72:1. Say: It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened [to the Qur’an] and they said: Indeed we have heard a wondrous recitation.

72:2. which guides to the right path, so we have believed in it, and we will never associate anyone with our Lord;

﴾Say﴿ O Messenger of Allah (ilf), to the people:

﴾It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened [to the Qur’an]﴿. Allah directed them to His Messenger (ﷺ) so that they might hear His revelations, and so that proof might be established against them and the blessing be perfected for them, and so that they might be warners to their people.

Allah instructed His Messenger (ﷺ) to tell people about them. When they came to him, they said to one another: Listen attentively. And when they listened attentively, they understood the meanings and the truth reached their hearts.

tfand they said: Indeed we have heard a wondrous recitation﴿) that is, something most amazing and sublime.

﴾which guides to the right path﴿) - the right path is a comprehensive term that includes everything that guides people to that which is in their best interests in both their religious and worldly affairs. t-(so we have believed in it, and we will never associate anyone with our Lord﴿). Thus they combined faith, which includes all good deeds, and piety, which implies refraining from evil.

They referred to the reason that prompted them to believe, which was what they learned from the teachings of the Qur’an and what it contains of advice, benefits and the call to avoid harm. That is a great sign and definitive proof for the one who walks in its light and follows its guidance.

This beneficial faith, that leads to all that is good and is based on the guidance of the Qur'an, is different from faith based on customs or upbringing and what one is used to, and the like, for that is faith that is based on traditions, which is at risk of being shaken when exposed to specious arguments and doubts, and many other things that could undermine it.

72:3. He - exalted be the majesty of our Lord! - has neither wife nor child;

72:4. the fool among us [Iblees] has been uttering extravagant lies about Allah,

72:5. although we thought that no human or jinn would ever tell lies about Allah.

﴾He - exalted be the majesty of our LordjJ that is, exalted be His greatness and sanctified be His names

﴾has neither wife nor child﴿. They learned about the majesty and greatness of Allah, which highlighted to them the falseness of those who claim that He has a wife or child, because to Him belong greatness and perfection in every sublime attribute. Having a wife or child is contrary to that, because it is opposite to the idea of complete independence and self-sufficiency.

﴾the fool among us [Iblees] has been uttering extravagant lies about Allah﴿ that is, saying things that are far removed from what is true, thus transgressing the limit. Nothing made him do that except his foolishness and lack of reason; otherwise, if he had been mature in thinking and had any shred of dignity, he would have known what is appropriate to say.

﴾although we thought that no human or jinn would ever tell lies about Allah!﴿ that is, we were deceived before that by the leaders of the jinn and humans, so we thought well of them, and we thought that they would not dare to tell lies against Allah; therefore we followed their path before this.

But today the truth has become clear to us, so we have turned back to Him and submitted to Him, and we do not care what anyone says that is contrary to true guidance.

72:6. Some individuals among humankind used to seek refuge with some individuals among the jinn, and they only increased them in tyranny;

72:7. they thought, as you did, that Allah would never send anyone as a Messenger.

(﴾Some individuals among humankind used to seek refuge with some individuals among the jinn, and they only increased them in tyranny﴿ that is, those humans used to worship the jinn and seek refuge with them at times of fear and panic, so the humans increased the jinn in tyranny - that is, transgression and arrogance - when they saw the humans worshipping them and seeking refuge with them.

It may be that the pronoun in the phrase ﴾they only increased them in tyranny﴿ refers to the jinn (and the word translated above as ﴾tyranny﴿ may mean fear); in other words, the jinn increased the humans in panic and fear, trying to scare them more, when they saw them seeking refuge in them, so that they would turn to them and seek refuge with them. When a human halted in a scary valley, he would say: I seek refuge with the master of this valley from the foolish among its inhabitants.

﴾they thought, as you did, that Allah would never send anyone as a Messenger﴿ that is, when they denied the resurrection, they fell into polytheism and transgression.

72:8. We sought news of heaven, and we found it filled with formidable guards and flaming fire;

72:9. we used to take up positions therein to eavesdrop, but now whoever eavesdrops will find a flaming fire waiting for him.

﴾We sought news of heaven﴿ that is, we came to it and checked it ﴾and we found it filled with formidable guards﴿ who prevented us from reaching it

﴾and flaming fire﴿ that was thrown at anyone who tried to eavesdrop. This is not how it used to be for us; we used to be able to get news of heaven.

﴾we used to take up positions therein to eavesdrop﴿ and get whatever news of heaven Allah willed.

﴾but now whoever eavesdrops will find a flaming fire waiting for him﴿ that is, prepared for him, to destroy him and bum him. In other words, this is a matter of great significance and is a new development. They were certain that Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) was going to bring about some major events on earth, either good or bad. Hence they said:

72:10. We do not know whether ill is intended for those on earth, or their Lord intends good for them.

