72: The Jinn (Al-Jinn)
Revealed at Makkah
The title of this chapter is taken from the mention of certain believers in the Holy Prophet’s truth called jinn. This is a prophetical reference to those people accepting Islam who were yet hidden from the eye, belonging to lands beyond Arabia as well as to future times. The chapter was revealed two years before the Hijra when opposition to the Holy Prophet had reached a climax and persecution of Muslims was at its most severe. In such circumstances of seeming hopelessness, a very emphatic assurance of eventual success is given in this chapter. The second half of the chapter speaks of the protection granted to prophets against their enemies.
Section 1 (Verses 72:1–72:19): Foreign Believers
72:1
قُلۡ اُوۡحِیَ اِلَیَّ اَنَّہُ اسۡتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِّنَ الۡجِنِّ فَقَالُوۡۤا اِنَّا سَمِعۡنَا قُرۡاٰنًا عَجَبًا ۙ﴿۱﴾
Say: It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened, so they said: Surely we have heard a wonderful Quran,
The existence of jinn, or ethereal beings like the angels (the former being the spirits of evil and the latter the spirits of good), is a question quite distinct, but it is clear that the jinn spoken of here did not belong to this class; see 6:128 footnote 1, for full explanation of the word. Jinn are also referred to in 46:29–31, where they are made to say: “Our people, we have heard a Book revealed after Moses, verifying what is before it”. This shows that they were Jews. The jinn spoken of here are evidently Christians, as v. 3 shows.
72:2
یَّہۡدِیۡۤ اِلَی الرُّشۡدِ فَاٰمَنَّا بِہٖ ؕ وَ لَنۡ نُّشۡرِکَ بِرَبِّنَاۤ اَحَدًا ۙ﴿۲﴾
guiding to the right way — so we believe in it. And we shall not set up anyone as partner with our Lord;
72:3
وَّ اَنَّہٗ تَعٰلٰی جَدُّ رَبِّنَا مَا اتَّخَذَ صَاحِبَۃً وَّ لَا وَلَدًا ۙ﴿۳﴾
and He — exalted be the majesty of our Lord! — has not taken a consort, nor a son;
The words of this verse are a clear indication that the persons spoken of here are Christians. That both Jews and Christians living outside Arabia accepted the message of Truth brought by the Prophet is a fact. But from what is stated further on, it appears that the reference here is to Christian nations of the distant future who will accept the truth of the message brought by the Prophet. At any rate the prophetical in these words, whether relating to the near or distant future, is clearly hinted at in the opening words of the chapter — It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened.
72:4
وَّ اَنَّہٗ کَانَ یَقُوۡلُ سَفِیۡہُنَا عَلَی اللّٰہِ شَطَطًا ۙ﴿۴﴾
and the foolish among us used to forge extravagant lies against Allah;
72:5
وَّ اَنَّا ظَنَنَّاۤ اَنۡ لَّنۡ تَقُوۡلَ الۡاِنۡسُ وَ الۡجِنُّ عَلَی اللّٰہِ کَذِبًا ۙ﴿۵﴾
and we thought that the people and the jinn did not utter a lie against Allah;
72:6
وَّ اَنَّہٗ کَانَ رِجَالٌ مِّنَ الۡاِنۡسِ یَعُوۡذُوۡنَ بِرِجَالٍ مِّنَ الۡجِنِّ فَزَادُوۡہُمۡ رَہَقًا ۙ﴿۶﴾
and men from among the people used to seek refuge with men from among the jinn, so they increased them in evil doing;
The jinn and the people (Arabic: ins) of this verse are undoubtedly the leaders of evil and the weaker ones in intellect who followed them blindly.
72:7
وَّ اَنَّہُمۡ ظَنُّوۡا کَمَا ظَنَنۡتُمۡ اَنۡ لَّنۡ یَّبۡعَثَ اللّٰہُ اَحَدًا ۙ﴿۷﴾
and they thought, as you think, that Allah would not raise anyone;
72:8
وَّ اَنَّا لَمَسۡنَا السَّمَآءَ فَوَجَدۡنٰہَا مُلِئَتۡ حَرَسًا شَدِیۡدًا وَّ شُہُبًا ۙ﴿۸﴾
and we sought to reach heaven, but we found it filled with strong guards and flames;
By reaching heaven is meant learning secrets of the heaven. The reference may be to the diviners and astrologers among them, for which see 37:7–10, but more likely it is a prophetical reference to the great scientific discoveries of the modern age relating to heaven.
