Sūrat al-Jinn

سورۃ الجن

رَّبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِمَن دَخَلَ بَيْتِيَ مُؤْمِنًا وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَلَا تَزِدِ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا تَبَارًا

rabbi ghfir lī wa-li-wālidayya wa-li-man dakhala baytiya muʾminan wa-li-l-muʾminīna wa-l-muʾmināti wa-lā tazidi l-ẓālimīna illā tabārā.

"My Lord, forgive me and my parents, and whoever enters my house as a believer, and the believing men and women — and do not increase the wrongdoers in anything but ruin." (Nūḥ 71:28)

Rabbi ghfir lī — O my Lord, grant me forgiveness. Wa-li-wālidayya — and my parents too. Wa-li-man dakhala baytiya — and whoever enters my house. Muʾminan — a believer and a person of faith. Wa-li-l-muʾminīna wa-l-muʾmināt — and for all believing men and women. Wa-lā tazid al-ẓālimīna — and do not increase the wrongdoers. Illā tabārā — except in destruction and ruin, in deprivation.

Translation: "O my Lord, grant me forgiveness — and my parents too — and whoever enters my house with faith and remains steadfast — and all believing men and women — and increase only those wrongdoers in their destruction and ruin."

Sūrat al-Jinn was revealed in Makkah. It contains 28 āyāt and two rukūʿs.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًا

qul ūḥiya ilayya annahu istamaʿa nafarun mina l-jinni fa-qālū innā samiʿnā qurʾānan ʿajabā.

"Say: It has been revealed to me that a group of jinn listened, and said: 'We have indeed heard a wondrous Qurʾān.'" (al-Jinn 72:1)

Qul — say to them. Ūḥiya ilayya — revelation has come to me, the news has been given. Annahu — that. Istamaʿa nafarun mina l-jinni — a party of jinn listened carefully — nafarun means a group of individuals. Fa-qālū — then they said. Innā samiʿnā — we indeed heard. Qurʾānan — the Qurʾān, that which is read. ʿAjabā — something wondrous, remarkable.

Translation: "(Say O Prophet!) The news has been given to me that a party of jinn listened and then they said that we have indeed heard a wondrous Qurʾān."

يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ فَآمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَن نُّشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا

yahdī ilā l-rushdi fa-āmannā bihi wa-lan nushrika bi-rabbinā aḥadā.

"It guides to rectitude, so we believed in it and we shall not associate anyone with our Lord." (al-Jinn 72:2)

Yahdī — it guides, shows the way, leads toward. Ilā l-rushdi — toward right conduct, righteousness, success. Fa-āmannā bihi — so we believed in it, thus we have brought faith upon it. Wa-lan nushrika — and we shall absolutely never associate partners. Bi-rabbinā — with our Lord. Aḥadā — anyone at all.

Translation: "(This Qurʾān) guides toward righteousness and success; therefore we have brought faith upon it and we shall never associate anyone as a partner with our Lord."

وَأَنَّهُ تَعَالَى جَدُّ رَبِّنَا مَا اتَّخَذَ صَاحِبَةً وَلَا وَلَدًا

wa-annahu taʿālā jaddu rabbinā mā ttakhadha ṣāḥibatan wa-lā waladā.

"And that the majesty of our Lord is exalted — He has taken neither a spouse nor a child." (al-Jinn 72:3)

Wa-annahu — and that. Taʿālā — is exalted, is high, is supreme. Jaddu rabbinā — the greatness and exaltedness of our Lord. Mā ttakhadha ṣāḥibatan — He has not taken a wife, a companion. Wa-lā waladā — nor any offspring, a child.

Translation: "And this is our Lord, Whose grandeur (and exaltedness of honour) is supreme — He has not made any wife or child for Himself."

وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ سَفِيهُنَا عَلَى اللَّهِ شَطَطًا

wa-annahu kāna yaqūlu safīhunā ʿalā llāhi shaṭaṭā.

