Say: It has been revealed to me that a group of the 'jinn listened in and then said: 'We have heard a wondrous discourse, giving guidance to what is sagacious, and we have come to believe in it. We shall never associate partners with our Lord. Sublimely exalted is the glory of our Lord! He has taken to Himself neither consort nor son. Some foolish ones among us have been saying some outrageous things about God. Yet we had thought that no man or j inn would ever utter a lie about God.

True, in the past some among mankind sought refuge with some of the jinn, but they caused them, further trouble. They thus came to think, just like you thought, that God will not raise anyone! (Verses 1-7)

The Arabic word nafar, used in the opening verse and translated here as a group, signifies a group of people between three and nine in number. Some reports suggest that they were seven.

This opening suggests that the Prophet learnt of the jinn's listening to his recitation and what they did afterwards through revelation from on high. It is God who told him about that of which he had no knowledge.

This might have been the first time, and there might have been one or more other occasions when the Prophet read out the Qur’an to the jinn, as reported by Jabir in a hadith that says: “Gods Messenger read out Surah 55, The Lord of Grace, in full to his Companions. When he finished, they were silent. He said: ‘I read this surah to the jinn and they gave a better response than you. Every time I read the repeated verse, ' Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?' they said: ‘None of Your blessings, our Lord, do we deny. All thanks are due to You.” [Related by al-Tirmidhi.] This report confirms the one by Ibn Mas(ud mentioned in the Prologue.

The event mentioned in the present surah must be the same referred to in Surah 46, The Sand Dunes, which says: “ We sent to you a group a/jinn to listen to the Quran. When they heard it, they said to one another, Listen in silence!* When the recitation ended, they returned to their people to warn them. 'Our people, 'they said, 'we have been listening to revelation bestowed from on high after Moses, confirming what came before it. It guides to the truth and to a straight path. 'Our people! Respond to God's call and have faith in Him. He will forgive you your sins and deliver you from grievous suffering. He who does not respond to God's call cannot elude Him on earth, nor will they have any protector against Him. They are indeed in manifest error.(Verses 29-32) These verses speak, as does the present surah, of the great surprise felt by the jinn when they first listened to the Qur’an.

It had such a great effect on their minds, hearts and feelings. They were filled with emotion, resulting in their travel in great haste to tell their people. Their report expresses such overflowing emotions. Indeed, it is stated in an exceptionally fluent, warm, charged and very happy style.

The surprise for them was great and their reaction was only natural.

"We have heard a wondrous discourse” (Verse 1) The first thing they realize about the Qur’anic discourse is that it is unfamiliar, and that it makes the listener wonder. This is how the Qur’an is received by anyone who listens with an open and positive mind. He will find that the Qur’an contains intrinsic power, strong appeal and beautiful music that touch hearts and feelings. It is 'wondrous indeed, which tells us that the group of jinn listening to it had refined literary tastes.

“ True, in the past some among mankind sought refage with some of the jinn, but they caused them farther trouble? (Verse 6) Here, the jinn refer to what was widely accepted in pre-Islamic days in Arabian society, and which remains accepted in many other communities, claiming that the jinn, exercized power on the earth and against humans. Indeed, it was thought that they were able to bring about benefit and cause harm to people, and that they were in full control of certain areas of land, sea and air. Satan is given access to peoples minds and hearts. Only those who seek protection with God are saved from him. Whoever listens to him is listening to his own worst enemy who will not bring him any benefit. On the contrary, he will increase his problems. This group of jinn report on what used to happen: “ True, in the past some among mankind to following guidance or error.3 Hence, it is an aspect of Gods grace that He has willed to help mankind by sending them messengers to promote goodness in their natures and to enhance their tendency to follow guidance. There are no grounds, then, for thinking that God would not be sending any messengers.

This is true when we take the verse to refer to sending Gods messengers. If we take the reference to mean resurrection on the Day of Judgement, we say again that it is necessary for humans, since they do not finish their life’s account in this present world. This is to fulfil a certain purpose of God’s. It relates to the design He has chosen for the universe, yet we know nothing about this design. He has decreed that all will be resurrected to receive their accounts and resume life along the path their first life qualifies them for. Again, this leaves no room to suggest that God will not resurrect anyone. Such a suggestion is contrary to believing in Gods wisdom and perfection.

This group of jinn presents the right belief directly to their people.

Furthermore, the Qur’an reports it to show the falsehood in the unbelievers’ way of thinking.

Continuing to report on what they learnt about the last divine message and its echoes throughout the universe, the jinn disclaim any knowledge of the realm that lies beyond the reach of theirs and human perception.