72:9
وَّ اَنَّا کُنَّا نَقۡعُدُ مِنۡہَا مَقَاعِدَ لِلسَّمۡعِ ؕ فَمَنۡ یَّسۡتَمِعِ الۡاٰنَ یَجِدۡ لَہٗ شِہَابًا رَّصَدًا ۙ﴿۹﴾
and we used to sit in some of its sitting-places to steal a hearing. But he who tries to listen now finds a flame lying in wait for him;
72:10
وَّ اَنَّا لَا نَدۡرِیۡۤ اَشَرٌّ اُرِیۡدَ بِمَنۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ اَمۡ اَرَادَ بِہِمۡ رَبُّہُمۡ رَشَدًا ﴿ۙ۱۰﴾
and we do not know whether evil is meant for those on earth or whether their Lord means to direct them aright;
These words seem to refer to the great tribulations which are meant to direct man’s attention to spiritual truth.
72:11
وَّ اَنَّا مِنَّا الصّٰلِحُوۡنَ وَ مِنَّا دُوۡنَ ذٰلِکَ ؕ کُنَّا طَرَآئِقَ قِدَدًا ﴿ۙ۱۱﴾
and some of us are good and others of us are below that — we are sects following different ways;
72:12
وَّ اَنَّا ظَنَنَّاۤ اَنۡ لَّنۡ نُّعۡجِزَ اللّٰہَ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ لَنۡ نُّعۡجِزَہٗ ہَرَبًا ﴿ۙ۱۲﴾
and we know that we cannot escape Allah in the earth, nor can we escape Him by flight;
72:13
وَّ اَنَّا لَمَّا سَمِعۡنَا الۡہُدٰۤی اٰمَنَّا بِہٖ ؕ فَمَنۡ یُّؤۡمِنۡۢ بِرَبِّہٖ فَلَا یَخَافُ بَخۡسًا وَّ لَا رَہَقًا ﴿ۙ۱۳﴾
and when we heard the guidance, we believed in it. So whoever believes in his Lord, he fears neither loss nor injustice;
72:14
وَّ اَنَّا مِنَّا الۡمُسۡلِمُوۡنَ وَ مِنَّا الۡقٰسِطُوۡنَ ؕ فَمَنۡ اَسۡلَمَ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ تَحَرَّوۡا رَشَدًا ﴿۱۴﴾
and some of us are those who submit, and others of us are deviators. So whoever submits, these aim at the right way.
72:15
وَ اَمَّا الۡقٰسِطُوۡنَ فَکَانُوۡا لِجَہَنَّمَ حَطَبًا ﴿ۙ۱۵﴾
And as to the deviators, they are fuel of hell;
72:16
وَّ اَنۡ لَّوِ اسۡتَقَامُوۡا عَلَی الطَّرِیۡقَۃِ لَاَسۡقَیۡنٰہُمۡ مَّآءً غَدَقًا ﴿ۙ۱۶﴾
and if they keep to the (right) way, We would certainly give them to drink abundant water,
Abundance of wealth may be meant by abundance of water.
72:17
لِّنَفۡتِنَہُمۡ فِیۡہِ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یُّعۡرِضۡ عَنۡ ذِکۡرِ رَبِّہٖ یَسۡلُکۡہُ عَذَابًا صَعَدًا ﴿ۙ۱۷﴾
so that We may try them by (means of) it. And whoever turns away from the reminder of his Lord, He will make him enter into an afflicting punishment;
72:18
وَّ اَنَّ الۡمَسٰجِدَ لِلّٰہِ فَلَا تَدۡعُوۡا مَعَ اللّٰہِ اَحَدًا ﴿ۙ۱۸﴾
and the mosques are Allah’s, so do not call upon anyone with Allah;
72:19
وَّ اَنَّہٗ لَمَّا قَامَ عَبۡدُ اللّٰہِ یَدۡعُوۡہُ کَادُوۡا یَکُوۡنُوۡنَ عَلَیۡہِ لِبَدًا ﴿ؕ٪۱۹﴾
and when the Servant of Allah stood up praying to Him, they nearly crowded him (to death).
The servant of Allah is the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
Section 2 (Verses 72:20–72:28): Protection of Revelation
72:20
قُلۡ اِنَّمَاۤ اَدۡعُوۡا رَبِّیۡ وَ لَاۤ اُشۡرِکُ بِہٖۤ اَحَدًا ﴿۲۰﴾
Say: I only call upon my Lord, and I do not set up any partner with Him.