"And that our foolish one used to say outrageous things about Allah." (al-Jinn 72:4)

Wa-annahu kāna yaqūlu — and that he was saying, that he used to say. Safīhunā — our foolish one, our witless one — the thoughtless ones, the frivolous among us. ʿAlā llāhi shaṭaṭā — against Allah — outrageous falsehoods, transgressing lies, matters that go beyond all bounds.

Translation: "And we are saying that among us those who are foolish people make outrageous fabrications and slanders (against Allah in His glory)."

وَأَنَّا ظَنَنَّا أَن لَّن تَقُولَ الْإِنسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا

wa-annā ẓanannā an lan taqūla l-insu wa-l-jinnu ʿalā llāhi kadhbā.

"And we thought that no human or jinn would ever speak falsehood about Allah." (al-Jinn 72:5)

Wa-annā ẓanannā — and we had thought, we imagined. An lan taqūla — that they would never say. Al-insu wa-l-jinnu — humans and jinn. ʿAlā llāhi kadhbā — falsehood and lies about Allah.

Translation: "And we supposed that humans and jinn would never tell any falsehoods about Allah (concerning His nature)."

وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ رِجَالٌ مِّنَ الْإِنسِ يَعُوذُونَ بِرِجَالٍ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَزَادُوهُمْ رَهَقًا

wa-annahu kāna rijālun mina l-insi yaʿūdhūna bi-rijālin mina l-jinni fa-zādūhum rahaqa.

"And that men from among humans used to seek refuge with men from among the jinn, and they only increased them in transgression." (al-Jinn 72:6)

Wa-annahu kāna rijālun mina l-insi — and there were indeed some men from among humans. Yaʿūdhūna — who would take refuge, seek shelter — they were taking refuge with. Bi-rijālin mina l-jinni — with men from among the jinn, some individual jinn. Fa-zādūhum — then they only increased them further. Rahaqa — in wickedness, insolence, arrogance and tyranny.

Translation: "And it is our experience that some of the human men were taking refuge from those (spiritual guides) with jinn — but those jinn increased their perversity and insolence."

وَأَنَّهُمْ ظَنُّوا كَمَا ظَنَنتُمْ أَن لَّن يَبْعَثَ اللَّهُ أَحَدًا

wa-annahum ẓannū kamā ẓanantum an lan yabʿatha llāhu aḥadā.

"And they thought, just as you thought, that Allah would never raise anyone." (al-Jinn 72:7)

Wa-annahum ẓannū — and those jinn harboured the belief, they thought. Kamā ẓanantum — just as you thought. An lan yabʿatha llāhu — that Allah would never send a prophet. Aḥadā — anyone. [Or: just as you thought that Allah would never raise anyone to life after death.]

Translation: "And those jinn also had exactly the impression you have that Allah would send no prophet to anyone."

وَأَنَّا لَمَسْنَا السَّمَاءَ فَوَجَدْنَاهَا مُلِئَتْ حَرَسًا شَدِيدًا وَشُهُبًا

wa-annā lamsnā l-samāʾa fa-wajadnāhā muliʾat ḥarasan shadīdā wa-shuhubā.

"And we reached toward the heaven and found it filled with powerful guards and shooting stars." (al-Jinn 72:8)

Wa-annā lamsnā — and we reached, we stretched out to touch. Al-samāʾa — the heaven. Fa-wajadnāhā — then we found it. Muliʾat — it was filled. Ḥarasan shadīdā — with powerful, formidable guards. Wa-shuhubā — and blazing flames, shooting stars, burning meteors.

Translation: "And we stretched out toward the heaven and found that it was filled with formidable guards and blazing flames (and it has been completely sealed off)."

وَأَنَّا كُنَّا نَقْعُدُ مِنْهَا مَقَاعِدَ لِلسَّمْعِ فَمَن يَسْتَمِعِ الْآنَ يَجِدْ لَهُ شِهَابًا رَّصَدًا

wa-annā kunnā naqʿudu minhā maqāʿida li-l-samʿi fa-man yastamiʿi l-āna yajid lahū shihāban raṣadā.

