Sura al-Jinn

Sura al-Jinn is 72nd sura of the Qur’an. It is a Makki sura located in juz’ 29. Naming this sura “al-Jinn” is due to the existence of the word “al-Jinn” in the first verse of this sura and discussions about jinns in this sura. Sura al-Jinn mentions some superstitions people had about jinns, gives answers to them and suggests that invitation of the Prophet (a) to Islam included jinns as well as humans. Verse 18 titled as “al-masajid lillah” and also verses 26 and 27 about the infallibility of the prophets (a) are among the famous verses of this sura.

About the merits and benefits of reciting this sura, it is mentioned that whoever recites sura al-Jinn, God will give him rewards for freeing slaves equal to the number of all jinns and devils who accepted the Prophet (a) and rejected him.

Naming

Naming this sura as “al-Jinn” is due to the existence of the word “al-Jinn” in the first verse of this sura and discussions about jinns in this sura. In some hadiths, this sura is mentioned as “Qul awha” because it begins with this expression.

Jinns are considered mysterious creatures which have cognition, volition and obligations like humans; and due to their nature, they are hidden to humans’ perceptions and are not perceptible to humans in normal conditions. According to some verses and hadiths, jinns are created from fire or a mixture of fire and has obligations like humans and the same as humans, the goal of their creation is servitude of God. They will be resurrected in the hereafter and include obedient and disobedient, believer and disbeliever ones.

Order and Place of Revelation

Sura al-Jinn is a Makki sura and was the 40th sura revealed to the Prophet (a). It is 72nd sura of the Qur’an now located in juz’ 29.

Number of Verses and Other Features

Sura al-Jinn has 28 verses, 286 words and 1109 and regarding volume, it is among Mufassalat suras which are relatively small suras. It is at the beginning of the third hizb of juz’ 29. Sura al-Jinn is the first of five Maqulat suras which begin with “Qul” [Say]. This sura is counted among Mumtahinat suras, because it is related with sura al-Mumtahina regarding content.

Content

The first part of sura al-Jinn is the story of a tribe of jinns who were astonished by the eloquence of the Qur’an after hearing its recitation, and then they admitted to its magnificence and guidance. They believed in the Prophet (a) and the hereafter and expressed their humility before the Qur’an. In this sura, it is mentioned that there are two groups of believer and disbeliever jinns and also it is mentioned that like humans, some of them are righteous and some others make corruptions. Sura al-Jinn mentioned some superstitions among people and gave answers to them and notes this point that the invitation of the Prophet (a) included both humans and jinns.

In another part of sura al-Jinn, the Unity of God and the hereafter are mentioned and the last part of the sura speaks about the knowledge of the Unseen, no one has the knowledge of except some of which God wills.

Happiness of jinns and humans depends on believing in God

• Happiness of believer jinns

- Believing of jinns in the Prophet (a) - Repentance of believer jinns is among deviated beliefs - Reward of believer jinns

• Invitation of polytheists to monotheism and following the Prophet (a)

- Reminding the benefits of faith - Polytheists’ excuses for not believing in the Prophet (a): the goal of the Prophet (a) is inviting to himself; the power and number of us is more; maybe the Prophet (a) has changed the words of God

Occasion of Revelation

Exegetes considered the story of a group of jinns listening to the recitation of the Prophet (a) which is mentioned in sura al-Ahqaf (verses 29 – 32) as the occasion of revelation of this sura. About sura al-Jinn, some other occasions of revelation are also mentioned:

In Tafsir Ali b. Ibrahim Qummi, it is mentioned that the Prophet (a) went from Mecca to the market of ‘Akkaz in Ta’if to invite people to Islam, but he (a) did not receive a positive answer. On his return, he (a) began reciting the Qur’an in a place known as Wadi al-Jinn and a group of jinns heard his voice and believed in him and returned to their people to invite them to Islam as well.

It is transmitted from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Prophet (a) was reciting the Qur’an in his fajr prayer and a group of jinns who were searching the cause of not receiving news from the skies, heard the Prophet’s (a) recitation of the Qur’an and said, “the reason we do not receive news from the skies is this” and then, they returned to their people and invited them to Islam. Also, it is transmitted from ‘Abd Allah b. Mas’ud that “one night, we did not find the Prophet (a) and became worried”. After searching a lot, we found him coming from Hira’ mountain. He (a) said, “an inviter from jinns came to me and I went to recite the Qur’an to them.”

“The places of worship belong to God” (Verse 18)

In Tafsir Majma’ al-bayan, Tabrisi transmitted from Khalil that in this verse, polytheism is prohibited contrary to polytheists who practice polytheism in the Kaaba. Tabrisi also interpreted “masajid” as “the parts of the body used in prostrations” transmitting from Sa’id b. Jubayr, Zujaj and Fira’ and said that it is not correct to use them for prostrating for anyone other than God.

Infallibility of the Prophets (a) (Verses 26 and 27)

These verses mention a rule about the knowledge of the Unseen God does not give any of which He knows, then “the chosen Prophet (a)” is excluded from this rule. Also, these verses are one of the arguments for the infallibility of the Prophets (a) who stay safe from slips and errors and the evils of devils among the jinns and humans, their temptations and whatever damages the authenticity of revelation through divine and unseen assistance and protection of the angels.

Merits and Benefits

About the merits of reciting this sura, it is transmitted from the Prophet (a) that God will give whoever recites sura al-Jinn, rewards for freeing slaves equal to the number of all jinns who accepted the Prophet (a) and rejected him. It is also transmitted from Imam al-Sadiq (a) that a person who frequently recites sura “Qul awha”, will be safe from evil eyes, magic, tricks and harassments of jinns and will be with the Prophet (a).

In some hadiths, for recitation of this sura, some benefits are mentioned such as meeting the Prophet (a) in dream, increase of understanding and intelligence, returning the debt and going the jinns away.