Al-Jinn
The Jinn
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Surah Al-Jinn, the seventy-second chapter of the Quran, comprises twenty-eight verses and was revealed in Mecca during a period when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) faced considerable opposition from the Quraysh. The surah takes its name from its opening narrative, which recounts how a group of jinn — intelligent beings created from smokeless fire, existing in a realm parallel to that of humans — happened to listen to the recitation of the Quran and were profoundly moved by its message. This event is traditionally linked to an occasion when the Prophet was returning from the city of Ta'if, where he had been rejected and mistreated by its people. The encounter with the jinn served as a powerful consolation: even when human audiences turned away, the truth of the Quran was so compelling that beings from the unseen world recognized its beauty and submitted to its guidance. The jinn are quoted as saying, "Indeed, we have heard a wondrous recitation. It guides to righteousness, and we have believed in it, and we will never associate anyone with our Lord." This opening establishes the surah's central premise — that the message of monotheism transcends the boundaries of the human world and speaks to all of God's creation. The surah proceeds to give voice to the jinn themselves, offering a fascinating glimpse into their world and their spiritual transformation. They confess that they had previously held foolish beliefs about God and had been misled by certain figures among them, both jinn and humans, who spread falsehood. They describe how some among them were righteous while others were not, existing in diverse sects and paths, much like human beings. They also recount how they once sought to eavesdrop on the heavens to learn secrets of the unseen, but found the skies heavily guarded with shooting stars after the advent of the Prophet's mission, signaling a new era in which divine revelation replaced illicit attempts to access celestial knowledge. This narrative serves a theological purpose: it affirms that the coming of the Quran marked a decisive turning point in cosmic and spiritual history, sealing off the channels through which corrupted information had previously flowed and replacing them with pure, authentic guidance. The latter portion of the surah shifts its focus from the jinn's testimony to broader declarations about the nature of God's sovereignty, the duty of worship, and the role of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The surah emphasizes that mosques and places of worship belong exclusively to God and that no one should be invoked alongside Him. The Prophet is instructed to declare that he has no power to cause harm or benefit to anyone, that his role is solely to convey the divine message, and that true refuge is found only in God. The surah
قُلْ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ أَنَّهُ ٱسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ فَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْءَانًا عَجَبًا 1
Say, [O Muḥammad], "It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened and said, 'Indeed, we have heard an amazing Qur’ān [i.e., recitation].
يَهْدِىٓ إِلَى ٱلرُّشْدِ فَـَٔامَنَّا بِهِۦ ۖ وَلَن نُّشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَآ أَحَدًا 2
It guides to the right course, and we have believed in it. And we will never associate with our Lord anyone.
وَأَنَّهُۥ تَعَـٰلَىٰ جَدُّ رَبِّنَا مَا ٱتَّخَذَ صَـٰحِبَةً وَلَا وَلَدًا 3
And [it teaches] that exalted is the nobleness of our Lord; He has not taken a wife or a son
وَأَنَّهُۥ كَانَ يَقُولُ سَفِيهُنَا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ شَطَطًا 4
And that our foolish one [i.e., Iblees] has been saying about Allāh an excessive transgression.
وَأَنَّا ظَنَنَّآ أَن لَّن تَقُولَ ٱلْإِنسُ وَٱلْجِنُّ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا 5
And we had thought that mankind and the jinn would never speak about Allāh a lie.
وَأَنَّهُۥ كَانَ رِجَالٌ مِّنَ ٱلْإِنسِ يَعُوذُونَ بِرِجَالٍ مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ فَزَادُوهُمْ رَهَقًا 6
And there were men from mankind who sought refuge in men from the jinn, so they [only] increased them in burden [i.e., sin].
وَأَنَّهُمْ ظَنُّوا۟ كَمَا ظَنَنتُمْ أَن لَّن يَبْعَثَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدًا 7
And they had thought, as you thought, that Allāh would never send anyone [as a messenger].
وَأَنَّا لَمَسْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ فَوَجَدْنَـٰهَا مُلِئَتْ حَرَسًا شَدِيدًا وَشُهُبًا 8
And we have sought [to reach] the heaven but found it filled with powerful guards and burning flames.
وَأَنَّا كُنَّا نَقْعُدُ مِنْهَا مَقَـٰعِدَ لِلسَّمْعِ ۖ فَمَن يَسْتَمِعِ ٱلْـَٔانَ يَجِدْ لَهُۥ شِهَابًا رَّصَدًا 9
And we used to sit therein in positions for hearing, but whoever listens now will find a burning flame lying in wait for him.
وَأَنَّا لَا نَدْرِىٓ أَشَرٌّ أُرِيدَ بِمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَمْ أَرَادَ بِهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ رَشَدًا 10
And we do not know [therefore] whether evil is intended for those on earth or whether their Lord intends for them a right course.