72:21
قُلۡ اِنِّیۡ لَاۤ اَمۡلِکُ لَکُمۡ ضَرًّا وَّ لَا رَشَدًا ﴿۲۱﴾
Say: I do not control evil nor good for you.
72:22
قُلۡ اِنِّیۡ لَنۡ یُّجِیۡرَنِیۡ مِنَ اللّٰہِ اَحَدٌ ۬ۙ وَّ لَنۡ اَجِدَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِہٖ مُلۡتَحَدًا ﴿ۙ۲۲﴾
Say: None can protect me against Allah, nor can I find any refuge besides Him;
72:23
اِلَّا بَلٰغًا مِّنَ اللّٰہِ وَ رِسٰلٰتِہٖ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یَّعۡصِ اللّٰہَ وَ رَسُوۡلَہٗ فَاِنَّ لَہٗ نَارَ جَہَنَّمَ خٰلِدِیۡنَ فِیۡہَاۤ اَبَدًا ﴿ؕ۲۳﴾
(my duty is) but to deliver (the command) of Allah and His messages. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, surely for him is the Fire of hell, to abide in it for a long time,
72:24
حَتّٰۤی اِذَا رَاَوۡا مَا یُوۡعَدُوۡنَ فَسَیَعۡلَمُوۡنَ مَنۡ اَضۡعَفُ نَاصِرًا وَّ اَقَلُّ عَدَدًا ﴿۲۴﴾
till when they see what they are promised, they will know who is weaker in helpers and smaller in numbers.
As a human being left to himself without a friend, without helper, rejected at home and elsewhere (as he was rejected at Ta’if at this time), the Holy Prophet had thus poured out his heart, in this state of utter helplessness: “O Lord, I make my complaint to You of my helplessness and frailty and of my insignificance before mankind…”. Now contrast with it the revelation which he received just then, which speaks of the opponents of Truth who would soon be brought low — “they will know who is weaker in helpers and smaller in numbers”. The source of the Holy Prophet’s revelation was other than his own heart, for the same heart could not simultaneously vent feelings of utter helplessness and weakness and those of unbounded confidence in his ultimate triumph.
72:25
قُلۡ اِنۡ اَدۡرِیۡۤ اَقَرِیۡبٌ مَّا تُوۡعَدُوۡنَ اَمۡ یَجۡعَلُ لَہٗ رَبِّیۡۤ اَمَدًا ﴿۲۵﴾
Say: I do not know whether what you are promised is near or if my Lord will appoint for it a distant term.
72:26
عٰلِمُ الۡغَیۡبِ فَلَا یُظۡہِرُ عَلٰی غَیۡبِہٖۤ اَحَدًا ﴿ۙ۲۶﴾
The Knower of the unseen, so He makes His secrets known to none,
72:27
اِلَّا مَنِ ارۡتَضٰی مِنۡ رَّسُوۡلٍ فَاِنَّہٗ یَسۡلُکُ مِنۡۢ بَیۡنِ یَدَیۡہِ وَ مِنۡ خَلۡفِہٖ رَصَدًا ﴿ۙ۲۷﴾
except a messenger whom He chooses. For surely He makes a guard to go before him and behind him,
That the overthrow of opposition to the great message of Truth was certain is stated in v. 24. Then v. 25 states that the Prophet did not know whether this overthrow would come soon or in the distant future, but Truth must triumph. And the law is stated now that God makes known His will, the unseen, the Truth, by His messenger, to convey that Truth to other people. It is God’s message and it must be delivered in spite of all opposition. The Divine purpose is accomplished by sending a guard, before and after the messenger, to protect him against all onslaughts, as is made clear in the words that follow.
72:28
لِّیَعۡلَمَ اَنۡ قَدۡ اَبۡلَغُوۡا رِسٰلٰتِ رَبِّہِمۡ وَ اَحَاطَ بِمَا لَدَیۡہِمۡ وَ اَحۡصٰی کُلَّ شَیۡءٍ عَدَدًا ﴿٪۲۸﴾
that He may know that they have truly delivered the messages of their Lord; and He encompasses whatever is with them, and He keeps account of all things.
Note the firm tone of these revelations under the disheartening circumstances to which attention has been drawn in v. 24 footnote. Such words could not proceed from any but a Divine source — the message must be delivered, Allah encompasses all, nothing is out of His reach.