooligans, slaves and hoodlums, so that they may revile him and make violent noises in public places against him. When they made violent noises, more hoodlums and young violent criminal elements joined in. In order to save himself from the mischief of the hooligans and hoodlums, the Holy Prophet ﷺ took refuge in a vineyard which belonged to two brothers, namely ` Utbah and Shaibah. The brothers themselves were in the vineyard at the time. The hooligans and hoodlums left him and went back. The two brothers were watching him, and they also watched how violently the foolish people behaved towards him. Just then the Quraishite lady, who was in the house of the oppressors, came to the Holy Prophet ﷺ . He complained to her how her in-laws persecuted him.
When the Holy Prophet ﷺ felt a bit settled in the vineyard, he prayed to Allah. The wordings of the supplication are unusual and on no other occasion such wordings are recorded:
اللَّھُمَّ اِنِّی اَشکُوا الَیکَ ضُعفَ قُوَّتِی وَ قِلَّۃَ حِیلَتِی وَ ھَوَانِی عَلَی النَّاسِ وَ اَنتَ اَرحَمُ الرَّاحِمِینَ وَ اَنتَ رَبُّ المُستضعفِینَ فَاَنتَ رَبِّی اَلیٰ مَن تَکِلنِی اِلیٰ بَعِیدِ یَتَھَجَّمُنِی اَو اِلیٰ عَدُوِّ مَّلَّکتَہ اَمرِی اِن لَّم تَکُن سَاخِطاً عَلَیَّ فَلَآ اُبالِی وَ لٰکِنَّ عَافِیَتَکَ ھِیَ اَوسعُ لِی۔ اَعُوذُ بِنُورِ وَجھِکَ الَّذِیُ اَشرَقَت لَہُ الظُّلُمَاتُ وَ صَلُحَ عَلَیہِ اَمرُ الدُّنیَا وَ الاٰخِرَۃِ مِن ۔ (مظھری باختصار)
"0 Allah, I complain to you the weakness of my strength and the shortage of my options, and lack of respect for me in the sight of people. You are the Most Merciful of all, and You are the Cherisher and Sustainer of the weaklings. You are my Cherisher. To whom are You handing me over? - to a stranger who would attack me? Or to an enemy whom You have given control over me (so that he may do as he wishes)? If You are not angry with me, I do not care. Your caring about me is better (which I pray for). I seek refuge in the light of Your blessed Being which dispels all darkness and on the foundation of which all matters related to this world and the next world are set a right. If You send down Your wrath on us, our task is to exert ourselves until we gain Your good pleasure. And there is neither strength nor power except through You." [ condensed from Mazhari ].
When Rabi` ah's sons ` Utbah and Shaibah saw this, they felt compassion for him in their heart. They called one of their Christian slaves, ` Addas by name, and asked him to break a bunch of grapes, place it in a plate and give it to that person and ask him to eat. Complying with the instructions, ` Addas kept the plate of grapes in front of the Holy Prophet ﷺ . He recited bismil-lah 'In the name of Allah' and stretched his hand towards it. ` Addas was watching all this and said: By Allah! this speech [ referring to the formula of basmalah ] is not used by the inhabitants of this city. The Holy Prophet ﷺ asked him as to where he was from and what his religion was. He replied that he was a Christian and hailed from Nineveh. Then the Holy Prophet ﷺ said to him that this means 'you are from the village of Yunus Ibn Matta علیہ السلام . He asked: "What do you know about Yunus Ibn Matta." The Holy Prophet ﷺ replied: "He was my brother. He was Allah's Prophet. I too am Allah's Prophet." At this, ` Addas fell to the Holy Prophet's ﷺ feet. He kissed the blessed head of the Holy Prophet ﷺ and his hands and legs. ` Utbah and Shaibah watched the whole incident. One of them said to the other: "I hope he has not set our slave awry." When 'Addas returned to them, they asked him: "What has happened? You were kissing his hands and feet?" He replied: "My masters, at this time there is no person better than he on the face of the earth. He has taught me something which none other than a Prophet can teach." They said: "You miserable wretch, may it not happen that this man turns you away from your religion, because your religion in any case is better than his." When the Holy Prophet ﷺ was completely despaired of Thaqif’ s assistance, he returned from Ta'if to Makkah. On his way back, he halted at Nakhlah and towards the latter part of the night he performed salat-ut-tahajjud. The delegation of Jinns of Nasibin of Yemen had also gone there. They heard the Qur'an and embraced the faith. They went back to their people and recounted to them the whole incident which Allah has mentioned in the verses under comment. [ Mazhari ]
A Jinn Companion of the Holy Prophet
Ibn Jauzi, in his book Sifat-us-Safwah, through his own chain of authorities, reports from Sahl Ibn ` Abdullah ؓ that he saw an old Jinn, in a place, who was performing salah in the direction of Ka'bah. He was wearing a woolen cloak that looked beautiful on him and in which he looked graceful. After he completed his prayer, Sayyidna Sahl ؓ greeted him. Replying to his greeting, he said: 'You seem to be admiring the beauty of this cloak. This cloak is on my body for seven hundred years. I have met Holy Prophet ` Isa (علیہ السلام) in this cloak, and in the same cloak I met Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and I am from among those Jinns about whom Surah Al-Jinn was revealed.' According to the Hadith narratives that recount the incident of the 'Night of Jinn', (i.e. the night in which the Jinns visited the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، Sayyidna ` Abdullah Ibn Masud ؓ was with the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، and the Holy Prophet ﷺ met the Jinns in a valley near Makkah for the specific purpose of inviting them to the call of Islam and making them hear the Qur'an by deliberate design. Apparently, this incident occurred after the incident mentioned in Surah AI-Jinn. ` Allamah Khafaji has said that reliable Ahadith confirm that the Jinn delegations met the Holy Prophet ﷺ six times. Thus there is no contradiction between the two versions of the incident, because they are two separate incidents. The Holy Prophet ﷺ was not even aware of the incident of the Jinn's coming to him and listening to the Qur'an that is mentioned in Surah Jinn. He only learnt about it later through revelation. This incident happened at Nakhlah on his way back from Taif. The other narratives from which we gather that the Holy Prophet ﷺ met the Jinn by deliberate design in a valley near the city of Makkah to preach to them and make them hear the Qur'an - is a separate incident which took place after that.
