Al-Jinn

{{infobox surah

| number = 72

| name = Al-Jinn

| name-ar = الجن

| name-en = The Jinn

| prev_sura = Quran 71

| next_sura = Quran 73

| classification = Meccan

| othernames-ar =

| othernames = Jinns, The Unseen Beings

| juz = 29

| rukus = 2

| verses = 28

| words = 286

| letters = 1,109

| muqattaat =

| sajdahs =

| audio = Chapter 72, Al-Jinn (Mujawwad) - Recitation of the Holy Qur'an.mp3

}}

Al-Jinn{{cite web|url=http://www.quran4u.com/Tafsir%20Ibn%20Kathir/072%20Jinn.htm |title=Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Surah Al Jinn |work=Quran 4 U|author= Ibn Kathir (d.1373)|access-date=10 April 2020}} ({{langx|ar| الجن}}, “The Jinn”) is the 72nd chapter (sūrah) of the Quran with 28 verses (āyāt). The name as well as the topic of this chapter is jinn. In the Quran, it is stated in that humans are created from the earth and jinn from smokeless fire.

Although Al-Jinn is a Meccan surah, it is generally agreed that it was revealed much later than any other sura contained in Juz' Tabāraka -lladhi (which covers surahs 67 to 77). Abdullah Yusuf Ali says that it is "tolerably certain" that Al-Jinn was revealed around 2 B.H. when Muhammad was evangelising near present-day Ta'if.Ali, Abdullah Yusuf; An Interpretation of the Holy Qur’an with Full Arabic Text; p. 873 {{ISBN|1853267821}} Maulana Muhammad Ali agrees with the date of around 2 B.H., saying that this surah was revealed at a time when opposition to the Prophet's message was reaching a climax.Ali, Maulana Muhammad; The Holy Qur’an: Arabic Text, Translation and Commentary; p. 1106 {{ISBN|091332101X}}

Summary

:1-2 A number of genie converted to Islam by hearing the Quran{{cite book |last1=Lumbard|first1=Joseph|author1-link=Joseph Lumbard|title=72, The Jinn, al-Jinn, The Study Quran |date=April 2015|publisher= HarperOne|location=San Francisco}}

:3-7 The folly of men and genii in ascribing offspring to God

:8-9 Genii prying into heavenly secrets are driven away with fiery darts

:10-14 Different classes of genii, some Muslims and others infidels

:15-18 Believing genii rewarded in Paradise, the unbelievers punished in hell

:19 The genii pressed upon Muhammad to hear the Quran

:20-24 Muhammad can only publish what hath been revealed to him

:25-26 The judgments of God shall overtake the unbelievers

:27-28 God revealeth his secrets to his apostles only{{cite book |last1=Wherry |first1=Elwood Morris |author1-link=Elwood Morris Wherry |title=A Complete Index to Sale's Text, Preliminary Discourse, and Notes |date=1896 |publisher=Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, and Co |location=London}} {{PD-notice}}

Exegesis

=1 Definition of jinn=

Muslim scholars discuss the definition of the term jinn: a) they are invisible bodies in which air and fire dominates b) disembodied spirits of the planets, mostly held by the philosophers c) the souls of the dead, often attributed to Christian beliefs.Haussig, H., Haußig, H. (2009). Religionen und Weltanschauungen: Islam / Hans-Michael Haußig. Bd. 3. Deutschland: BWV, Berliner Wiss.-Verlag.Calverley, E. E., & Pollock, J. W. (2002). "Chapter 2: Incorporeal Substantial Beings". In Nature, Man and God in Medieval Islam (vol. 1/2). Leiden, Niederlande: Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004531468_023

=2 Jinn recant their belief in false gods =

In the second verse the jinn recant their belief in false gods and venerate Muhammad for his monotheism. The jinn apologize for their past blasphemy and criticize mankind for either neglecting them or encouraging their disbelief.

= 6 Discrediting veneration of jinn =

The third verse mentions that travelers among humans sought refuge among the jinn, when they were scared, for example, when passing through a valley. When humans sought refuge among the jinn, it increased the sin of both the jinn and humans. Since the verse speaks about "men from the jinn", jinn are believed to have men and women among them, and that they procreate like humans do.

=7 Islamic Judgement Day, Qiyamah=

The Judgement in verse 7, and the punishment in verse 25, are both references to the Islamic Judgement Day, Qiyamah.

= 8 The jinn used to spy on heaven =

The eighth verse speaks about the belief that jinn and devils spied on the gates of heaven to reveal news to soothsayers, until the skies were found filled with meteors.