They disclaim having any role in it:

We tried to reach heaven, but found it full of mighty guards and shooting stars. We used to take up positions there to listen, but whoever tries to listen now will find a shooting star in wait for him. We do not know if this bodes evil for those who live on earth, or if their Lord intends to guide them to what is right. (Verses 8-10)

This suggests that in the period that preceded the revelation of Gods final message, perhaps in between it and Jesus message, the jinn used to try to reach up to heaven to eavesdrop on the angels and their discussion of their assignments with respect to the affairs of Gods creatures on earth. They would impart such information to their human friends, the soothsayers and astrologers, to enable them to delude people. In accordance with Satan’s plot, these soothsayers and astrologers would then use a small portion of the truth they so received and mix it with much falsehood, circulating it among people. This might have been the case when there was no messenger preaching the divine message on earth, in the intervening period between Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them both). What form this took we do not know, because the Qur’an has not given us any information about it. In any case, there is no need to explore it further because we accept it as the sum of this fact.

This group of jinn say that such eavesdropping, to which they refer by ‘reaching up to heaven , was no longer possible. When they tried it, they found the way blocked by mighty guards and shooting stars aimed at them, indeed killing them. They declare that they know nothing about the prospect determined for mankind: “ We do not know if this bodes evil for those who live on earth, or if their Lord intends to guide them to what is right." (verse 10) They, thus, clearly declare that they have no access to such information because it is part of Gods own knowledge. When the very source the soothsayers claim to receive their very special information from declares that it has no such knowledge, then nothing more can be said. All soothsaying and astrology are thus shown to be false. The world beyond belongs to God who alone knows it all. No one can dare claim any special knowledge of it or predict it. The Qur’an declares that the human mind must remain free of any such delusion. It rids mankind of all such superstitions.

Who or what are those mighty guards? Where do they stand? How do they aim the shooting stars at the devils trying to eavesdrop? Neither the Qur’an nor the Hadlth tells us anything of these questions. We do not have any other source to rely on. Had it been useful for us to learn any details of this, God would have given us them. Since He has chosen not to do so, it is futile for us to try anything in this regard. It does not add anything to our lives or to our useful knowledge.

The universe around us is full of secrets, spirits and forces. This surah, like many others, gives us a glimpse of some truths in the universe to help us formulate a proper concept of it and what it contains of forces and lives that carry on around us as also interact with us and with human life in general. This is the concept that distinguishes us, Muslims, putting us in the right position, leaning neither to delusion and superstition, nor to arrogance and insupportable claims. It is a concept based on the Qur’an and Hadith. It is to these two that a Muslim refers all theories and interpretations.

The human mind is given a certain area where man can explore the unknown; indeed Islam directs man to do so, pressurizing him into such action. However, beyond this scope lies a wide area that the human mind cannot access, and to which it does not need such access. It is of no use to us in the fulfilment of the task assigned to us, namely, building human life on earth. Hence, man has not been given such access; it is outside of his remit. Whatever he needs to know of this unknown realm in order to understand his own position in relation to the universe and what is around him has been explained to him by God, in terms that he can understand. Aspects of this area that we have been given information about include the angels, the devils, the spirit, our origin and our ultimate destination.

Those who follow divine guidance accept what God has revealed to them of these aspects in His book and through His messengers. They benefit by this feeling of Gods majesty and His wisdom with regard to creation. They also learn mans position in relation to such forces and spirits. They dedicate themselves to making whatever scientific discoveries they can manage within the area of the universe made available to man. They utilize their discoveries in the all important task assigned to them, which is building sound human life on the basis of divine guidance, seeking Gods acceptance and endeavouring to rise to the sublime level man can achieve.

Others who turn their backs on divine guidance are split into two large groups. One continues to strive, with their own finite minds, to understand the infinite, and to learn the hidden truth from sources other than Gods revelations. Among these have been some philosophers who tried to explain the universe and the mutual bonds between its different parts. They made fatal errors, just like children who try to climb a very high mountain with no known summit. They are trying to solve the essential secret of the universe when they have not yet learnt the alphabet! Prominent philosophers among them even arrived at ludicrous concepts.

When these are compared to the consistent and lucid concept Islam presents, they appear absurd, full of errors and ironies. They are too naive to explain the universe, great as it certainly is. I make no exception here in respect of the great Greek philosophers of old, or the Muslim philosophers who toed their line, or of contemporary philosophers.

The other large group recognizes the futility of such attempts and limits itself and its efforts to experimental and applied scientific research.