(Which guideth unto righteousness) which guides to the Truth, guidance and right course, i.e. to �there is no deity except Allah�, (so we believe in it) we believe in Muhammad (pbuh) and we believe in the Qur'an (and we ascribe unto our Lord no partner) here meaning the devil.
Which was revealed in Makkah
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The Jinns listening to the Qur'an and Their Belief in It
Allah commands His Messenger to inform his people that the Jinns listened to the Qur'an, believed in it, affirmed its truthfulness and adhered to it. So Allah says,
قُلْ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَقَالُواْ إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْءَانَاً عَجَباً يَهْدِى إِلَى الرُّشْدِ
(Say: "It has been revealed to me that a group of Jinn listened. They said: `Verily, we have heard a wonderful Recitation! It guides to the right path"') meaning, to what is correct and success.
فَـَامَنَّا بِهِ وَلَن نُّشرِكَ بِرَبِّنَآ أَحَداً
(and we have believed therein, and we shall never join anything with our Lord.) This position (that they took) is similar to what Allah said,
وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَآ إِلَيْكَ نَفَراً مِّنَ الْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقُرْءَانَ
(And when We sent towards you a group of the Jinns listening to the Qur'an.) (46:29) We have already presented the Hadiths that have been narrated concerning this, so there is no need to repeat them here. Concerning Allah's statement,
وَأَنَّهُ تَعَـلَى جَدُّ رَبِّنَا
(And He, exalted be the Jadd of our Lord,) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said concerning Allah's statement,
جَدُّ رَبِّنَا
(the Jadd of our Lord,) "This means, His actions, His commands and His power." Ad-Dahhak reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said, "Allah's Jadd is His blessings, His power and His favor upon His creation." It has been reported from Mujahid and `Ikrimah that they said, "It (Jadd) is the magnificence of our Lord." Qatadah said, "Exalted is His magnificence, His greatness and His command." As-Suddi said, "Exalted is the command of our Lord." It has been reported from Abu Ad-Darda', Mujahid and Ibn Jurayj that they said, "Exalted is His remembrance (Dhikr)."
The Jinns Affirmation that Allah does not have a Wife and Children
Allah says,
مَا اتَّخَذَ صَـحِبَةً وَلاَ وَلَداً
(He has taken neither a wife nor a son.) meaning, far exalted is He above taking a mate and having children. This means that when the Jinns accepted Islam and believed in the Qur'an they professed Allah's magnificence above having taken a spouse and a child (or a son). Then they said,
وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ سَفِيهُنَا عَلَى اللَّهِ شَطَطاً
(And that the foolish among us used to utter against Allah that which was an enormity in falsehood.) Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Qatadah and As-Suddi, all said,
سَفِيهُنَا
(the foolish among us) "They were referring to Iblis."
شَطَطًا
(that which was an enormity in falsehood.) As-Suddi reported from Abu Malik that he said, "This means a transgression." Ibn Zayd said, "A great injustice." The foolish (Safih) also carries the meaning of everyone in the category who claims that Allah has a spouse or a son. This is why Allah says here,
وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ سَفِيهُنَا
(And that the foolish among us used to utter) meaning, nd He, eeA ? The Jinns Affirmation that Allah does not have a Wife and Children Allah says,
مَا اتَّخَذَ صَـحِبَةً وَلاَ وَلَداً
(He has taken neither a wife nor a son.) meaning, far exalted is He above taking a mate and having children. This means that when the Jinns accepted Islam and believed in the Qur'an they professed Allah's magnificence above having taken a spouse and a child (or a son). Then they said,
وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ سَفِيهُنَا عَلَى اللَّهِ شَطَطاً
(And that the foolish among us used to utter against Allah that which was an enormity in falsehood.) Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Qatadah and As-Suddi, all said,
سَفِيهُنَا
(the foolish among us) "They were referring to Iblis."
شَطَطًا
(that which was an enormity in falsehood.) As-Suddi reported from Abu Malik that he said, "This means a transgression." Ibn Zayd said, "A great injustice." The foolish (Safih) also carries the meaning of everyone in the category who claims that Allah has a spouse or a son. This is why Allah says here,
وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ سَفِيهُنَا
(And that the foolish among us used to utter) meaning, before his acceptance of Islam.
عَلَى اللَّهِ شَطَطاً
(against Allah that which was an enormity in falsehood.) meaning, falsehood and a lie. Thus, Allah says,
وَأَنَّا ظَنَنَّآ أَن لَّن تَقُولَ الإِنسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِباً
(And verily, we thought that men and Jinn would not utter a lie against Allah.) meaning, `we did not think that humans and Jinns would join each other in lying about Allah by attributing a spouse and a son to Him. So when we heard this Qur'an we believed in it and we knew that they (Jinns and men) had been lying about Allah in this matter.'
