Surat Al-Jinn Tafseer in English: Ibn Kaseer Verse 1-17
Al-Jinn – (The Jinn)
Tafseer Verse 1-7
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.
Tafseer Verse 8-17
The Jinns testify that among Them there are Believers, Disbelievers, Misguided and Guided
Allah says that the Jinns said about themselves,
وَأَنَّا مِنَّا الصَّـلِحُونَ وَمِنَّا دُونَ ذَلِكَ
(There are among us some that are righteous, and some the contrary;) meaning, other than that.
كُنَّا طَرَآئِقَ قِدَداً
(We are groups having different ways.) meaning, on numerous differing paths and having different thoughts and opinions. Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and others have said,
كُنَّا طَرَآئِقَ قِدَداً
(We are groups having different ways.) “This means among us are believers and among us are disbelievers.” Ahmad bin Sulayman An-Najjad reported in his (book of) Amali that he heard Al-A`mash saying, “A Jinn came to us, so I said to him, `What is the most beloved food to your kind’ He replied, `Rice.’ So we brought them some rice and I saw the morsels being lifted but I did not see a hand lifting it. So I asked him, `Do you have these desires (religious innovations) among your kind as we have among ours’ He replied, `Yes.’ Then I said, `Who are the Rafidah among you’ He said, `They are the worst of us.”‘ I presented this chain of narration to our Shaykh, Al-Hafiz Abi Al-Hajjaj Al-Mizzi and he said its chain is authentic to Al-A`mash.
The Jinns confess to Allah’s Perfect Power
Concerning Allah’s statement,
وَأَنَّا ظَنَنَّآ أَن لَّن نُّعْجِزَ اللَّهَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَلَن نُّعْجِزَهُ هَرَباً
(And we think that we cannot escape Allah in the earth, nor can we escape Him by flight.) meaning, `we know that the power of Allah is decisive over us and that we cannot escape Him in the earth. Even if we try to flee, we know that He has complete control over us and that none of us can escape Him.’
وَأَنَّا لَمَّا سَمِعْنَا الْهُدَى ءَامَنَّا بِهِ
(And indeed when we heard the Guidance, we believed therein,) They were proud of this, and it is something for them to be proud of, as well as a great honor for them and a good characteristic. Concerning their statement,
فَمَن يُؤْمِن بِرَبِّهِ فَلاَ يَخَافُ بَخْساً وَلاَ رَهَقاً
(and whosoever believes in his Lord shall have no fear, either of a decrease in the reward of his good deeds or an increase in the punishment for his sins.) Ibn `Abbas, Qatadah and others said, “This means, he should not fear that the reward for his good deeds will be decreased or that he will be burdened with anything other than his sins.” This is as Allah says,
فَلاَ يَخَافُ ظُلْماً وَلاَ هَضْماً
(Then he will have no fear of injustice, nor of any curtailment.) (20:112)
وَأَنَّا مِنَّا الْمُسْلِمُونَ وَمِنَّا الْقَـسِطُونَ
(And of us some are Muslims, and of us some are Al-Qasitun.) meaning, `among us there is the Muslim and the Qasit.’ The Qasit is he who behaves unjustly with the truth and deviates from it. This is the opposite of the Muqsit, the one who is just.
فَمَنْ أَسْلَمَ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ تَحَرَّوْاْ رَشَداً
(And whosoever has embraced Islam, then such have sought the right path.) meaning, they sought salvation for themselves.
وَأَمَّا الْقَـسِطُونَ فَكَانُواْ لِجَهَنَّمَ حَطَباً
(And as for the Qasitun, they shall be firewood for Hell.) meaning, fuel, for they will be used to kindle it (the Fire). Concerning Allah’s statement,
وَأَلَّوِ اسْتَقَـمُواْ عَلَى الطَّرِيقَةِ لاّسْقَيْنَـهُم مَّآءً غَدَقاً لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ
(If they had believed in Allah, and went on the way, We would surely have bestowed on them water in abundance. That We might try them thereby.) The commentators have differed over the explanation of this. There are two views concerning it. The First View That if the deviant ones would stand firmly upon the path of Islam, being just upon it and remaining upon it,
لاّسْقَيْنَـهُم مَّآءً غَدَقاً
(We would surely have bestowed on them water in abundance.) meaning, a lot. The intent behind this is to say that they would be given an abundance of sustenance. With this, the meaning of Allah’s statement,
لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ
(That We might try them thereby.) is that, `We will test them.’ As Malik reported from Zayd bin Aslam, he said, “That We might try them – means, so that We may test them to see who will remain upon the guidance from those who will turn back to sin.”
Mentioning Those Who held this View
Al-`Awfi reported similar to this from Ibn `Abbas, and likewise said Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib, `Ata, As-Suddi, Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi, Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak. Muqatil said, “This Ayah was revealed about the disbelievers of the Quraysh when they were deprived of rain for seven years.” The Second View
وَأَلَّوِ اسْتَقَـمُواْ عَلَى الطَّرِيقَةِ
(If they had believed in Allah, and went on the way,) meaning, of misguidance.
لاّسْقَيْنَـهُم مَّآءً غَدَقاً
(We would surely have bestowed on them water in abundance.) meaning, `then We would have increased their sustenance to allow a gradual respite.’ As Allah says,
فَلَمَّا نَسُواْ مَا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهِ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَابَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَتَّى إِذَا فَرِحُواْ بِمَآ أُوتُواْ أَخَذْنَـهُمْ بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ مُّبْلِسُونَ
(So, when they forgot that with which they had been reminded, We opened for them the gates of everything, until in the midst of their enjoyment in that which they were given, all of a sudden, We took them, and lo! They were plunged into destruction with deep regrets and sorrows. ) (6:44) Allah also says,
أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُمْ بِهِ مِن مَّالٍ وَبَنِينَ – نُسَارِعُ لَهُمْ فِى الْخَيْرَتِ بَل لاَّ يَشْعُرُونَ
(Do they think that in wealth and children with which We expand them. We hasten unto them with good things. Nay, but they percieve not.) (23:55,56) This is the view of Abu Mijlaz and it agrees with the opinion of Ibn Humayd. For verily, he (Ibn Humayd) said concerning Allah’s statement,
وَأَلَّوِ اسْتَقَـمُواْ عَلَى الطَّرِيقَةِ
(If they had believed in Allah, and went on the way,) “This means the path of misguidance.” Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim both recorded this. Al-Baghawi also mentioned it from Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Zayd bin Aslam, Al-Kalbi and Ibn Kaysan. It seems that he (Al-Baghawi) took this position. And it is supported by Allah’s saying, “That We might try them thereby.” Concerning Allah’s statement,
وَمَن يُعْرِضْ عَن ذِكْرِ رَبِّهِ يَسْلُكْهُ عَذَاباً صَعَداً
(And whosoever turns away from the Reminder of his Lord, He will cause him to enter in a Sa`ad torment.) meaning, a harsh, severe, agonizing and painful punishment. Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Qatadah and Ibn Zayd, all said,
عَذَاباً صَعَداً
(in a Sa`ad torment.) “This means harsh having no relaxation in it.” It has also been reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said, “It is a mountain in Hell.” It has been related from Sa`id bin Jubayr that he said, “It is a well in Hell.”