"And we used to sit in positions in it for listening — but now whoever listens finds a shooting star lying in wait for him." (al-Jinn 72:9)

Wa-annā kunnā naqʿudu — and we used to sit, take our seats, settle ourselves. Minhā maqāʿida — in its seats, the stations in heaven and among the stars. Li-l-samʿi — for the purpose of hearing, to listen. Fa-man yastamiʿu l-āna — but whoever now tries to hear is met. Shihābān raṣadā — with a shooting flame, a fire prepared, lying in wait for him.

Translation: "And before this we used to sit in certain positions (to overhear news) but now whoever wishes to hear finds a blazing flame waiting for him (ready to repel him)."

Esteemed readers, it becomes evident from this that before the blessed mission of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ the jinn would ascend to the heavenly realm and bring some news back to human beings — they would then whisper these things to their acquaintances. The Shayāṭīn and jinn would overhear things and would present them to people with additions and embellishments. But now this practice has completely changed — after the Prophethood of the noble Prophet ﷺ it has been made very difficult. The jinn and Shayāṭīn who try to eavesdrop upon the heavens are struck down, and those who try to approach are now very few. Those who do listen find they are met by a blazing shooting star, which drives them away.

وَأَنَّا لَا نَدْرِي أَشَرٌّ أُرِيدَ بِمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ أَمْ أَرَادَ بِهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ رَشَدًا

wa-annā lā nadrī a-sharrun urīda bi-man fī l-arḍi am arāda bihim rabbuhum rashadā.

"And we do not know whether evil is intended for those on the earth or whether their Lord intends guidance for them." (al-Jinn 72:10)

Wa-annā lā nadrī — and we do not know, it is not known to us. A-sharrun urīda — whether some evil or punishment is intended. Bi-man fī l-arḍi — for those who are on earth. Am arāda bihim rabbuhum — or whether their Lord has intended for them. Rashadā — right guidance, goodness, righteousness and guidance.

Translation: "And we do not know whether some evil has been willed for those on earth or whether their Lord has intended their guidance."

وَأَنَّا مِنَّا الصَّالِحُونَ وَمِنَّا دُونَ ذَلِكَ كُنَّا طَرَائِقَ قِدَدًا

wa-annā minnā l-ṣāliḥūna wa-minnā dūna dhālika kunnā ṭarāʾiqa qidadā.

"And among us there are the righteous and among us there are those below that — we were sects of differing ways." (al-Jinn 72:11)

Wa-annā — and among us. Minnā l-ṣāliḥūna — some of us are righteous, good and excellent. Wa-minnā dūna dhālika — and some of us are below that level, less than them. Kunnā ṭarāʾiqa qidadā — we were on various different paths — scattered, disparate, diverse.

Translation: "And some among us are righteous and excellent, and some of us are also people below them in rank — (in terms of purpose) we were on separate, differing roads."

وَأَنَّا ظَنَنَّا أَن لَّن نُّعْجِزَ اللَّهَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَن نُّعْجِزَهُ هَرَبًا

wa-annā ẓanannā an lan nuʿjiza llāha fī l-arḍi wa-lan nuʿjizahu harabā.

"And we thought that we could never defeat Allah on earth and could never escape Him by fleeing." (al-Jinn 72:12)

Wa-annā ẓanannā — and we thought. An lan nuʿjiza llāha — that we could never overcome Allah, never make Him powerless. Fī l-arḍi — on the earth, remaining on it. Wa-lan nuʿjizahu harabā — and nor could we escape and overcome Him by flight.

Translation: "And we are convinced that we could never overcome Allah (remaining on earth) and could never escape by fleeing from Him."

وَأَنَّا لَمَّا سَمِعْنَا الْهُدَى آمَنَّا بِهِ فَمَن يُؤْمِن بِرَبِّهِ فَلَا يَخَافُ بَخْسًا وَلَا رَهَقًا

wa-annā lammā samiʿnā l-hudā āmannā bihi fa-man yuʾmin bi-rabbih fa-lā yakhāfu bakhsan wa-lā rahaqa.