Among the Causes of the Transgression of the Jinns were that Humans sought Refuge with Them
Allah says,
وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ رِجَالٌ مِّنَ الإِنسِ يَعُوذُونَ بِرِجَالٍ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَزَادوهُمْ رَهَقاً
(And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the males among the Jinn, but they increased them in Rahaq.) meaning, `we used to think that we had some virtuous status over mankind because they used to seek refuge with us whenever they (men) would settle in a valley or any place in the wilderness, the open country steppes and other places.' This was the custom of the Arabs in the pre-Islamic days of ignorance. They used to seek refuge with the greatest Jinn of a particular place so that no harm or evil would afflict them. Like one would do if he entered into the land of his enemies, in the vicinity of a great and powerful man, he would seek the protection and guardianship of that man. So when the Jinns saw that the humans were seeking refuge with them due to their fear of them, they increased them in Rahaq which means fear, terror and fright. They did this so that the people would be more afraid of them and seek refuge with them even more. As Qatadah said concerning this Ayah,
فَزَادوهُمْ رَهَقاً
(but they increased them in Rahaq.) means, "the Jinns were courageous and increased in insolence against them." As-Suddi said, "A man used to set out with his family (on a journey) until he came to a piece of land where he would settle. Then he would say, `I seek refuge with the master (Jinn) of this valley from the Jinns, or that myself, my wealth, my child or my animals are harmed in it."' Qatadah said, "When they sought refuge with them instead of Allah, the Jinns would overcome them with harm because of that." Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from `Ikrimah that he said, "The Jinns used to fear humans just like humans fear them, or even worse. So whenever humans would come to a valley the Jinns would flee. So the leader of the people would say, `We seek refuge with the leader of the inhabitants of this valley.' So the Jinns said, `We see these people fleeing from us just like we flee from them.' Thus, the Jinns started coming near the humans and afflicting them with insanity and madness." Thus, Allah said,
وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ رِجَالٌ مِّنَ الإِنسِ يَعُوذُونَ بِرِجَالٍ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَزَادوهُمْ رَهَقاً
(And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the males among the Jinn, but they increased them in Rahaq.) meaning, in sin. Abu `Aliyah, Ar-Rabi` and Zayd bin Aslam, all said,
رَهَقاً
(in Rahaq) "This means in fear." Mujahid said, "The disbelievers would increase in transgression." Concerning Allah's statement,
وَأَنَّهُمْ ظَنُّواْ كَمَا ظَنَنتُمْ أَن لَّن يَبْعَثَ اللَّهُ أَحَداً
(And they thought as you thought,) means, "the Jinns were courageous and increased in insolence against them." As-Suddi said, "A man used to set out with his family (on a journey) until he came to a piece of land where he would settle. Then he would say, `I seek refuge with the master (Jinn) of this valley from the Jinns, or that myself, my wealth, my child or my animals are harmed in it."' Qatadah said, "When they sought refuge with them instead of Allah, the Jinns would overcome them with harm because of that." Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from `Ikrimah that he said, "The Jinns used to fear humans just like humans fear them, or even worse. So whenever humans would come to a valley the Jinns would flee. So the leader of the people would say, `We seek refuge with the leader of the inhabitants of this valley.' So the Jinns said, `We see these people fleeing from us just like we flee from them.' Thus, the Jinns started coming near the humans and afflicting them with insanity and madness." Thus, Allah said,
وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ رِجَالٌ مِّنَ الإِنسِ يَعُوذُونَ بِرِجَالٍ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَزَادوهُمْ رَهَقاً
(And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the males among the Jinn, but they increased them in Rahaq.) meaning, in sin. Abu `Aliyah, Ar-Rabi` and Zayd bin Aslam, all said,
رَهَقاً
(in Rahaq) "This means in fear." Mujahid said, "The disbelievers would increase in transgression." Concerning Allah's statement,
وَأَنَّهُمْ ظَنُّواْ كَمَا ظَنَنتُمْ أَن لَّن يَبْعَثَ اللَّهُ أَحَداً
(And they thought as you thought, that Allah will not send any Messenger.) meaning, Allah would never send a Messenger after this long period of time. This was said by Al-Kalbi and Ibn Jarir.
which guides to rectitude to faith and propriety. Therefore we believe in it and we will never after this day associate anyone with our Lord.
قل -أيها الرسول-: أوحى الله إليَّ أنَّ جماعة من الجن قد استمعوا لتلاوتي للقرآن، فلما سمعوه قالوا لقومهم: إنا سمعنا قرآنًا بديعًا في بلاغته وفصاحته وحكمه وأحكامه وأخباره، يدعو إلى الحق والهدى، فصدَّقنا بهذا القرآن وعملنا به، ولن نشرك بربنا الذي خلقنا أحدًا في عبادته.
"يهدي إلى الرشد" أي يهدي إلى السداد والنجاح "فآمنا به ولن نشرك بربنا أحدا" وهذا المقام شبيه بقوله تعالى "وإذ صرفنا إليك نفرا من الجن يستمعون القرآن" وقد قدمنا الأحاديث الواردة في ذلك بما أغنى عن إعادته ههنا.
