72. Al-Jinn

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].

Say, "It has been revealed to me that a band of the jinn listened [to the Quran] and they said, "We have heard a really wonderful recital

Say (O Prophet): It has been revealed to me that a tribe of nomads listened, and then they said, "Behold, we have heard a marvelous Recital

It guides to the right course, and we have believed in it. And we will never associate with our Lord anyone.

which guides to the right path; so we have believed in it and we will not associate anyone with our Lord

It shows the way to Enlightenment, so we have come to believe in it. And we shall never again ascribe a partner unto our Lord

And [it teaches] that exalted is the nobleness of our Lord; He has not taken a wife or a son

and exalted is the majesty of our Lord, He has taken neither a wife nor a son

And that Exalted in Glory is our Lord. No wife has He ever taken nor a son

And that our foolish one [i.e., Iblees]1 has been saying about Allāh an excessive transgression.

And [now we know] that the foolish among us have been saying outrageous things about God

And that the foolish among us uttered such outrageous lies about Allah

And we had thought that mankind and the jinn would never speak about Allāh a lie.

We had supposed that men and jinn would never utter a lie against God

And behold, we used to think that people, whether civilized or uncivilized, would never utter a lie about Allah

And there were men from mankind who sought refuge in men from the jinn, so they [only] increased them in burden [i.e., sin].

Some men used to seek refuge with the jinn in the past, but that only increased their insolence

And indeed some people of towns used to seek shelter with some of the nomads and increased them in confusion

And they had thought, as you thought, that Allāh would never send anyone [as a messenger].

They thought, as you did, that God would never raise up anyone from the dead

And they thought as you nomads thought that Allah would never again send forth anyone." (As His Messenger, and so, the claimants of the occult sciences would carry on with their deceptions)

And we have sought [to reach] the heaven but found it filled with powerful guards and burning flames.

We sought to reach heaven, but found it filled with strong guards and flames

And we tried to feel the heaven but found it well attended by mighty guards and flames." (The shining Knowledge in the Qur'an dismisses all conjecture of the astrologers, fortune-tellers, and other claimants of occult sciences)

And we used to sit therein in positions for hearing,1 but whoever listens now will find a burning flame lying in wait for him.

we used to take up a position to listen, but whoever listens now finds a flaming fire lying in wait for him

(The nomads continued), "And we used to sit on places listening to the 'heavenly news'. But now whoever listens will find a flame waiting for him." (The brilliant flame of Divine Revelation is now ever-ready to torch the conjecture of the astrologers (37)

And we do not know [therefore] whether evil is intended for those on earth or whether their Lord intends for them a right course.

we cannot tell if this bodes evil to those who dwell on earth or whether their Lord intends to guide them

And we know not whether harm is intended for the inhabitants of the earth, or whether their Lord wills for them Enlightenment." (It remains to be seen how people will react to this revolutionary Message)

And among us are the righteous, and among us are [others] not so; we were [of] divided ways.1

Some of us are righteous, while others are not; we follow divergent paths

(The nomads continued their conversation), "And some of us are righteous and others are far from that, and we follow varying paths

And we have become certain that we will never cause failure to Allāh upon earth, nor can we escape Him by flight.

We have realized that we could never thwart God on earth and that we would never be able to thwart Him by flight

Now we know that wherever we are in the earth, we cannot defy the Laws of Allah nor can we flee to escape

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.1

When we heard the call to guidance, we believed in it. He who believes in his Lord has no fear of loss or of injustice

And as soon as we heard the Enlightenment, we believed in it. And whoever chooses to be graced with belief in his Lord, need not fear a diminished return, nor unfairness

And among us are Muslims [in submission to Allāh], and among us are the unjust.1 And whoever has become Muslim - those have sought out the right course.

Some of us are obedient while others are wrongdoers; it is the obedient who have found the right path

And some of us have submitted (to Allah) while there are others who are taking a middle course. And whoever submits - such are they who have resolved to get enlightened

But as for the unjust, they will be, for Hell, firewood.'

but those who are wrongdoers will become the fuel of Hell

And those who maintain a middle course (between the Right and the Wrong) - they are but fire-wood for the Hell

And [Allāh revealed] that if they had remained straight on the way, We would have given them abundant rain [i.e., provision].

