Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Ahqaf Verse 29

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And (recall) when We directed a group of Jinns towards you, listening to the Qur’ān. So, when they attended it, they said (to each other), “Keep quiet.” Then once it was over, they went back to their people as warners.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

˹Remember, O  Prophet,˺ when We sent a group of jinn your way to listen to the Quran. Then, upon hearing it, they said ˹to one another˺, “Listen quietly!” Then when it was over, they returned to their fellow jinn as warners.

Ruwwad Translation Center

And [remember] when We sent to you a group of jinn to listen to the Qur’an. When they heard it, they said [to one another], “Listen attentively.” Then when it was over, they returned to their people as warners.

A. J. Arberry

And when We turned to thee a company of jinn giving ear to the Koran; and when they were in its presence they said, 'Be silent!' Then, when it was finished, they turned back to their people, warning.

Abdul Haleem

We sent a group of jinn to you [Prophet] to listen to the Quran. When they heard it, they said to one another, ‘Be quiet!’ Then when it was finished they turned to their community and gave them warning.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And recall what time We turned towards thee a company Of the Jinns hearkening Unto the Qur'an. So when they came in the presence thereof they said: give ear. Then when it was ended, they turned back to their people as warners.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Behold, We turned towards thee a company of Jinns (quietly) listening to the Qur'an; when they stood in the presence thereof, they said, "Listen in silence!" When the (reading) was finished, they returned to their people, to warn (them of their sins).

Abul Ala Maududi

And call to mind when We sent to you a party of the jinn that they may listen to the Qur'an. When they reached the place (where you were reciting the Qur'an), they said to one another: “Be silent (and listen).” And when the recitation ended, they went back to their people as warners.

Ahmed Ali

And (remember), when We turned a company of jinns towards you to listen to the Qur'an, they arrived when it was being recited, and they said: "Keep silent." When it was over they came back to their people, warning them:

Ahmed Raza Khan

And when We sent a number of jinns towards you (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him), listening attentively to the Qur’an; so when they presented themselves there, they said to each other, “Listen quietly!”; and when the recitation finished, they turned back to their people, giving them warning.

Ali Quli Qarai

When We dispatched toward you a team of jinn listening to the Quran, when they were in its presence, they said, ‘Be silent!’ When it was finished, they went back to their people as warners.

Ali Ünal

We directed a company of jinn towards you in order that they might listen to the Qur’an (while you were reciting of it). When they were present for it, they said (to one another): "Be silent and listen!" When the recitation finished, they returned to their community as warners.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And (Prophet! recall the time) when We brought some people from among the jinns to you. They wished to listen to the Qur´ân. When they attended it (- its recitation) they said (one to another), `Be silent (and listen).´ When this (recitation) was over they went back to their people as warners.

English Literal

And when We diverted/returned/pushed to you a group (from 3-10)/family/tribe from the Jinns, they hear/listen (to) the Koran , so when they attended/came to it, they said: "Listen quietly." So when it ended (the Koran in entirety), they turned away to their nation warning/giving notice/warners/givers of notice.

Faridul Haque

And when We sent a number of jinns towards you (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him), listening attentively to the Qur’an; so when they presented themselves there, they said to each other, “Listen quietly!”; and when the recitation finished, they turned back to their people, giving them warning.

Hamid S. Aziz

And when We turned towards you (O Muhammad) a party of the jinn listened to the Quran; so when they came in its presence (or influence), they said, "Be silent"; then when it was finished, they turned back to their people warning (them).

Hilali & Khan

And (remember) when We sent towards you (Muhammad SAW) Nafran (three to ten persons) of the jinns, (quietly) listening to the Quran, when they stood in the presence thereof, they said: "Listen in silence!" And when it was finished, they returned to their people, as warners.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Then why did those whom they took for gods besides Allah to draw (them) nigh (to Him) not help them? Nay, they failed them. And this was their lie and what they forged.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And when We turned towards you a party of the jinn who listened to the Quran; so when they came to it, they said: Be silent; then when it was finished, they turned back to their people warning (them).

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And when We inclined toward thee (Muhammad) certain of the jinn, who wished to hear the Qur'an and, when they were in its presence, said: Give ear! and, when it was finished, turned back to their people, warning.

Muhammad Sarwar

We turned a party of jinn towards you to listen to the Quran. When they attended a Quranic recitation, they said to each other, "Be silent," and, when it was over, they turned back to their people, in warning,

Qaribullah & Darwish

(Remember) how We sent to you (Prophet Muhammad) a company of jinn who, when they came and listened to the Koran, said to each other: 'Be silent' Then, when it was finished, they returned to their nation and warned them.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And (remember) when We sent toward you a group of the Jinn, to listen to the Qur'an. When they attended it, they said: "Listen quietly!" And when it was concluded, they returned to their people, as warners.

Wahiduddin Khan

Remember how We sent to you a band of jinn who wished to hear the Quran and as they listened to its recitation, they said to one another, "Be silent and listen," and, then when it was finished, they went back to their people, to give them warning.

Talal Itani

Recall when We dispatched towards you a number of jinn, to listen to the Quran. When they came in its presence, they said, “Pay attention!” Then, when it was concluded, they rushed to their people, warning them.

