Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Jinn Verse 6

Mufti Taqi Usmani

and that some guys from human beings used to seek refuge with some guys of the Jinn, and thus they increased them (the Jinns) in arrogance,

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And some men used to seek refuge with some jinn—so they increased each other in wickedness.[[ See footnote for {6:128}.]]

Ruwwad Translation Center

And there were some men who used to seek refuge with some jinn, but they only increased them in burden.

A. J. Arberry

But there were certain men of mankind who would take refuge with certain men of the jinn, and they increased them in vileness,

Abdul Haleem

Men have sought refuge with the jinn in the past, but they only misguided them further.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And persons among humankind have been seeking refuge with persons of the Jinn, so that they increased them in evil disposition.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

'True, there were persons among mankind who took shelter with persons among the Jinns, but they increased them in folly.

Abul Ala Maududi

and that “some from among the humans used to seek protection of some among the jinn, and thus they increased the arrogance of the jinn”;

Ahmed Ali

But some men used to seek refuge with some jinns, and this increased their waywardness;

Ahmed Raza Khan

‘And indeed some men among humans used to take the protection of some men among jinns, so it further increased their haughtiness.’

Ali Quli Qarai

Indeed some persons from the humans would seek the protection of some persons from the jinn, thus only adding to their rebellion.

Ali Ünal

‘(But we have come to see that) there have indeed been men from among humankind who took refuge in some men from among the jinn, and so (the former) increased them (the latter) in conceit, rebellion and wrongdoing.

Amatul Rahman Omar

"The fact is that some humble and lowly men from among the common folk used to seek refuge with some (big and influential) men from among the jinns and (thus) they increased these (jinns) in arrogance (and conceit).

English Literal

`And that it was men from the human/mankind they seek protection with men from the Jinns , so they increased them oppression/sin/foolishness .`

Faridul Haque

‘And indeed some men among humans used to take the protection of some men among jinns, so it further increased their haughtiness.’

Hamid S. Aziz

"And, indeed, persons from among men used to seek refuge with persons from among jinn, so they increased them in wrongdoing (or folly or revolt):

Hilali & Khan

'And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the masculine among the jinns, but they (jinns) increased them (mankind) in sin and disbelief.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And we know not whether evil is meant for those on earth or whether their Lord means to direct them aright:

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And that persons from among men used to seek refuge with persons from among jinn, so they increased them in wrongdoing:

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And indeed (O Muhammad) individuals of humankind used to invoke the protection of individuals of the jinn, so that they increased them in revolt against Allah);

Muhammad Sarwar

"Certain human beings sought refuge with certain jinn and this increased the rebelliousness of those jinn.

Qaribullah & Darwish

But there were certain men from mankind who would take refuge with certain males from the jinn and they increased them in tyranny.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

`And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the males among the Jinn, but they increased them in Rahaq.'

Wahiduddin Khan

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

Talal Itani

Some individual humans used to seek power through some individual jinn, but they only increased them in confusion.

Tafsir jalalayn

And that certain individuals of mankind used to seek the protection of certain individuals of the jinn, when they stopped over in dangerous places during their journeys -- whereat every man would say, `I seek the protection of the lord of this place against the evil of the insolent ones in it' -- so that they increased them, by their seeking their protection, in oppressiveness, such that they would say, `We are now lords of jinn and humans!'.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the males among the Jinn, but they increased them in Rahaq.

meaning, `we used to think that we had some virtuous status over mankind because they used to seek refuge with us whenever they (men) would settle in a valley or any place in the wilderness, the open country steppes and other places.'

This was the custom of the Arabs in the pre-Islamic days of ignorance. They used to seek refuge with the greatest Jinn of a particular place so that no harm or evil would afflict them. Like one would do if he entered into the land of his enemies, in the vicinity of a great and powerful man, he would seek the protection and guardianship of that man.

So when the Jinns saw that the humans were seeking refuge with them due to their fear of them, they increased them in Rahaq which means fear, terror and fright. They did this so that the people would be more afraid of them and seek refuge with them even more.

As Qatadah said concerning this Ayah,
فَزَادُوهُمْ رَهَقًا
(but they increased them in Rahaq.) means,

"the Jinns were courageous and increased in insolence against them."

As-Suddi said,

"A man used to set out with his family (on a journey) until he came to a piece of land where he would settle. Then he would say,

`I seek refuge with the master (Jinn) of this valley from the Jinns, or that myself, my wealth, my child or my animals are harmed in it."'

Qatadah said,

"When they sought refuge with them instead of Allah, the Jinns would overcome them with harm because of that."

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from `Ikrimah that he said,

"The Jinns used to fear humans just like humans fear them, or even worse. So whenever humans would come to a valley the Jinns would flee. So the leader of the people would say,

`We seek refuge with the leader of the inhabitants of this valley.'

So the Jinns said,

`We see these people fleeing from us just like we flee from them.'

Thus, the Jinns started coming near the humans and afflicting them with insanity and madness."

Thus, Allah said,

وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ رِجَالٌ مِّنَ الاْأِنسِ يَعُوذُونَ بِرِجَالٍ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَزَادُوهُمْ رَهَقًا


And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the males among the Jinn, but they increased them in Rahaq.

meaning, in sin.

Abu `Aliyah, Ar-Rabi` and Zayd bin Aslam, all said,
رَهَقًا
(in Rahaq)

"This means in fear."

Mujahid said,

"The disbelievers would increase in transgression."

Concerning Allah's statement,

وَأَنَّهُمْ ظَنُّوا كَمَا ظَنَنتُمْ أَن لَّن يَبْعَثَ اللَّهُ أَحَدًا