هذا القرآن ( يهدي إِلَى الرشد ) أى : إلى الخير والصواب والهدى ( فَآمَنَّا بِهِ ) إيمانا حقا ، لا يخالطه شك أو ريب ( وَلَن نُّشرِكَ بِرَبِّنَآ أَحَداً ) أى : فآمنا بما اشتمل عليه هذا الكتاب من دعوة إلى إخلاص العبادة لله - تعالى - وحده ، ولن نشرك معه فى العبادة أحدا كائنا من كان هذا الحد .والمقصود من أمره صلى الله عليه وسلم بذلك ، دعوة مشركى قريش إلى الإِيمان بالحق الذى جاء به صلى الله عليه وسلم كما آمن جماعة من الجن به ، وإعلامهم بأن رسالته صلى الله عليه وسلم تشمل الجن والإِنس .وضمير " أنه " للشأن ، وخبر " أن " جملة ( استمع نَفَرٌ مِّنَ الجن ) ، وتأكيد هذا الخبر بأن ، للاهتمام به لغرابته . ومفعول " استمع " محذوف لدلالة قوله : ( إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآناً عَجَباً ) عليه .ووصفهم للقرآن بكونه ( قُرْآناً عَجَباً . يهدي إِلَى الرشد ) يدل على تأثرهم به تأثرا شديدا ، وعلى إعجابهم العظيم بنظمه المتقن ، وأسلوبه الحكيم ، ومعانيه البديعة . . ولذا أعلنوا إيمانهم به بدون تردد ، كما يشعر بذلك التعبير بالفاء فى قوله : ( فَآمَنَّا بِهِ . . . ) .والتعبير بقوله - تعالى - : ( فقالوا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا . . ) يحتمل أنهم قالوا ذلك فيما بينهم ، أو لإِخوانهم الذين رجعوا إليهم ، كما فى قوله - تعالى - فى سورة الأحقاف : ( قَالُواْ ياقومنآ إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا كِتَاباً أُنزِلَ مِن بَعْدِ موسى مُصَدِّقاً لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ يهدي إِلَى الحق وإلى طَرِيقٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ) ويحتمل أنهم قالوا ذلك فى أنفسهم على سبيل الإِعجاب ، كما فى قوله - تعالى - : ( وَيَقُولُونَ في أَنفُسِهِمْ لَوْلاَ يُعَذِّبُنَا الله بِمَا نَقُولُ ) بل إننا نرجح أن قولهم هذا قد شمل كل ذلك ، لأن هذا هو الذى يتناسب مع إعجابهم بالقرآن الكريم ، ومع حرصهم على إيمان أكبر عدد منهم به .
القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًايقول جلّ ثناؤه لنبيه محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم : قل يا محمد أوحى الله إلىَّ( أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الْجِنِّ ) هذا القرآن ( فَقَالُوا ) لقومهم لما سمعوه: ( إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًا يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ ) يقول: يدلّ على الحقّ وسبيل الصواب ( فَآمَنَّا بِهِ ) يقول: فصدّقناه ( وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا ) من خلقه.وكان سبب استماع هؤلاء النفر من الجنّ القرآن، كما حدثني محمد بن معمر، قال: ثنا أبو هشام، يعني المخزومي، قال: ثنا أبو عوانة، عن أبي بشر، عن سعيد بن جُبير، عن ابن عباس، قال: ما قرأ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على الجنّ ولا رآهم؛ انطلق رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في نفر من أصحابه، عامدين إلى سوق عكاظ، قال: وقد حِيل بين الشياطين وبين خبر السماء، وأُرسلت عليهم الشهب، فرجعت الشياطين إلى قومهم، فقالوا: ما لكم ؟ فقالوا: حيل بيننا وبين خبر السماء، وأُرسلت علينا الشهب، فقالوا: ما حال بينكم وبين خبر السماء إلا شيء حدث.قال: فانطلقوا فاضربوا مشارق الأرض ومغاربها فانظروا ما هذا الذي حدث، قال: فانطلقوا يضربون مشارق الأرض ومغاربها، يتتبعون ما هذا الذي حال بينهم وبين خبر السماء؛ قال: فانطلق النفر الذين توجهوا نحو تهامة إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بنخلة، وهو عامد إلى سوق عكاظ، وهو يصلي بأصحابه صلاة الفجر؛ قال: فلما سمعوا القرآن استمعوا له فقالوا: هذا والله الذي حال بينكم وبين خبر السماء، قال: فهنالك حين رجعوا إلى قومهم، فقالوا: يا قومنا( إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًا يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ فَآمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا ) قال: فأنـزل الله على نبيه صلى الله عليه وسلم: ( قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الْجِنِّ ) وإنما أوحي إليه قول الجنّ.حدثنا ابن حميد، قال: ثنا مهران، عن سفيان، عن عاصم، عن ورقاء، قال: قدم رهط زوبعة وأصحابه مكة على النبيّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فسمعوا قراءة النبيّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثم انصرفوا، فذلك قوله: وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَا إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقُرْآنَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوا أَنْصِتُوا قال: كانوا تسعة فيهم زوبعة.حُدثت عن الحسين، قال: سمعت أبا معاذ يقول: ثنا عبيد، قال: سمعت الضحاك يقول في قوله: ( قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الْجِنِّ ) هو قول الله وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَا إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ لم تُحرس السماء في الفترة بين عيسى ومحمد؛ فلما بعث الله محمدًا صلى الله عليه وسلم حرست السماء الدنيا، ورُميت الشياطين بالشهب، فقال إبليس: لقد حدث في الأرض حدث، فأمر الجنّ فتفرّقت في الأرض لتأتيه بخبر ما حدث. وكان أوّل من بُعث نفر من أهل نصيبين وهي أرض باليمن، وهم أشراف الجنّ، وسادتهم، فبعثهم إلى تهامة وما يلي اليمن، فمضى أولئك النفر، فأتوا على الوادي وادي نخلة، وهو من الوادي مسيرة ليلتين، فوجدوا به نبيّ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي صلاة الغداة فسمعوه يتلو القرآن؛ فلما حضروه، قالوا: أنصتوا، فلما قُضِيَ، يعني فُرِغ من الصلاة، وَلَّوْا إلى قومهم منذرين، يعني مؤمنين، لم يعلم بهم نبيّ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ولم يشعر أنه صُرِف إليه، حتى أنـزل الله عليه: ( قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الْجِنِّ ).
"يهدي إلى الرشد"، يدعوا إلى الصواب من التوحيد والإيمان، "فآمنا به ولن نشرك بربنا أحداً".
يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ فَآَمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا (2)والإِيمان بالقرآن يقتضي الإِيمان بمن جاء به وبمن أنزله ولذلك قالوا { ولن نشرك بربنا أحداً .وقد حصل لهؤلاء النفر من الجن شرف المعرفة بالله وصفاته وصِدق رسوله وصدق القرآن وما احتوى عليه مَا سَمعوه منه فصاروا من خيرة المخلوقات ، وأُكرموا بالفوز في الحياة الآخرة فلم يكونوا ممن ذَرْأَ الله لجهنم من الجن والإِنس .ومتعلق استمع } محذوف دل عليه قوله بعده { فقالوا إنا سمعنا قرآنا عجباً .والرشْد } : بضم الراء وسكون الشين ( أو يقال بفتح الراء وفتح الشين ) هو الخير والصواب والهدى . واتفقت القراءات العشر على قراءته بضم فسكون .وقولهم : { ولن نشرك بربنا أحداً ، } أي ينتفي ذلك في المستقبل . وهذا يقتضي أنهم كانوا مشركين ولذلك أكدوا نفي الإِشراك بحرف التأبيد فكما أكد خبرهم عن القرآن والثناء عليه ب ( إن ) أكد خبرهم عن إقلاعهم عن الإِشراك ب { لن } .
{ يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ } والرشد: اسم جامع لكل ما يرشد الناس إلى مصالح دينهم ودنياهم، { فَآمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا } فجمعوا بين الإيمان الذي يدخل فيه جميع أعمال الخير، وبين التقوى، [المتضمنة لترك الشر] وجعلوا السبب الداعي لهم إلى الإيمان وتوابعه، ما علموه من إرشادات القرآن، وما اشتمل عليه من المصالح والفوائد واجتناب المضار، فإن ذلك آية عظيمة، وحجة قاطعة، لمن استنار به، واهتدى بهديه، وهذا الإيمان النافع، المثمر لكل خير، المبني على هداية القرآن، بخلاف إيمان العوائد، والمربى والإلف ونحو ذلك، فإنه إيمان تقليد تحت خطر الشبهات والعوارض الكثيرة،
يهدي إلى الرشد أي إلى مراشد الأمور . وقيل : إلى معرفة الله تعالى ; ويهدي في موضع الصفة أي هاديا . فآمنا به أي فاهتدينا به وصدقنا أنه من عند الله ولن نشرك بربنا أحدا أي لا نرجع إلى إبليس ولا نطيعه ; لأنه الذي كان بعثهم ليأتوه بالخبر ، ثم رمي الجن بالشهب . وقيل لا نتخذ مع الله إلها آخر ; لأنه المتفرد بالربوبية . وفي هذا تعجيب المؤمنين بذهاب مشركي قريش عما أدركته الجن بتدبرها القرآن .وقوله تعالى : استمع نفر من الجن أي استمعوا إلى النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فعلموا أن ما يقرؤه كلام الله . ولم يذكر المستمع إليه [ ص: 9 ] لدلالة الحال عليه . والنفر الرهط ; قال الخليل : ما بين ثلاثة إلى عشرة . وقرأ عيسى الثقفي يهدي إلى الرشد بفتح الراء والشين .
In this world, in addition to human beings and angels, there is another set of creatures known as jinn. Human beings cannot see them but, in the Quran, they have been mentioned at several places. These verses show that among the jinn also there are guided and misguided types. Just as there are foolish leaders who misguide the common people, similarly there are foolish leaders among the jinn, who go on misguiding them with deceitful utterances. So far as the angels are concerned, they are not being put to the test, and thus do not have free will. They simply follow the commands given by God.
Commentary
Preliminary Remarks
It seems necessary to know a few facts before the start of the study of the Surah, which are as follows:
Fact [ 1]
Before the advent of the Holy Prophet ﷺ the devils used to go up to the heavens and eavesdrop on the conversations of the angels. After his advent, they were pelted with a piercing flame if they attempted to go up and eavesdrop. It is mentioned in Surah Al-Ahqaf that a group of jinn went up to the Holy Prophet to investigate the reason for this new phenomenon.
Fact [ 2]
It was customary in the Days of Ignorance that when people halted in a jungle or valley in the course of a journey, they uttered the following words:
اعوذ بعزیز ھذا الودی من شر سفھاء قومہ
"I seek refuge in the leader of this valley from the foolish mischief-makers of his nation" - believing that the leader of the valley (a Jinn) would protect them.
Fact [ 3]
A terrible famine held Makkah in its grip for several years as a result of the Holy Prophet's ﷺ prayer.
Fact [ 4]
When the Holy Prophet ﷺ called the pagans towards Islam, they opposed him tooth and nail. The first two incidents are taken from Tafsir Durr Manthur and the last two incidents are taken from Tafsir Ibn Kathir.
نَفَرٌ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ (...a group from Jinn....72:1). The word nafar is used for a group consisting of three to ten people. The Jinn referred to here are said to be a group of nine Jinns from a place called Nasibin.
Reality of Jinn
Jinn is one of the Divine creatures. They have body and soul. They, like human beings, have intellect and senses, but they are hidden from human eyes. This species of creation is called 'Jinn' because it literally means 'hidden' or 'invisible'. They, like human beings, are created from the four primal elements: dust, water, air and fire, but the element of fire predominates in them, whereas in man the element of dust predominates. They, like human beings, are males and females; and they, like human beings, marry and procreate. Apparently, the word shaitan [ pl. shayatin ] 'Shaitan' refers to the 'arrogant mischief-making Jinn'. The existence of Jinn and angels is established by conclusive and incontestable evidence in the Qur'an and Sunnah, the denial or rejection of which amounts to disbelieving the Qur'an. [ Tafsir Mazhari ].
قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ Say, (It has been revealed to me 72:1). This shows that the Holy Prophet ﷺ did not see the group of Jinn who heard him recite the Qur'an. Allah informed him by the revelation of Surah Al-Jinn.