72:11. Among us were some who were righteous and some who were otherwise; we followed different paths.

72:12. We have realised that we can never escape Allah’s [punishment] on earth, nor can we escape Him by fleeing.

﴾We do not know whether ill is intended for those on earth, or their Lord intends good for them﴿ that is, it must be either one or theother, for they had seen that things had changed for them in a way that they found strange, but with their intelligence they realised that this was because of something that Allah willed and would bring about on earth.

These words are indicative of their etiquette, because they attributed good to Allah fe), but when referring to ill (something bad), they spoke in the passive, omitting reference to the doer, out of respect towards Allah.

﴾Among us were some who were righteous and some who were otherwise﴿-) that is, evildoers, wicked people and disbelievers, ﴾we followed different paths﴿) that is, various sects and groups with different whims and desires, each rejoicing in what they had.

﴾We have realised that we can never escape Allah’s [punishment] on earth, nor can we escape Him by fleeing﴿) that is, now the perfect nature of Allah’s might has become clear to us, and we see how completely helpless we are, for our forelocks are in the Hand of Allah, and we can never outwit Him on earth; we can never escape Him if we flee and strive to find means of escape beyond His power. There is no refuge from Him except with Him.

72:13. When we heard the guidance [of the Qur’an], we believed in it; whoever believes in his Lord will have no fear of detraction [from his reward] or injustice.

72:14. Among us are some who have submitted [in Islam] and some who are wrongdoers; whoever submits [in Islam], it is they who have sincerely sought the right path.

72:15. As for the wrongdoers, they will be fuel for hell.

?[When we heard the guidance [of the Qur’an]﴿, which guides to the straight path, and we learned its guidance and teachings, it had an impact on our hearts, so ?(we believed in it﴿.

Then they mentioned something that would encourage the believer: ﴾whoever believes in his Lord﴿ with sincere faith ﴾will have no fear of detraction [from his reward] or injustice﴿ that is, he will not fear loss of reward or unfairness, and no harm will reach him. If he is safe from evil, then he will attain what is good, for faith is a cause that leads to all good things and offers protection against all that is evil.

﴾Among us are some who have submitted [in Islam] and some who are wrongdoers﴿ that is, transgressors who turn away from the straight path.

﴾whoever submits [in Islam], it is they who have sincerely sought the right path﴿ that is, they have found the right path that will lead them to paradise and its delights.

﴾As for the wrongdoers, they will be fuel for hell﴿ and that will be the requital for their deeds, not injustice on Allah’s part towards them.

﴾lf they had steadfastly followed the right way, We would have bestowed upon them abundant water [and provision]﴿ that is, palatable water. Nothing prevented that from reaching them except their wrongdoing and transgression.

﴾fso as to test them thereby﴿ that is, so as to test them and see who was sincere and who was lying.

﴾But whoever turns away from the Reminder of his Lord [the Qur’an], He will subject him to an overwhelming punishment﴿ that is, whoever turns away from the reminder of Allah, which is His Book, and does not follow it and submit to it - rather he is distracted from it and pays no heed to it - He will subject him to an overwhelming punishment, one that is far-reaching and severe.

72:18. Verily the mosques are for Allah alone, so do not call upon anyone along with Allah.

That is, do not call upon any others in the sense of the supplication of worship or the supplication of asking, for the mosques, which are the greatest places of worship, are built on a foundation of sincere devotion to Allah alone, submission to His greatness and surrender to His might.

72:19. When the slave of Allah stood up to call upon Him alone, they swarmed around him.

﴾When the slave of Allah stood up to call upon Him alone﴿, to ask of Him and worship Him, reciting the Qur’an, the jinn crowded around him, and ﴾swarmed around him﴿ that is, they were piled on top of one another, eager to listen to the guidance that he brought.

Ji (J) Ij-l-j ^ jlji (J) 1 Jyji* ^

72:20. Say [O Muhammad]: I call on my Lord alone and I do not associate anyone with Him.

72:21. Say: I have no power either to harm or benefit you.

72:22. Say: Verily no one can protect me from [the punishment of] Allah, and I will never find any refuge other than Him.

72:23. [But I can] convey that which I receive from Allah, and His messages. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, for him is the fire of hell, to abide therein forever.

﴾Say﴿ to them, O Messenger (ﷺ), explaining the truth of that to which you are calling them: ﴾I call on my Lord alone and I do not associate anyone with Him﴿ that is, I affirm His oneness, for He is One, with no partner or associate, and I shun all others, idols and rivals, and everything that the polytheists take as gods besides Him.

﴾Say: I have no power either to harm or benefit you﴿ for I am a slave who has no control and no power over anything.

﴾Say: Verily no one can protect me from [the punishment of] Allah﴿ that is, there is no one I can turn to, to save me from the punishment of Allah. If the Messenger (ﷺ), who is the most perfect of all people, has no power to cause harm or bring benefit, and cannotward off from himself any ill that Allah may intend for him, then it is more appropriate that other humans have no power to do so.