The jinn then describe their own situation and their attitude towards divine guidance. We understand from this that they have a similar nature to mankind, with the dual propensity to either believe or go astray. This group who believed now speak of their faith and what fate awaits the follower of either course:

Some among us are righteous and others less so: we follow widely divergent paths. We know that we can never elude God on earthy and we can never elude Him by flight. When we heard the guidance, we came to believe in it. Whoever believes in his Lord need never fear loss or injustice. Some of us submit to Him and others are unfair. Those who submit to God are the ones who have endeavoured to attain what is right. But those who are unfair will be the fuel of hellfire.

(Verses 11-15)

The statement that some of them are righteous and some less so, that some submit to God and others refuse to do so, clearly indicates their dual capacity, except that is for those of them who were determined to be unfair permanently, i.e. Satan and his group. This is a very important statement as it corrects our general perception of these creatures. Many of us, including scholars, tend to think that the jinn represent evil, that their nature is decidedly bad, while man is the only creature capable of good or evil. It is time we corrected this ill-founded idea.

This group of jinn says: “Some among us are righteous and others less so” (Verse 11) They describe their general situation: “ We follow widely divergent paths” (Verse 11) This means that each group takes a totally different course from the other, and the two paths do not meet. They go on to explain their own beliefs after they have accepted the divine faith:

“ We know that we can never elude God on earth, and we can never elude Him by flight” (Verse 12) They know Gods power. They know they can never escape from Him or what He wills for them. They cannot elude Him on earth nor can they elude Him by running away from earth.

They thus acknowledge their weakness before the Creator. They know that everything in the universe is subject to His absolute power.

It is these very creatures, the jinn, to whom some humans appeal for support and protection, and who they call upon for help. They are the ones whom the unbelievers claimed to have a marriage relation with God. Yet here they acknowledge their own weakness and Gods might.

They, thus, correct their own peoples and the unbelievers’ notion about the only power to which no other can stand.

Although they had already stated their belief, they repeat this here in the context of the jinns differing attitudes to divine guidance: “When we heard the guidance, we came to believe in it.” (Verse 13) This is what everyone who hears divine guidance should do. What they heard was the Qur’an, but here they call it * the guidance', confirming its nature and outcome. They follow this by a statement confirming their absolute trust in God: “ Whoever believes in his Lord need never fear loss or injustice.” (Verse 13) They have complete trust in God’s justice and power. They know the nature of faith. God is fair and He will never fail to give a believer his fair reward. He never burdens him with what he cannot bear.

Up to this point, the surah has quoted what the jinn said about themselves. Now, it summarizes what they said about what God does with those who follow the right course, obeying His commands. In doing so, the Qur’an reports their ideas without actually quoting their precise words:

Had they established themselves on the right way, We would have given them abundant water to drink, so as to test them by this means.

Anyone who turns away from his Lord's revelation will be made to endure uphill suffering, (Verses 16—17)

God Almighty confirms what the jinn said to the effect that had people maintained following the right way, or had those who were unfair followed the right way, He would have given them water in plenty, which would have ensured their prosperity. All this would be “so as to test them by this means” (Verse 17) Such a trial establishes whether they are grateful or not.

This change of style, from quoting direct speech to reporting it, enhances the effect because it attributes the message and the promise it gives to God Almighty. Such changes are frequent in the Qur’an. It reinforces the meaning and draws attention to it.

These two verses include several facts related to Islamic beliefs, how we look at events and how they interrelate. The first of these is the direct relation between following the straight path leading to God, by nations and communities, and their enjoying prosperity and provisions in plenty.

The most essential requirement of such prosperity is abundant water. All life depends on water. This is true even in our own times when industry has acquired much greater importance, and agriculture is no longer the only source of plentiful provisions and prosperity. Water still remains as important as ever for a flourishing civilization.

That prosperity and security depend on following the right way and maintaining it with resolve is certainly true. The Arabs were desert people living in total poverty. When they followed the right way with strong resolve, the world opened up to them providing plentiful water and provisions. Then they deviated from that way, and all the good things in life were taken away from them. They will continue to live a life of stress and poverty until they regain the right way and follow it? Only then will Gods promise be fulfilled to them.

There are certainly communities that turn away from the line God wants people to follow in this life, yet they enjoy affluence. However, when we look at the life they lead we find that they suffer from other ills that detract from their humanity, security or mans dignity and freedom.

Thus their riches do not provide them with real prosperity. On the contrary, life in such societies becomes a curse for man depriving him of dignity, security and proper morality.

