Chapter 72 - 63
Jinn (Surah Al-Jinn)
(28 verses in total; Late Makkan)
This short summer beings the late Makkan revelations at a time when the persecution of the Prophet and his followers became severe. The revelations around this time intimated the prophet about higher forms of life experiences including the conversation from the Jinns on his message and his ascension to the seventh heaven where he was instructed on the five daily prayers and shown some aspects of afterlife.
The key themes in this chapter are as follows:
· A group of Jinns have listened and believed in his prophethood and his message, even in the face of many of his own tribesmen not believing in him
· The Jinns engage in a conversation about their own condition which in many ways mimic human condition – both Jinns and Human beings are resident on this earth and have similar free wills and accountabilities
· The prophet only conveys what he is instructed by God and does not have access to the unknown except when God reveals such things to him
In the name of God, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
Say (Prophet), “It has been revealed to me that a group of Jinns listened (to this Qur’an) and said to themselves, ‘We have heard of this marvelous Qur’an! It guides to the path (to God and goodness) and we believe in it. We shall no longer set up a partner to God, Who is Majestic and to be exalted. God has no son or consort, yet the fools among us used to assert unfounded lies against God, whereas we thought both humankind and jinn don’t lie against God. (We also know that) there are people who would seek collaboration with jinns to aid one another in evils and these people thought as you (jinn) think that God will resurrect none. We sought to reach heaven but find it filled with impenetrable guards and shooting flames, whereas (in the past) we used sit in some hiding places to steal hearings. But now when we try to listen in, we find a flaming meteor waiting to go after us. So, we are no longer sure if an evil is about to fall on the inhabitants of the earth or if their Sustainer God will lead them to the right path. Some of us are good while others are anything but good – we are on different paths! We know that we cannot escape God on this earth, nor can we escape with our fleeing! Therefore, when we heard this guidance, we accepted – whoever believes in God will have no reason to fear loss or injustice! Some of us are among those who submit and some of us are those who deviate from it – those who submit aim for the right way while those who deny become the fodder for hell.”’ (v. 1-15).
If people (and jinn) keep to the right creed (twariiqa), We (God) will give them abundance to try them (further) – if they then become unmindful of their God, then God will bring about grievous
consequences. The mosques are for God – therefore, do not call upon anyone other than God. (See) when the Servant of God1 stood up for worshipping God, they crowded around him! (v. 16-19)
Say, “I call on God only and associate none with God! I do not control good or evil for you. None can protect me from God, nor can I find a refuge other than God. (My task it to) deliver from God and deliver God’s messages. Anyone who disobeys God and God’s messenger, will face the fire of Hell, to be confined therein. Only when they see what they have been promised, they will know who is more helpless or less in numbers! I do not know whether the promise to you (of reward or punishment) is close at hand and at a distant future. It is to my God – the Knower of unseen - Who dictates such terms and makes the secrets known to none but a messenger as God chooses. God then assigns a protector and a watcher with and about him to ensure that they have indeed delivered the messages from their Sustainer God. God encompasses everything about them and keeps account of all things!” (v. 20-28)
1“abd ul Allah’ – servant of God, is a designation to Prophet Mohammad, among seven other names designated to him throughout the Qur’an but in a generic sense it could apply to anyone who is submits and worships God. Hence it a common name among Muslim males.