﴾and I will never find any refuge other than Him﴿) that is, no help or supporter other than Him.

(([But I can] convey that which I receive from Allah, and His messages﴿ that is, I have no advantage over people except that Allah chose me to convey His messages and to call people to Him. Thus proof is established against people.

﴾And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, for him is the fire of hell, to abide therein forever﴿; what is meant here is disobedience or sin that is so great that it constitutes disbelief, as is clarified by other, clear Qur'anic texts.

As for mere sin, it does not lead to eternity in hell, as is indicated by the verses of the Qur’an, the hadiths of the Prophet (ﷺ) and the consensus of the early generations and leading scholars of this Ummah.

72:24. When they see what they were promised, then they will realise who is weaker in support and fewer in numbers.

﴾When they see what they were promised﴿ with their own eyes, and they become certain that it will befall them,

﴾then they will realise﴿ that is, they will know for certain ﴾who is weaker in support and fewer in numbers﴿, when no one else will support them, nor will they be able to help themselves, because they will be gathered each on his own as he was created in the beginning.bjc.

72:25. Say: I do not know whether what you are promised is near or my Lord has set for it a far-off day.

72:26. Knower of the unseen. He does not disclose His unseen to anyone.

72:27. except a Messenger whom He has chosen; then He sends [angels as] guards to go before him and behind him,^{1These angelic guards are sent to protect the Messenger (jl|) during receipt of revelation from Allah, so that the devils cannot add anything to it that is not part of the revelation. (Ibn ‘Ashoor, at-Tahreer wat-Tanweer)}

72:28. so as to ascertain that they [the Messengers] have indeed conveyed the messages of their Lord.^{2That is, they have conveyed the message as originally received, protected by the angelic guards.} He encompasses in His knowledge all their affairs and He keeps count of all things.

﴾Say﴿ to them, if they ask you when will this promise come to pass: ﴾I do not know whether what you are promised is near or my Lord has set for it a far-off day﴿ that is, or it is very far away. Knowledge of that is with Allah alone.

﴾Knower of the unseen. He does not disclose His unseen to anyone﴿ among His creation. Rather He has kept to Himself alone knowledge of all that is secret, hidden and unseen.

﴾He does not disclose His unseen to anyone, except a Messenger whom He has chosen﴿ that is. He tells him of whatever His wisdom dictates.

That is because the Messengers are not like others, for Allah supports them as He does not support anyone else, and He preserved what He revealed to them so that they could convey it perfectly, without letting the devils confuse them or add anything to it or subtract anything from it. Hence Allah says:

﴾then He sends [angels as] guards to go before him and behind him﴿ that is, to protect him by Allah’s command.

﴾so as to ascertain﴿ thereby ﴾that they [the Messengers] have indeed conveyed the messages of their Lord﴿ by what He has made available to them of the means of doing so.

﴾He encompasses in His knowledge all their affairs﴿ that is, all that they have and all that they conceal or disclose.

﴾and He keeps count of all things﴿.

We learn many things from this soorah, including the following:

• That the jinn exist, and that they are accountable, subject to divine commands and prohibitions, and will be requited for their deeds, as is clearly stated in this soorah.

• That the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was a Messenger to the jinn, as he was a Messenger to humankind, therefore Allah sent a group of the jinn to listen to what was revealed to him and to convey it to their people.

• The jinn are intelligent and able to learn about the truth. What made them believe was what they understood of the guidance of the Qur’an, because of their good manners in discussing the issue of the Qur’an among themselves.

• Allah cared for His Messenger (ﷺ) and preserved what the Messenger brought. When the signs of his impending prophethood began to appear, that was when the heaven beganto be guarded by shooting stars, and the devils fled from it and were sent away from their listening posts, for Allah showed inestimable mercy towards the earth and its inhabitants, and their Lord wanted to guide them, so He wanted His religion and law to prevail and wanted the people of the earth to know Him, so that their hearts might be filled with joy, people of understanding might rejoice at that, the rituals of Islam might begin to prevail and the worshippers of idols might begin to be suppressed.

• The jinn were very keen to listen to the Messenger (ﷺ), and they crowded around him.

» This soorah contains the command to affirm Allah’s oneness and the prohibition on ascribing partners to Him; it explains the condition of creation and that none of creation deserves even an atom’s weight of worship, because if it is the case that the Messenger Muhammad (ﷺ) had no power to bring benefits or cause harm, even for himself, then it is known that all of creation is also like that. Therefore it is wrong to take such a creature as a god alongside Allah.

• Allah alone has knowledge of the unseen, so no one among creation has any knowledge of it except one with whom Allah is pleased and whom He has singled out for something of that knowledge.

This is the end of the commentary on Soorat al-.linn.

All praise and thanks are for Allah, and may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). his family, and his Companions abundantly until the Day of Judgement.