The second fact that the verses above establish is that prosperity is a means of trial God sets for His creatures: “We test you all with evil and good by way of trial." (21: 35) Indeed, maintaining the right way in times of plenty and prosperity, giving due thanks for Gods favours and using them for good purposes is, contrary to what appears at first sight, more difficult than patience in adversity. Many are those who show courage and perseverance when things go against them. They rally and put in sustained efforts to overcome such adversity. They more readily remember God, pray to Him and seek His help, realizing that only He can bring them through their troubles. When people are prosperous, enjoying a life of plenty, however, they tend to forget God and be distracted. The element of resistance is no longer needed. There is every opportunity for arrogance, treating God’s blessings as merited dues. This then opens the way for Satan and his machinations.

The next verse may represent another quotation from the jinn, or it may be a direct statement made by God:

Places of worship are for God alone; therefore, do not invoke anyone other than God. (Verse 18)

In both cases it makes clear that worship, and places of worship, which is expressed in the Arabic text in the form of prostration, must be devoted to God alone. That is where Gods oneness is strictly observed, leaving no room whatsoever for anyone else, be that a person, a value or an idea. The whole atmosphere must be dedicated to the pure worship of God alone. Invoking, someone other than God may take the form of worshipping that someone, appealing to him, or even directing ones thoughts and feelings towards him instead of God.

If we take the verse to be a statement made by the jinn, it serves as a reconfirmation of their earlier pledge: “ We shall never associate partners with our Lord” (Verse 2) This is repeated at the mention of places of worship and prostration before God. If we take it as a statement by God, it serves as a directive that fits with what the jinn said about their belief in Gods oneness. The same applies to the verse that follows:

Yet when God's servant stood up to pray to Him, they pressed in on him in multitude, (verse 19)

The verse describes how the unbelievers pressed upon this servant of God when he stood to invoke and pray to Him. If we treat this verse as quoting the.jinn s statement, then they are telling us about what the Arab unbelievers did when they gathered in groups around the Prophet as he stood up to pray or as he recited the Quran. This is referred to in an earlier surah in this volume: “ What is wrong with the unbelievers, that they run confusedly before you, from the right and the left, in crowds?” (70: 36- 37) They listen with amazement, yet they do not respond. Alternatively, the expression, 'they pressed on him in multitude,' means that they tried to inflict harm on him but God protected him, as repeatedly happened.

In this case, the jinn are reporting this event to their people, describing how singular the Arab unbelievers’ attitude was.

If we take the verse as a statement made by God, then it tells us about this group of jinns reaction when they listened to the Qur’an. They were totally amazed, pressing on the Prophet, close to each other. This is perhaps more probable as it fits with the feelings of surprise, amazement and alarm that are clearly apparent in thejpzw’s account.

Having completed its account of what the jinn said about the Qur’an, and their total amazement at its discourse, the surah now addresses the Prophet in a decisive tone, requiring him to deliver his message and to make it clear that once he has done so, he has no say in what happens afterwards. He is to make clear that he has no knowledge whatsoever of the world beyond, or of how people fare. This address carries an overtone of sorrow and sadness that particularly suits its seriousness and decisive manner:

Say: ‘I invoke my Lord alone, and I associate no partners with Him. ’ Say: ‘It is not in my power to cause you harm or to set you on the right course. 'Say: ‘No one can ever protect me from God, nor can I ever find a place to hide from Him. My task is only to deliver what I receive from God and His messages. 'Whoever disobeys God and His Messenger will have the fire of hell, where they will abide for ever. When they see what they have been promised, they will realize who has the lesser help and is smaller in number. Say: ‘I do not know whether that which you have been promised is imminent, or whether my Lord has set for it a distant term. He alone knows that which is beyond the reach of human perception, and He does not disclose His secrets to anyone except to a messenger whom He has been pleased to choose. He then sends watchers to walk before and behind him, to know that they have delivered their Lord's messages. He has full knowledge of all they have. He takes count of everything.' (Verses 20-28)

You, Muhammad! Say it to all people: “I invoke my Lord alone, and I associate no partners with Him." (Verse 20) Coming after the jinn's statement, “ We shall never associate partners with our Lord," this declaration acquires special effect. It is the same words, declared by jinn and humans. These unbelievers who do not share in it break away from all worlds.

“Say: It is not in my power to cause you harm or to set you on the right course." (Verse 21) The Prophet is commanded to disclaim any of Gods qualities and attributes. It is God alone who must be worshipped, without partners, and He alone who can cause harm and bring benefit.

The verse contrasts harm with being ‘on the right course,' which means following divine guidance. This was clearly expressed by the jinn earlier:

“ We do not know if this bodes evil for those who live on earth, or if their Lord intends to guide them to what is right.” (Verse 10) Thus, the two statements have the same drift and are almost identical in their wording.

