وَأَنَّهُمْ ظَنُّوا۟ كَمَا ظَنَنتُمْ أَن لَّن يَبْعَثَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدًا 7
Translations
And they had thought, as you thought, that Allāh would never send anyone [as a messenger].
Transliteration
Wa-annahum zannu kama zananatum an lan yab'atha Allahu ahadan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the jinn held the false belief that Allah would not resurrect anyone on the Day of Judgment, just as some humans similarly disbelieved in resurrection. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the jinn adopted the same rationalist objections to the afterlife that some Arabian disbelievers held, demonstrating that denial of resurrection was a shared delusion across both jinn and mankind. This ayah emphasizes that both species were equally capable of rejecting divine truth and accountability.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Jinn is a Meccan surah revealed during the period when the Quraysh were actively denying the message of the Prophet Muhammad, particularly rejecting the concept of resurrection and the Day of Judgment. This ayah appears in the context of the jinn's testimony about what they heard from the Quran and their recognition of truths that humans were denying, highlighting the parallel spiritual blindness affecting both communities.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who believe in Allah and the Last Day.' This reflects the centrality of belief in resurrection throughout Islamic teaching. Additionally, Surah An-Nahl 16:38 addresses similar denial of resurrection among disbelievers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that denial of Allah's power to resurrect humanity stems from conjecture and unfounded assumptions rather than rational evidence, and that such delusions can affect even intelligent beings like the jinn. For believers, it serves as a warning against adopting the rationalist doubts of disbelievers and emphasizes the importance of firm faith in Divine power and the certainty of the Day of Judgment.