The Jinn — Verse 5

And we thought that an softened that is to say annahu humans and jinn would never utter a lie against God by attributing such things to Him until we discovered their mendacity thereby. God exalted be He says

وأنَّا حَسِبْنا أن أحدًا لن يكذب على الله تعالى، لا من الإنس ولا من الجن في نسبة الصاحبة والولد إليه.

أي ما حسبنا أن الإنس والجن يتمالؤن على الكذب على الله تعالى في نسبة الصاحبة والولد إليه فلما سمعنا هذا القرآن وآمنا به علمنا أنهم كانوا يكذبون على الله في ذلك.

وقوله : ( وَأَنَّا ظَنَنَّآ أَن لَّن تَقُولَ الإنس والجن عَلَى الله كَذِباً ) اعتذار منهم من كفرهم السابق ، فكأنهم يقولون بعد أن استمعوا إلى القرآن ، وآمنوا بالله - تعالى - وحده : إننا ننزه الله - تعالى - عما قاله السفهاء فى شأنه . . وإذا كنا قد اتبعناهم قبل إيماننا ، فسبب ذلك أننا صدقنا هؤلاء السفهاء فيما قالوه لنا ، وما كنا نعتقد أو نتصور أو نظن أن هؤلاء السفهاء يصل بهم الفجور والكذب . . إلى هذا الحد الشنيع .وقوله : ( كذبا ) مفعول به لتقول ، أو صفة لمصدر محذوف ، أى : قولا مكذوبا .

حدثني ابن عبد الأعلى، قال: ثنا ابن ثور، عن معمر، قال: تلا قتادة: (وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ سَفِيهُنَا عَلَى اللَّهِ شَطَطًا وَأَنَّا ظَنَنَّا أَنْ لَنْ تَقُولَ الإنْسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا ) فقال: عصاه والله سفيه الجنّ، كما عصاه سفيه الإنس.وأما الشَّطط من القول، فإنه ما كان تعدِّيًا.وبنحو الذي قلنا في ذلك قال أهل التأويل.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثني يونس، قال: ثنا ابن وهب، قال، قال ابن زيد، في قوله: (وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ سَفِيهُنَا عَلَى اللَّهِ شَطَطًا ) قال: ظلمًا.وقوله: (وَأَنَّا ظَنَنَّا أَنْ لَنْ تَقُولَ الإنْسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا ) يقول: قالوا: وأنا حسبنا أن لن تقول بنو آدم والجنّ على الله كذبا من القول، والظنّ هاهنا بمعنى الشك، وإنما أنكر هؤلاء النفر من الجنّ أن تكون علمت أن أحدًا يجترئ على الكذب على الله لما سمعت القرآن، لأنهم قبل أن يسمعوه وقبل أن يعلموا تكذيب الله الزاعمين أن لله صاحبة وولدًا، وغير ذلك من معاني الكفر كانوا يحسبون أن إبليس صادق فيما يدعو بني آدم إليه من صنوف الكفر؛ فلما سمعوا القرآن أيقنوا أنه كان كاذبا في كلّ ذلك، فلذلك قالوا: (وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ سَفِيهُنَا عَلَى اللَّهِ شَطَطًا ) فسموه سفيهًا.

"وأنا ظننا"، حسبنا، "أن لن تقول الإنس والجن"، قرأ يعقوب " تقول " بفتح الواو وتشديدها، "على الله كذباً"، أي: كنا نظنهم صادقين في قولهم إن لله صاحبةً وولداً حتى سمعنا القرآن.

وَأَنَّا ظَنَنَّا أَنْ لَنْ تَقُولَ الْإِنْسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا (5)قرأ همزة { أن } بالكسر الجمهور وأبو جعفر ، وقرأها بالفتح ابن عامر وحفص وحمزة وَالكسائي وخلف .فعلى قراءة كسر ( إِن ) هو من المحكي بالقول ، ومعناه الاعتذار عما اقتضاه قولهم : { فآمنا به ولن نشرك بربنا أحداً } [ الجن : 2 ] من كونهم كانوا مشركين لجهلهم وأخذهم قول سفهائهم يحسبونهم لا يكذبون على الله .والتأكيد ب { إِن } لقصد تحقيق عذرهم فيما سلف من الإِشراك ، وتأكيد المظنون ب { لن } المفيدة لتأييد النفي يفيد أنهم كانوا متوغلين في حسن ظنهم بمن ضللوهم ويدل على أن الظن هنا بمعنى اليقين وهو يقين مخطىء .وعلى قراءة الفتح هو عطف على المجرور بالباء في قوله : { فآمنا به } [ الجن : 2 ] فالمعنى : وآمنا فإنما ظننا ذلك فأخطأنا في ظننا .وفي هذه الآية إشارة إلى خطر التقليد في العقيدة ، وأنها لا يجوز فيها الأخذ بحسن الظن بالمقلّد بفتح اللام بل يتعين النظر واتهام رأي المقلَّد حتى ينهض دليله .وقرأ الجمهور { تَقُول } بضم القاف وسكون الواو . وقرأه يعقوب بفتح القاف والواو مشددة ، من التقوّل وهو نسبة كلام إلى من لم يقله وهو في معنى الكذب وأصله تتقول بتاءين فعلى هذه القراءة يكون { كذباً } مصدراً مؤكداً لفعل { تَقَوَّلَ } لأنه مرادفه .

{ وَأَنَّا ظَنَنَّا أَنْ لَنْ تَقُولَ الْإِنْسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا } أي: كنا مغترين قبل ذلك، وغرنا القادة والرؤساء من الجن والإنس، فأحسنا بهم الظن، وظنناهم لا يتجرأون على الكذب على الله، فلذلك كنا قبل هذا على طريقهم، فاليوم إذ بان لنا الحق، رجعنا إليه ، وانقدنا له، ولم نبال بقول أحد من الناس يعارض الهدى.

قوله تعالى : وأنا ظننا أي حسبنا أن لن تقول الإنس والجن على الله كذبا ، فلذلك صدقناهم في أن لله صاحبة وولدا ، حتى سمعنا القرآن وتبينا به الحق . وقرأ يعقوب والجحدري وابن أبي إسحاق ( أن لن تقول ) .

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.

وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ سَفِيهُنَا عَلَى اللَّـهِ شَطَطًا ﴿4﴾ وَأَنَّا ظَنَنَّا أَن لَّن تَقُولَ الْإِنسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَى اللَّـهِ كَذِبًا ﴿5﴾ ...and that the fools among us used to attribute to Allah extremely wrong things, and that we thought that the humans and the Jinn would never tell a lie about Allah, [ therefore, we had followed them in shirk under this impression ]. (72:5) The word shatat means 'vile words, extravagant or exorbitant or enormous lies'. The word also means 'to transgress or act wrongfully, unjustly or exceed the legitimate bounds'. The believers from amongst Jinn used to put forward their excuse for being involved in disbelief and idolatry thus: The foolish people from amongst their nation uttered vile slander against Allah, whilst they did not think it possible for a human being or a Jinn to impute a lie to Allah. They were thus far caught up in the foolish people's vile words and committed kufr and shirk, but they had now heard the Qur'an and the reality had later opened up.

And lo! we had supposed that humankind and jinn would not speak a lie concerning Allah) and we thought that what humans and the jinn said about Allah was not a lie, but we know now that it is. From the beginning of the surah up to here, Allah related what the jinn said.

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.