"And when we heard the guidance we believed in it — and whoever believes in his Lord shall fear neither diminishment nor oppression." (al-Jinn 72:13)

Wa-annā — and we. Lammā samiʿnā — when we heard. Al-hudā — the guidance, the way of righteousness. Āmannā bihi — we brought faith upon it, we believed in it. Fa-man yuʾmin bi-rabbih — then whoever believes in his Lord. Fa-lā yakhāfu bakhsan — he will not fear diminishment, loss, reduction. Wa-lā rahaqa — nor any oppression or excess.

Translation: "And when we heard this full, perfect guidance we brought faith upon it — then whoever brings faith in his Lord will have no fear of any reduction or oppression from it."

وَأَنَّا مِنَّا الْمُسْلِمُونَ وَمِنَّا الْقَاسِطُونَ فَمَنْ أَسْلَمَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ تَحَرَّوْا رَشَدًا

wa-annā minnā l-muslimūna wa-minnā l-qāsiṭūna fa-man aslama fa-ūlāʾika taḥarraw rashadā.

"And among us some are Muslims and some are unjust — those who embraced Islam, they sought right guidance." (al-Jinn 72:14)

Wa-annā minnā l-muslimūna — and among us some are Muslims. Wa-minnā l-qāsiṭūna — and some of us are sinners and unjust. Fa-man aslama — then whoever embraced Islam and submitted. Fa-ūlāʾika — then those are they. Taḥarraw — they sought, they intended, they aimed for. Rashadā — right guidance, the straight path.

Translation: "And among us some are Muslims and some are sinners and unjust — then those who later embraced Islam (submitting to Allah's commands) are they who have taken to the path of righteousness."

وَأَمَّا الْقَاسِطُونَ فَكَانُوا لِجَهَنَّمَ حَطَبًا

wa-ammā l-qāsiṭūna fa-kānū li-jahannama ḥaṭabā.

"But those who are unjust — they shall be fuel for Jahannam." (al-Jinn 72:15)

Wa-ammā l-qāsiṭūna — but those who are unjust and sinful. Fa-kānū — they were. Li-jahannama ḥaṭabā — fuel for the fire of Hell — the kindling wood of Jahannam.

Translation: "But those who are sinners and unjust — they shall be the kindling of Hell."

وَأَن لَّوِ اسْتَقَامُوا عَلَى الطَّرِيقَةِ لَأَسْقَيْنَاهُم مَّاءً غَدَقًا

wa-an law istaqāmū ʿalā l-ṭarīqati la-asqaynāhum māʾan ghadaqā.

"And had they remained firm on the path, We would have given them abundant water to drink." (al-Jinn 72:16)

Wa-an law istaqāmū — and if they had remained steadfast and firm, maintained the way. ʿAlā l-ṭarīqati — on our path, our way. La-asqaynāhum — We would have given them to drink abundantly, satisfied them well. Māʾan ghadaqā — abundant water, flowing and sweet water.

Translation: "And if they had remained steadfast on our way We would have given them to drink abundantly (fully satisfying water)."

لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ وَمَن يُعْرِضْ عَن ذِكْرِ رَبِّهِ يَسْلُكْهُ عَذَابًا صَعَدًا

li-naftina-hum fīhi wa-man yuʿriḍ ʿan dhikri rabbih yaslukhu ʿadhāban ṣaʿadā.

"That We might test them in it — and whoever turns away from the remembrance of his Lord, He will make him enter a severe, escalating punishment." (al-Jinn 72:17)

Li-naftina-hum fīhi — so that We might test them, examine them, judge them by it. Wa-man yuʿriḍ — and whoever turns away, makes himself averse. ʿAn dhikri rabbih — from the remembrance of his Lord. Yaslukhu — He will make him enter, cause him to traverse. ʿAdhāban ṣaʿadā — a severe, ascending, intensifying punishment.

Translation: "In order that We might test them by it — and whoever turns away from the remembrance of Allah is made to enter a severe and escalating punishment."

وَأَنَّ الْمَسَاجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوا مَعَ اللَّهِ أَحَدًا

wa-anna l-masājida li-llāhi fa-lā tadʿū maʿa llāhi aḥadā.