وَأَنَّا مِنَّا ٱلصَّـٰلِحُونَ وَمِنَّا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ كُنَّا طَرَآئِقَ قِدَدًا 11
And among us are the righteous, and among us are [others] not so; we were [of] divided ways.
وَأَنَّا ظَنَنَّآ أَن لَّن نُّعْجِزَ ٱللَّهَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَن نُّعْجِزَهُۥ هَرَبًا 12
And we have become certain that we will never cause failure to Allāh upon earth, nor can we escape Him by flight.
وَأَنَّا لَمَّا سَمِعْنَا ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ ۖ فَمَن يُؤْمِنۢ بِرَبِّهِۦ فَلَا يَخَافُ بَخْسًا وَلَا رَهَقًا 13
And when we heard the guidance [i.e., the Qur’ān], we believed in it. And whoever believes in his Lord will not fear deprivation or burden.
وَأَنَّا مِنَّا ٱلْمُسْلِمُونَ وَمِنَّا ٱلْقَـٰسِطُونَ ۖ فَمَنْ أَسْلَمَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ تَحَرَّوْا۟ رَشَدًا 14
And among us are Muslims [in submission to Allāh], and among us are the unjust. And whoever has become Muslim - those have sought out the right course.
وَأَمَّا ٱلْقَـٰسِطُونَ فَكَانُوا۟ لِجَهَنَّمَ حَطَبًا 15
But as for the unjust, they will be, for Hell, firewood.'
وَأَلَّوِ ٱسْتَقَـٰمُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلطَّرِيقَةِ لَأَسْقَيْنَـٰهُم مَّآءً غَدَقًا 16
And [Allāh revealed] that if they had remained straight on the way, We would have given them abundant rain [i.e., provision].
لِّنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَن يُعْرِضْ عَن ذِكْرِ رَبِّهِۦ يَسْلُكْهُ عَذَابًا صَعَدًا 17
So We might test them therein. And whoever turns away from the remembrance of his Lord He will put into arduous punishment.
وَأَنَّ ٱلْمَسَـٰجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوا۟ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ أَحَدًا 18
And [He revealed] that the masjids are for Allāh, so do not invoke with Allāh anyone.
وَأَنَّهُۥ لَمَّا قَامَ عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ يَدْعُوهُ كَادُوا۟ يَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِ لِبَدًا 19
And that when the Servant [i.e., Prophet] of Allāh stood up supplicating Him, they almost became about him a compacted mass."
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَدْعُوا۟ رَبِّى وَلَآ أُشْرِكُ بِهِۦٓ أَحَدًا 20
Say, [O Muḥammad], "I only invoke my Lord and do not associate with Him anyone."
قُلْ إِنِّى لَآ أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا رَشَدًا 21
Say, "Indeed, I do not possess for you [the power of] harm or right direction."
قُلْ إِنِّى لَن يُجِيرَنِى مِنَ ٱللَّهِ أَحَدٌ وَلَنْ أَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِۦ مُلْتَحَدًا 22
Say, "Indeed, there will never protect me from Allāh anyone [if I should disobey], nor will I find in other than Him a refuge.
إِلَّا بَلَـٰغًا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِسَـٰلَـٰتِهِۦ ۚ وَمَن يَعْصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَإِنَّ لَهُۥ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا 23
But [I have for you] only notification from Allāh, and His messages." And whoever disobeys Allāh and His Messenger - then indeed, for him is the fire of Hell; they will abide therein forever.
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا رَأَوْا۟ مَا يُوعَدُونَ فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ أَضْعَفُ نَاصِرًا وَأَقَلُّ عَدَدًا 24
[The disbelievers continue] until, when they see that which they are promised, then they will know who is weaker in helpers and less in number.
قُلْ إِنْ أَدْرِىٓ أَقَرِيبٌ مَّا تُوعَدُونَ أَمْ يَجْعَلُ لَهُۥ رَبِّىٓ أَمَدًا 25
Say, "I do not know if what you are promised is near or if my Lord will grant for it a [long] period."
عَـٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ فَلَا يُظْهِرُ عَلَىٰ غَيْبِهِۦٓ أَحَدًا 26
[He is] Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His [knowledge of the] unseen to anyone
إِلَّا مَنِ ٱرْتَضَىٰ مِن رَّسُولٍ فَإِنَّهُۥ يَسْلُكُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ رَصَدًا 27
Except whom He has approved of messengers, and indeed, He sends before him [i.e., each messenger] and behind him observers
لِّيَعْلَمَ أَن قَدْ أَبْلَغُوا۟ رِسَـٰلَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَحَاطَ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ وَأَحْصَىٰ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عَدَدًۢا 28
That he [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] may know that they have conveyed the messages of their Lord; and He has encompassed whatever is with them and has enumerated all things in number.
Practice memorizing Surah Al-Jinn. Choose how much of the Arabic text to hide, then tap each ayah to reveal it.