Circumstances of Revelation
Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ narrates, as recorded in Sahih of Bukhari, of Muslim, and in Tirmidhi and other collections, that Allah's Messenger ﷺ did not by deliberate design make the Jinn listen to the Qur'an, nor did he see them. The true story is that the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، with his Companions, was going to the marketplace of ` Ukaz. This incident took place at a time when the devils were barred from going to the skies and eavesdropping on the conversations of the angels by being pelted with piercing flames. When the Jinn realised that they were no longer free to eavesdrop, they discussed among themselves that the incident could not be coincidental. There must be a genuine reason for that. So they divided themselves into groups and each group went in different direction to investigate the cause of the new phenomenon. One of the groups arrived at a place called Nakhlah in Tihamah where Hijaz is situated. At that juncture, the Holy Prophet ﷺ was leading the Sahabah in Fajr salah and the Jinn had the opportunity to hear the Qur'an. When this group of Jinn heard the Qur'an, they listened to it very attentively and concluded on oath that it was the Qur'an that prevented them from eavesdropping in the heavens. Then they returned to their fellow Jinns and recounted to them the entire episode, which is mentioned in the following verse:
فَقَالُوا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًا (...and said [ to their people ], Indeed we have heard an amazing Recital [ Qur'an ]....72:1). Allah informed His Messenger about the entire incident of the Jinn in the verses under discussion.
Abu Talib's Death and the Holy Prophet's ﷺ Journey to Ta'if
Most commentators say that after the death of Abu Talib the Holy Prophet ﷺ felt lonely, having no friend or supporter in Makkah. So, he undertook a journey to Ta'if where he approached Banu Thaqif for assistance against the hostility and persecution of his people. According to Muhammad Ibn Ishaq's narration, when the Holy Prophet ﷺ arrived in Ta'if, he approached the three brothers of Banu Thaqif. They were recognized as the leaders and honorable members of the tribe. The three brothers were ` Umair's sons, their names being ` Abd Yalil, Sa’ ud and Habib. They had a Quraishite lady in their house. Allah's Messenger ﷺ invited them to the call of Islam and mentioned about his people's hostility and persecution and asked for help. But they responded very harshly and did not speak to him about anything.
Allah's Messenger ﷺ saw that these three people were the most respected leaders of Banu Thaqif, from whom he expected a favourable response, but he was disappointed. He said to them that if they did not wish to help him, they should at least keep his arrival and request for help confidential and not tell his people; because if they came to know about it, they would persecute him even more harshly. But the oppressors did not concede to this either. On the contrary, they let loose on him foolish hooligans, slaves and hoodlums, so that they may revile him and make violent noises in public places against him. When they made violent noises, more hoodlums and young violent criminal elements joined in. In order to save himself from the mischief of the hooligans and hoodlums, the Holy Prophet ﷺ took refuge in a vineyard which belonged to two brothers, namely ` Utbah and Shaibah. The brothers themselves were in the vineyard at the time. The hooligans and hoodlums left him and went back. The two brothers were watching him, and they also watched how violently the foolish people behaved towards him. Just then the Quraishite lady, who was in the house of the oppressors, came to the Holy Prophet ﷺ . He complained to her how her in-laws persecuted him.
When the Holy Prophet ﷺ felt a bit settled in the vineyard, he prayed to Allah. The wordings of the supplication are unusual and on no other occasion such wordings are recorded:
اللَّھُمَّ اِنِّی اَشکُوا الَیکَ ضُعفَ قُوَّتِی وَ قِلَّۃَ حِیلَتِی وَ ھَوَانِی عَلَی النَّاسِ وَ اَنتَ اَرحَمُ الرَّاحِمِینَ وَ اَنتَ رَبُّ المُستضعفِینَ فَاَنتَ رَبِّی اَلیٰ مَن تَکِلنِی اِلیٰ بَعِیدِ یَتَھَجَّمُنِی اَو اِلیٰ عَدُوِّ مَّلَّکتَہ اَمرِی اِن لَّم تَکُن سَاخِطاً عَلَیَّ فَلَآ اُبالِی وَ لٰکِنَّ عَافِیَتَکَ ھِیَ اَوسعُ لِی۔ اَعُوذُ بِنُورِ وَجھِکَ الَّذِیُ اَشرَقَت لَہُ الظُّلُمَاتُ وَ صَلُحَ عَلَیہِ اَمرُ الدُّنیَا وَ الاٰخِرَۃِ مِن ۔ (مظھری باختصار)
"0 Allah, I complain to you the weakness of my strength and the shortage of my options, and lack of respect for me in the sight of people. You are the Most Merciful of all, and You are the Cherisher and Sustainer of the weaklings. You are my Cherisher. To whom are You handing me over? - to a stranger who would attack me? Or to an enemy whom You have given control over me (so that he may do as he wishes)? If You are not angry with me, I do not care. Your caring about me is better (which I pray for). I seek refuge in the light of Your blessed Being which dispels all darkness and on the foundation of which all matters related to this world and the next world are set a right. If You send down Your wrath on us, our task is to exert ourselves until we gain Your good pleasure. And there is neither strength nor power except through You." [ condensed from Mazhari ].