This is deliberate. It is also a frequently used structure in the Qur’an where we always see such complementarity between a story and the Qur’anic comments on events.

Thus the who are often thought to be able to cause harm and bring about benefit, and the Prophet disclaim any such ability. It all belongs to God alone. The divine faith makes this absolutely clear, with no possibility for confusion.

“Say: No one can ever protect me from God, nor can I ever find a place to hide from Him. My task is only to deliver what I receive from God and His messages” (Verses 22-23) This is indeed frightening. It fills our hearts with the seriousness of advocating the divine message. The Prophet is commanded to declare this great truth stating that he himself has neither protection nor hiding place unless he discharges his task, fulfils his trust and delivers his message. This is his only safe resort. The message itself does not belong to him; his only task is to deliver it, which he must fulfil. It is required of him by God Himself, and unless he meets this requirement, he will have nowhere to go and no help from anyone.

How serious! How frightening! Advocating Gods message is not something one volunteers to do; it is a serious assignment that must be fulfilled, because it is given by God Almighty. Its motive is not the pleasure one finds in presenting guidance and goodness to people; it is a command given from on high which cannot be shirked. Nor can one show any hesitation in the matter.

“ Whoever disobeys God and His Messenger will have the fire of hell, where they will abide for ever. When they see what they have been promised, they will realize who has the lesser help and is smaller in number.” (Verses 23-24) There is a warning here, both implicit and explicit, given to everyone who receives this order and disobeys it. If the unbelievers are content with their power and numbers, comparing their strength to that of Muhammad and his few followers, they will come to know when they see what they have been promised, either in this life or in the life to come, which of the two parties is weaker and will end up the loser.

Again, we note how this comment echoes the earlier one made by the jinn-. “We do not know if this bodes evil for those who live on earth, or if their Lord intends to guide them to what is right.” (Verse 10)

The Prophet is also commanded to disclaim any knowledge of the world beyond human perception: “Say: I do not know whether that which you have been promised is imminent, or whether my Lord has set for it a distant term.” (Verse 25)

In summary, then, this message does not belong to the Prophet; he has no say in it other than to deliver it as he is commanded. Only this will bring him safety. Likewise, the punishment the unbelievers are threatened with also belongs to God and the Prophet has no say in it, nor does he know when it will take place. It may be close at hand or it may be deferred by God to a time of His own choosing. This applies to punishment both in this life and in the life to come. All this is known only to God. The Prophet has no say here whatsoever, not even knowing its timing. It is to God that such knowledge of the world beyond belongs: “He alone knows that which is beyond the reach of human perception, and He does not disclose His secrets to anyone” (Verse 26) The Prophet has neither title nor position, other than that of being Gods servant. This is his title and his highest position. The Islamic concept is thus stated in all clarity, free of any confusion. The Prophet is given the order to state his position and he does so without hesitation: “Say: I do not know whether that which you have been promised is imminent, or whether my Lord has set for it a distant term. He alone knows that which is beyond the reach of human perception, and He does not disclose His secrets to anyone” (Verses 25-26)

There is only one exception. God may inform His messengers of something that belongs to this world beyond, within the limits that help them to deliver His message to people. Indeed, all that He reveals to them is part of His knowledge which He imparts to them at a certain point in time and within certain limits. He observes them and looks after them as they deliver His messages. The Prophet is commanded here to declare this exception in a very serious way: “except to a messenger whom He has been pleased to choose. He then sends watchers to walk before and behind him, to know that they have delivered their Lord's messages. He has full knowledge of all they have. He takes count of everything.” (Verses 27—28) Those messengers whom God chooses to deliver His message are given some information that belongs to the world beyond human perception. They are, for example, given revelation, its subject matter, method, the angels imparting it, its source and its preservation in the guarded tablet, as well as all that is related to what their messages contain.

Prior to giving them such information, it was all there, in the realm that lies beyond human perception.

At the same time, these messengers are surrounded by watchers and guards to protect them. They protect them from Satan’s whispers and attempts to derail their efforts, from personal promptings and aspira tions, from human weaknesses, forgetfulness, deviation and all other shortcomings that may affect a messenger and disrupt his work. The notion is also a frightening one, “He then sends watchers to walk before and behind him” (Verse 27) This describes the careful, complete and permanent monitoring of the messenger as he goes about his great task, delivering his message. This monitoring has a purpose: “to know that they have delivered their Lord's messages.” (Verse 28) God certainly knows this. What is meant here is that the messengers fulfil their assignments and that this brings about their fulfilment in the practical world.