Tafsir jalalayn

And, mention, when We sent a company of jinn your way -- the jinn of Nasbn in Yemen, or the jinn of Nineveh, who were seven or nine, [and this was] while the Prophet (s) was leading the dawn prayer with some of his Companions at Batn Nakhla, as reported by the two Shaykhs [al-Bukhr and Muslim] -- to listen to the Qur'n and, when they were in its presence, they said, that is, they said to one another; `Listen carefully!', concentrate in order to hear it [carefully]. Then, when it was finished, [when] he was finished reciting it, they went back to their people to warn [them], to threaten their people with the chastisement [from God] if they do not believe -- they had been Jews, but then become Muslims.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Story of the Jinns listening to the Qur'an

Imam Ahmad recorded from Az-Zubayr that he commented on the Ayah;

وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَا إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًا مِّنَ الْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقُرْانَ

And (remember) when We sent towards you a group of the Jinn, to listen to the Qur'an.

"They were at a place called Nakhlah while Allah's Messenger was performing the `Isha' prayer,

and

كَادُواْ يَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِ لِبَداً

they crowded on top of each other to hear him. (72;19)"

Sufyan said, "They stood on top of each other like piled wool."

Ahmad was alone in recording this.

Imam Ahmad and the famous Imam, Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr Al-Bayhaqi in his book Dala'il An-Nubuwwah, both recorded that Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said,

"Allah's Messenger never recited Qur'an to the Jinns, nor did he see them. Allah's Messenger was heading with a group of his Companions towards the `Ukaz market. At that time, the devils had been prevented from eavesdropping on the news of the heavens, and they were being attacked by burning flames (whenever they tried to listen). When the devils went back to their people, they asked them what happened to them, and they answered,

`We have been prevented from eavesdropping on the news of the heavens, and burning flames now attack us.'

Their people told them, `You have only been prevented from eavesdropping on the information of the heavens because of something (major) that has happened. So go all over the earth, east and west, and see what is it that has obstructed you from eavesdropping on the news of the heavens.'

Thus they traveled all over the earth, east and west, seeking that which had obstructed them from eavesdropping on the news of the heavens. A group of them went towards Tihamah, and found Allah's Messenger while he was at a place called Nakhlah along the way to the `Ukaz market. He was leading his Companions in the Fajr prayer. When the Jinns heard the recitation of the Qur'an, they stopped to listen to it, and then they said;

`By Allah! This is what has prevented you from eavesdropping on the news of the heavens.'

Then they returned to their people and told them;

`Our people! We certainly have heard an amazing recitation (the Qur'an), it guides to the right path. So we have believed in it, and we will join none in worship with our Lord.'

So Allah revealed to His Prophet,

قُلْ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ

Say;It has been revealed to me that a group of Jinns have listened (to the Qur'an). (72;19)

Thus, what was revealed to him was only the saying of the Jinns."

Al-Bukhari recorded a similar narration, and Muslim recorded it (as it is here).

At-Tirmidhi also recorded it, as did An-Nasa'i in his Tafsir.

Abdullah bin Mas`ud reported that;

the Jinns came down upon the Prophet while he was reciting the Qur'an at a place called Nakhlah. When they heard him,
قَالُوا أَنصِتُوا
(They said;"Listen quietly.") meaning, hush!

They were nine in number, and one of them was called Zawba`ah. So Allah revealed,

وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَا إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًا مِّنَ الْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقُرْانَ

فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوا أَنصِتُوا فَلَمَّا قُضِيَ وَلَّوْا إِلَى قَوْمِهِم مُّنذِرِينَ

And when We sent toward you a group of Jinns, to listen to the Qur'an. When they attended it, they said;"Listen quietly!" And when it was concluded, they returned to their people as warners. until His saying;
ضَلَلٍ مُّبِينٍ
manifest error. (Ayah 29-32)

Thus, this report along with the above one by Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, indicate that Allah's Messenger was not aware of the presence of the Jinns at that time. They only listened to his recitation and went back to their people. Later on, they came to him in groups, one party after another, and one group after another.

As for Allah's saying,

وَلَّوْا إِلَى قَوْمِهِم مُّنذِرِينَ



they returned to their people as warners.

It means that they went back to their people and warned them about what they heard from Allah's Messenger.

This is similar to Allah's saying,

لِّيَتَفَقَّهُواْ فِى الدِّينِ وَلِيُنذِرُواْ قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُواْ إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَ
that they may obtain understanding in religion and warn their people when they return to them, so that they might be cautious (of evil). (9;122)

This Ayah has been used as evidence that the Jinns have warners from among themselves, but no Messengers. There is no doubt that Allah did not send Messengers from among the Jinns, because He says,

وَمَأ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلاَّ رِجَالاً نُّوحِى إِلَيْهِمْ مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَى

And We did not send before you as Messengers any but men, to whom We revealed from among the people of cities. (12;109)

And Allah says,

وَمَأ أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلاَّ إِنَّهُمْ لَيَأْكُلُونَ الطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشُونَ فِى الاٌّسْوَاقِ

And We never sent before you any of the Messengers but verily they ate food and walked in the markets. (25;20)

And He says about Ibrahim Al-Khalil, upon him be peace,

وَجَعَلْنَا فِى ذُرِّيَّتِهِ النُّبُوَّةَ وَالْكِتَـبَ
And We placed in his descendants Prophethood and Scripture. (29;27)

Thus, every Prophet whom Allah sent after Ibrahim was from his offspring and progeny.

As for Allah's saying in Surah Al-An`am,

يَـمَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ وَالاِنْسِ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنْكُمْ

O company of Jinns and human beings! Did there not come to you Messengers from among you? (6;130)

It only applies to the two kinds collectively, but specifically pertains to just one of them, which is the human.

This is like Allah's saying,

يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُمَا الُّلوْلُوُ وَالمَرْجَانُ

From both of them (salty and fresh waters) emerge pearl and Marjan. (55;22)

Although He said "both of them" this applies to only one of the two types of water (the salty water).

Allah then explains how the Jinns warned their people. He says