When Rabi` ah's sons ` Utbah and Shaibah saw this, they felt compassion for him in their heart. They called one of their Christian slaves, ` Addas by name, and asked him to break a bunch of grapes, place it in a plate and give it to that person and ask him to eat. Complying with the instructions, ` Addas kept the plate of grapes in front of the Holy Prophet ﷺ . He recited bismil-lah 'In the name of Allah' and stretched his hand towards it. ` Addas was watching all this and said: By Allah! this speech [ referring to the formula of basmalah ] is not used by the inhabitants of this city. The Holy Prophet ﷺ asked him as to where he was from and what his religion was. He replied that he was a Christian and hailed from Nineveh. Then the Holy Prophet ﷺ said to him that this means 'you are from the village of Yunus Ibn Matta علیہ السلام . He asked: "What do you know about Yunus Ibn Matta." The Holy Prophet ﷺ replied: "He was my brother. He was Allah's Prophet. I too am Allah's Prophet." At this, ` Addas fell to the Holy Prophet's ﷺ feet. He kissed the blessed head of the Holy Prophet ﷺ and his hands and legs. ` Utbah and Shaibah watched the whole incident. One of them said to the other: "I hope he has not set our slave awry." When 'Addas returned to them, they asked him: "What has happened? You were kissing his hands and feet?" He replied: "My masters, at this time there is no person better than he on the face of the earth. He has taught me something which none other than a Prophet can teach." They said: "You miserable wretch, may it not happen that this man turns you away from your religion, because your religion in any case is better than his." When the Holy Prophet ﷺ was completely despaired of Thaqif’ s assistance, he returned from Ta'if to Makkah. On his way back, he halted at Nakhlah and towards the latter part of the night he performed salat-ut-tahajjud. The delegation of Jinns of Nasibin of Yemen had also gone there. They heard the Qur'an and embraced the faith. They went back to their people and recounted to them the whole incident which Allah has mentioned in the verses under comment. [ Mazhari ]
A Jinn Companion of the Holy Prophet
Ibn Jauzi, in his book Sifat-us-Safwah, through his own chain of authorities, reports from Sahl Ibn ` Abdullah ؓ that he saw an old Jinn, in a place, who was performing salah in the direction of Ka'bah. He was wearing a woolen cloak that looked beautiful on him and in which he looked graceful. After he completed his prayer, Sayyidna Sahl ؓ greeted him. Replying to his greeting, he said: 'You seem to be admiring the beauty of this cloak. This cloak is on my body for seven hundred years. I have met Holy Prophet ` Isa (علیہ السلام) in this cloak, and in the same cloak I met Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and I am from among those Jinns about whom Surah Al-Jinn was revealed.' According to the Hadith narratives that recount the incident of the 'Night of Jinn', (i.e. the night in which the Jinns visited the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، Sayyidna ` Abdullah Ibn Masud ؓ was with the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، and the Holy Prophet ﷺ met the Jinns in a valley near Makkah for the specific purpose of inviting them to the call of Islam and making them hear the Qur'an by deliberate design. Apparently, this incident occurred after the incident mentioned in Surah AI-Jinn. ` Allamah Khafaji has said that reliable Ahadith confirm that the Jinn delegations met the Holy Prophet ﷺ six times. Thus there is no contradiction between the two versions of the incident, because they are two separate incidents. The Holy Prophet ﷺ was not even aware of the incident of the Jinn's coming to him and listening to the Qur'an that is mentioned in Surah Jinn. He only learnt about it later through revelation. This incident happened at Nakhlah on his way back from Taif. The other narratives from which we gather that the Holy Prophet ﷺ met the Jinn by deliberate design in a valley near the city of Makkah to preach to them and make them hear the Qur'an - is a separate incident which took place after that.
(Which guideth unto righteousness) which guides to the Truth, guidance and right course, i.e. to �there is no deity except Allah�, (so we believe in it) we believe in Muhammad (pbuh) and we believe in the Qur'an (and we ascribe unto our Lord no partner) here meaning the devil.
Which was revealed in Makkah
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The Jinns listening to the Qur'an and Their Belief in It
Allah commands His Messenger to inform his people that the Jinns listened to the Qur'an, believed in it, affirmed its truthfulness and adhered to it. So Allah says,
قُلْ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَقَالُواْ إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْءَانَاً عَجَباً يَهْدِى إِلَى الرُّشْدِ
(Say: "It has been revealed to me that a group of Jinn listened. They said: `Verily, we have heard a wonderful Recitation! It guides to the right path"') meaning, to what is correct and success.
فَـَامَنَّا بِهِ وَلَن نُّشرِكَ بِرَبِّنَآ أَحَداً
(and we have believed therein, and we shall never join anything with our Lord.) This position (that they took) is similar to what Allah said,
وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَآ إِلَيْكَ نَفَراً مِّنَ الْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقُرْءَانَ
(And when We sent towards you a group of the Jinns listening to the Qur'an.) (46:29) We have already presented the Hadiths that have been narrated concerning this, so there is no need to repeat them here. Concerning Allah's statement,
وَأَنَّهُ تَعَـلَى جَدُّ رَبِّنَا
(And He, exalted be the Jadd of our Lord,) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said concerning Allah's statement,
جَدُّ رَبِّنَا
(the Jadd of our Lord,) "This means, His actions, His commands and His power." Ad-Dahhak reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said, "Allah's Jadd is His blessings, His power and His favor upon His creation." It has been reported from Mujahid and `Ikrimah that they said, "It (Jadd) is the magnificence of our Lord." Qatadah said, "Exalted is His magnificence, His greatness and His command." As-Suddi said, "Exalted is the command of our Lord." It has been reported from Abu Ad-Darda', Mujahid and Ibn Jurayj that they said, "Exalted is His remembrance (Dhikr)."
The Jinns Affirmation that Allah does not have a Wife and Children
Allah says,
مَا اتَّخَذَ صَـحِبَةً وَلاَ وَلَداً
(He has taken neither a wife nor a son.) meaning, far exalted is He above taking a mate and having children. This means that when the Jinns accepted Islam and believed in the Qur'an they professed Allah's magnificence above having taken a spouse and a child (or a son). Then they said,
وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ سَفِيهُنَا عَلَى اللَّهِ شَطَطاً
(And that the foolish among us used to utter against Allah that which was an enormity in falsehood.) Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Qatadah and As-Suddi, all said,
سَفِيهُنَا
(the foolish among us) "They were referring to Iblis."
