Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 15–27

72. Al-Jinn · The Jinn

Makkan28 verses

وَأَمَّا ٱلْقَٰسِطُونَ فَكَانُوا۟ لِجَهَنَّمَ حَطَبًۭا

72:15As for the perverse, they will be firewood for hell.

وَأَلَّوِ ٱسْتَقَٰمُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلطَّرِيقَةِ لَأَسْقَيْنَٰهُم مَّآءً غَدَقًۭا

72:16If they are steadfast on the path [of Allah], We shall provide them with abundant water,1

لِّنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَن يُعْرِضْ عَن ذِكْرِ رَبِّهِۦ يَسْلُكْهُ عَذَابًۭا صَعَدًۭا

72:17so that We may test them therein, and whoever turns away from the remembrance of his Lord, He will let him into an escalating punishment.2

وَأَنَّ ٱلْمَسَٰجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوا۟ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ أَحَدًۭا

72:18The places of worship belong to Allah, so do not invoke anyone along with Allah.

وَأَنَّهُۥ لَمَّا قَامَ عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ يَدْعُوهُ كَادُوا۟ يَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِ لِبَدًۭا

72:19When the servant of Allah rose to pray to Him, they almost crowded around him.3

قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَدْعُوا۟ رَبِّى وَلَآ أُشْرِكُ بِهِۦٓ أَحَدًۭا

72:20Say, ‘I pray only to my Lord, and I do not ascribe any partner to Him.’

قُلْ إِنِّى لَآ أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّۭا وَلَا رَشَدًۭا

72:21Say, ‘I have no power to bring you any harm or good [of my own accord].’4

قُلْ إِنِّى لَن يُجِيرَنِى مِنَ ٱللَّهِ أَحَدٌۭ وَلَنْ أَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِۦ مُلْتَحَدًا

72:22Say, ‘Neither can anyone shelter me from Allah, nor can I find any refuge besides Him.5

إِلَّا بَلَٰغًۭا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِسَٰلَٰتِهِۦ ۚ وَمَن يَعْصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَإِنَّ لَهُۥ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا

72:23[I have no duty] except to transmit from Allah, and [to communicate] His messages; and whoever disobeys Allah and His apostle, there will indeed be for him the fire of hell, to remain in it forever.’67

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا رَأَوْا۟ مَا يُوعَدُونَ فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ أَضْعَفُ نَاصِرًۭا وَأَقَلُّ عَدَدًۭا

72:24When they see what they are promised, they will know who is weaker in supporters and fewer in numbers.

قُلْ إِنْ أَدْرِىٓ أَقَرِيبٌۭ مَّا تُوعَدُونَ أَمْ يَجْعَلُ لَهُۥ رَبِّىٓ أَمَدًا

72:25Say, ‘I do not know if what you are promised is near, or if my Lord has set a [long] term for it.’

عَٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ فَلَا يُظْهِرُ عَلَىٰ غَيْبِهِۦٓ أَحَدًا

72:26Knower of the Unseen, He does not disclose His [knowledge of the] Unseen to anyone,

إِلَّا مَنِ ٱرْتَضَىٰ مِن رَّسُولٍۢ فَإِنَّهُۥ يَسْلُكُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ رَصَدًۭا

72:27except to an apostle He approves of. Then He dispatches a sentinel before and behind him8

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 18

1.These statements which may be a stated once or repeated in any case it is evident that masjids are for Allah, therefore none can be worshipped in them. Though worship of anyone other than Allah is not allowed anywhere. But it seems that enemies demand was that in Masjids also worship of others be allowed (as in the present time plans are being designed for idol-worshipping in Masjids), that is why infidels of Quraish used to encircle the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) at the time of Prayer from all the sides, so that he could not pray, or otherwise he includes idols also in his prayers! He refused and said in clear words that I cannot include anyone or anything in the worship of Allah and I don’t have any authority also, in this regard, and nor I have any secure refuge. There is only one support for my salvation, that I should deliver the message of Allah and comply with His commands. Therefore I cannot commit any sort of mistake in this.

Verse 27

2.This ayat indicates in a clear manner that knowledge of the unseen is only with the Lord. But He can definitely give one or other part of that knowledge to the representative whom He likes. And this is between the extremes - a moderate way. Because of which it becomes clear that original knowledge is with the Lord and servants of Allah receive it as a gift of the Lord. Therefore till the proof of gift of the Lord is not received or the servants of Allah’s special relation with Him is not proved, till that times no claim of knowledge of hidden can be accepted, and the servant of Allah cannot be accepted as possessor of the knowledge of hidden. The Quran has pointed towards this special connection by saying that he is best Prophet (s.a.w.s.) a favourite representative.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. 1

    Ghadaqa - Too much, overflowing.

  2. 2

    Sa’ada - Toil, severity.

  3. 3

    Libada - A multitude of crowd. A group.

  4. 4

    Rashada - Profit and guidance.

  5. 5

    Multahid - Refuge.

  6. 6

    Balagha - Reaching the Message.

  7. 7

    Abad - A long time and period

  8. 8

    Rasada - Arrangment of protection. That is Allah arranges for the protection of all those selected representatives who have come to propagate religion and the enemies cannot hinder them from the propagation work in any way.

  9. Benefit

    It should be clear that the following are the differences between the Ilme-Ghaib (Knowledge of the Unseen) of Allah and the other divine personalities. (1) The Knowledge of Allah is His Own while that of the Saints is bestowed. (2) The Knowledge of Allah is surrounding and the Knowledge of Awliya is depending on their efforts. (3) The Knowledge of Allah is related to the Lauhe Mahfooz (The Protected Tablet) and the Knowledge of the Awliya is depending upon Allah’s will. The knowledge of Allah is related to the Lauhe Mahfooz and the Knowledge of Awilya is related to Mahv-o-lsbaat. The knowledge of Allah is practical and that of the awilya is Iradi (by intention).