If they had followed the right path, We would have provided them with abundant rain

(Such was their conversation.) Now, if they take an unwavering stand on the Highest Discipline, We will shower them with abundant bounties. ('Tareeqah' = Layer upon layer arranged in great harmony = Discipline = Way = Course. 'At-Tareeqah' = The Highest Discipline = Divine Revelation. 'Ma' = Water, heavenly blessings = Bounties)

So We might test them therein. And whoever turns away from the remembrance of his Lord1 He will put into arduous punishment.

so that We may test them by it -- whoever turns away from the remembrance of his Lord shall be sternly punished

That We might test them (let them try their own mettle) thereby. And whoever turns away from his Sustainer's Reminder, He will cause him to undergo an ever-increasing torment

And [He revealed] that the masjids1 are for Allāh, so do not invoke2 with Allāh anyone.

The mosques are for God's worship -- so do not invoke anyone else along with God

And know that all Masjids are for Allah. (Adoration, prostration, submission is due to Allah alone). Hence, invoke not anyone along with Allah. (9:17). ('Masjid' = Mosque = Places of worship = Collective acts of Prostration = Ways of Adoration = Obedience of Divine Commands = Centers of administering the Divine System)

And that when the Servant [i.e., Prophet] of Allāh stood up supplicating Him, they almost became about him a compacted mass."1

when God's servant stood up to pray to Him, they pressed close to him in great numbers, almost stifling him

Yet whenever a servant of Allah stands up with invitation to Him, they crowd on him in hostility

Say, [O Muḥammad], "I only invoke my Lord and do not associate with Him anyone."

Say, "I call only upon my Lord and do not associate anyone else with Him

Say, "I call unto my Lord alone and associate no one with Him (I heed no one against His Laws)

Say, "Indeed, I do not possess for you [the power of] harm or right direction."

Say, "It is not in my power to cause you either harm or good

Say, "Behold, I do not own the power to harm you or enforce enlightenment upon you

Say, "Indeed, there will never protect me from Allāh anyone [if I should disobey], nor will I find in other than Him a refuge.

Say, "Surely no one can protect me against God, nor can I find besides Him any place of refuge

Say, "Behold, No one can shelter (even) me from (the consequences of violating the Laws of) Allah, nor can I find a hide-out from Him

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.

My duty is only to convey that which I receive from Him and His messages." For those who disobey God and His Messenger there is the fire of hell, wherein they will abide forever

If I fail to convey to people what I receive from Allah and make His Messages known." Whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, behold, for him is Hellfire, to abide therein forever

[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.

When they are confronted by what they have been promised, they will realize who is weaker in helpers and fewer in numbers

Until they see what they are promised. And so, soon will they find out who is really helpless and counts for less

Say, "I do not know if what you are promised is near or if my Lord will grant for it a [long] period."

Say, "I do not know whether what you are promised is imminent, or whether my Lord has set for it a far-off day

Say, "I know not whether the promise made to you is near or if my Lord will delay it

[He is] Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His [knowledge of the] unseen to anyone

He alone has knowledge of what is hidden. He reveals this to none

The Knower of the Unseen and the future, and He discloses to none His secrets

Except whom He has approved of messengers, and indeed, He sends before him [i.e., each messenger] and behind him observers1

except the messenger whom He has chosen. He sends down guardians who walk before them and behind them

Except as He wills unto a Messenger whom He has elected. And then He ensures that the Revelation is guarded in his life and after him. (This Eternal guarding is promised for the final Revelation)

That he [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] may know1 that they have conveyed the messages of their Lord; and He has encompassed whatever is with them and has enumerated all things in number.

so that He may know that the messengers have delivered the messages of their Lord. He encompasses all that is with them and He keeps count of all things

That He may make manifest that it is indeed their Lord's Messages (and nothing else) that these Messengers deliver. For, He it is Who encompasses all the Revelation they have, and takes account of all things