شَطَطًا
(that which was an enormity in falsehood.) As-Suddi reported from Abu Malik that he said, "This means a transgression." Ibn Zayd said, "A great injustice." The foolish (Safih) also carries the meaning of everyone in the category who claims that Allah has a spouse or a son. This is why Allah says here,
وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ سَفِيهُنَا
(And that the foolish among us used to utter) meaning, nd He, eeA ? The Jinns Affirmation that Allah does not have a Wife and Children Allah says,
مَا اتَّخَذَ صَـحِبَةً وَلاَ وَلَداً
(He has taken neither a wife nor a son.) meaning, far exalted is He above taking a mate and having children. This means that when the Jinns accepted Islam and believed in the Qur'an they professed Allah's magnificence above having taken a spouse and a child (or a son). Then they said,
وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ سَفِيهُنَا عَلَى اللَّهِ شَطَطاً
(And that the foolish among us used to utter against Allah that which was an enormity in falsehood.) Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Qatadah and As-Suddi, all said,
سَفِيهُنَا
(the foolish among us) "They were referring to Iblis."
شَطَطًا
(that which was an enormity in falsehood.) As-Suddi reported from Abu Malik that he said, "This means a transgression." Ibn Zayd said, "A great injustice." The foolish (Safih) also carries the meaning of everyone in the category who claims that Allah has a spouse or a son. This is why Allah says here,
وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ سَفِيهُنَا
(And that the foolish among us used to utter) meaning, before his acceptance of Islam.
عَلَى اللَّهِ شَطَطاً
(against Allah that which was an enormity in falsehood.) meaning, falsehood and a lie. Thus, Allah says,
وَأَنَّا ظَنَنَّآ أَن لَّن تَقُولَ الإِنسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِباً
(And verily, we thought that men and Jinn would not utter a lie against Allah.) meaning, `we did not think that humans and Jinns would join each other in lying about Allah by attributing a spouse and a son to Him. So when we heard this Qur'an we believed in it and we knew that they (Jinns and men) had been lying about Allah in this matter.'
Among the Causes of the Transgression of the Jinns were that Humans sought Refuge with Them
Allah says,
وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ رِجَالٌ مِّنَ الإِنسِ يَعُوذُونَ بِرِجَالٍ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَزَادوهُمْ رَهَقاً
(And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the males among the Jinn, but they increased them in Rahaq.) meaning, `we used to think that we had some virtuous status over mankind because they used to seek refuge with us whenever they (men) would settle in a valley or any place in the wilderness, the open country steppes and other places.' This was the custom of the Arabs in the pre-Islamic days of ignorance. They used to seek refuge with the greatest Jinn of a particular place so that no harm or evil would afflict them. Like one would do if he entered into the land of his enemies, in the vicinity of a great and powerful man, he would seek the protection and guardianship of that man. So when the Jinns saw that the humans were seeking refuge with them due to their fear of them, they increased them in Rahaq which means fear, terror and fright. They did this so that the people would be more afraid of them and seek refuge with them even more. As Qatadah said concerning this Ayah,
فَزَادوهُمْ رَهَقاً
(but they increased them in Rahaq.) means, "the Jinns were courageous and increased in insolence against them." As-Suddi said, "A man used to set out with his family (on a journey) until he came to a piece of land where he would settle. Then he would say, `I seek refuge with the master (Jinn) of this valley from the Jinns, or that myself, my wealth, my child or my animals are harmed in it."' Qatadah said, "When they sought refuge with them instead of Allah, the Jinns would overcome them with harm because of that." Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from `Ikrimah that he said, "The Jinns used to fear humans just like humans fear them, or even worse. So whenever humans would come to a valley the Jinns would flee. So the leader of the people would say, `We seek refuge with the leader of the inhabitants of this valley.' So the Jinns said, `We see these people fleeing from us just like we flee from them.' Thus, the Jinns started coming near the humans and afflicting them with insanity and madness." Thus, Allah said,
وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ رِجَالٌ مِّنَ الإِنسِ يَعُوذُونَ بِرِجَالٍ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَزَادوهُمْ رَهَقاً
(And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the males among the Jinn, but they increased them in Rahaq.) meaning, in sin. Abu `Aliyah, Ar-Rabi` and Zayd bin Aslam, all said,
رَهَقاً
(in Rahaq) "This means in fear." Mujahid said, "The disbelievers would increase in transgression." Concerning Allah's statement,
وَأَنَّهُمْ ظَنُّواْ كَمَا ظَنَنتُمْ أَن لَّن يَبْعَثَ اللَّهُ أَحَداً
(And they thought as you thought,) means, "the Jinns were courageous and increased in insolence against them." As-Suddi said, "A man used to set out with his family (on a journey) until he came to a piece of land where he would settle. Then he would say, `I seek refuge with the master (Jinn) of this valley from the Jinns, or that myself, my wealth, my child or my animals are harmed in it."' Qatadah said, "When they sought refuge with them instead of Allah, the Jinns would overcome them with harm because of that." Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from `Ikrimah that he said, "The Jinns used to fear humans just like humans fear them, or even worse. So whenever humans would come to a valley the Jinns would flee. So the leader of the people would say, `We seek refuge with the leader of the inhabitants of this valley.' So the Jinns said, `We see these people fleeing from us just like we flee from them.' Thus, the Jinns started coming near the humans and afflicting them with insanity and madness." Thus, Allah said,
وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ رِجَالٌ مِّنَ الإِنسِ يَعُوذُونَ بِرِجَالٍ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَزَادوهُمْ رَهَقاً
(And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the males among the Jinn, but they increased them in Rahaq.) meaning, in sin. Abu `Aliyah, Ar-Rabi` and Zayd bin Aslam, all said,
رَهَقاً
(in Rahaq) "This means in fear." Mujahid said, "The disbelievers would increase in transgression." Concerning Allah's statement,
وَأَنَّهُمْ ظَنُّواْ كَمَا ظَنَنتُمْ أَن لَّن يَبْعَثَ اللَّهُ أَحَداً
(And they thought as you thought, that Allah will not send any Messenger.) meaning, Allah would never send a Messenger after this long period of time. This was said by Al-Kalbi and Ibn Jarir.