لَّا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى ٱلْمَلَإِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ وَيُقْذَفُونَ مِن كُلِّ جَانِبٍ 8
Translations
[So] they may not listen to the exalted assembly [of angels] and are pelted from every side,
Transliteration
Lā yassammaʿūn ilā al-mala'i al-aʿlā wa-yuqdhafūn min kulli jānib
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the devils (jinn) are prevented from eavesdropping on the conversations of the angels in the highest assembly (divine council), and are pelted with meteors from all directions when they attempt to do so. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that Allah has fortified the heavens against satanic eavesdropping, particularly regarding matters of divine decree and future events, as mentioned in Surah Al-Hijr (15:17-18). This demonstrates Allah's wisdom in keeping the unseen knowledge exclusive to His chosen angels.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah As-Saffat's discussion of the jinn's rebellion and their limitations compared to the angels. The surah establishes the hierarchy of creation and emphasizes that while jinn possess intelligence and free will, they are fundamentally inferior to angels and are barred from accessing divine secrets. This fits the broader Meccan theme of clarifying monotheism and Allah's absolute knowledge and control.
Related Hadiths
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'When Allah determined a matter in the heaven, the angels beat their wings in submission to His statement' (Surah As-Saffat 37:1). Additionally, Hadith in Sahih Muslim describes how some jinn attempted to listen to heavenly news but were bombarded with shooting stars (shihāb), which relates directly to the 'qudhifa' (pelting) mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that the unseen realm is sealed from evil creatures and that Allah has established perfect security for His divine counsel. A practical lesson is that believers should trust in Allah's complete knowledge and control over all affairs, and not fear the schemes of jinn or devils, as they are fundamentally limited and prevented from accessing divine secrets.