"And the mosques are for Allah — so do not call upon anyone along with Allah." (al-Jinn 72:18)

Wa-anna l-masājida li-llāhi — and without doubt mosques belong to Allah and are made for His sake. Fa-lā tadʿū — so do not call, do not invoke. Maʿa llāhi — together with Allah. Aḥadā — anyone.

Translation: "(Without doubt) mosques are for Allah — so do not call upon anyone else along with Allah (and do not perform their worship)."

Esteemed readers, some foolish people say that one should not recite ṣalawāt (blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ) in the mosque — as if this were a violation of the principle. However, the fact is that whatever belongs to Allah and relates to His commands, all of that is entirely appropriate for the mosque. It is established by sound ḥadīth that the Ḥabashī Mosque Mubārak was built with spears and swords and legal cases were even decided there. Poetry by Ḥassān ibn Thābit (may Allah be pleased with him) was also recited on the minbar.

وَأَنَّهُ لَمَّا قَامَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ يَدْعُوهُ كَادُوا يَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِ لِبَدًا

wa-annahu lammā qāma ʿabdu llāhi yadʿūhu kādū yakūnūna ʿalayhi libadā.

"And when the servant of Allah stood calling upon Him, they were about to press upon him in crowds." (al-Jinn 72:19)

Wa-annahu — and it is that. Lammā qāma ʿabdu llāhi yadʿūhu — when the servant of Allah stood, stood upright making supplication, calling. Kādū — they were about to. Yakūnūna ʿalayhi libadā — they gathered upon him, crowded around him — libadā means a crowd packed together, one atop another in dense throngs.

Translation: "And when the servant of Allah stood (as a supplicant and caller) they were so close to him that they were about to pile upon him in crowds."

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَدْعُو رَبِّي وَلَا أُشْرِكُ بِهِ أَحَدًا

qul innamā adʿū rabbī wa-lā ushrik bih aḥadā.

"Say: I call only upon my Lord and I associate no one with Him." (al-Jinn 72:20)

Qul — say to them. Innamā adʿū — I call only, I invoke. Rabbī — my Lord. Wa-lā ushrik bihi — and I do not associate partners with Him. Aḥadā — anyone.

Translation: "Say (to them): I call only upon my God and I do not regard anyone as His partner."

قُلْ إِنِّي لَا أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا رَشَدًا

qul innī lā amliku lakum ḍarran wa-lā rashadā.

"Say: I hold no power over your harm or your guidance." (al-Jinn 72:21)

Qul — say. Innī lā amliku lakum — I do not have in my possession for you — nothing is in my hands, no power is mine. Ḍarran — harm, affliction, loss. Wa-lā rashadā — and no guidance or righteousness.

Translation: "Say (to them): I have no power (over your affairs) to bring you harm or to guide you (your good and bad is entirely in God's hands)."

قُلْ إِنِّي لَن يُجِيرَنِي مِنَ اللَّهِ أَحَدٌ وَلَن أَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَدًا

qul innī lan yujīranī mina llāhi aḥadun wa-lan ajida min dūnihi multaḥadā.

"Say: No one can protect me from Allah, and I shall find no refuge besides Him." (al-Jinn 72:22)

Qul — say to them. Innī lan yujīranī — no one will protect me, save me, grant me shelter. Mina llāhi — from Allah's wrath. Aḥadun — anyone at all, any person. Wa-lan ajida — and I shall not find. Min dūnihi — apart from Him, having abandoned Him. Multaḥadā — any refuge, any shelter, any place of concealment.

Translation: "Say (to them): No one can protect me from Allah (His wrath) and I shall not find any shelter away from Him."

إِلَّا بَلَاغًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِسَالَاتِهِ وَمَن يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَإِنَّ لَهُ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا

illā balāghan mina llāhi wa-risālātih wa-man yaʿṣi llāha wa-rasūlahu fa-inna lahū nāra jahannama khālidīna fīhā abadā.

"But only conveying from Allah and His messages — and whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, for him is the fire of Jahannam, to remain therein forever." (al-Jinn 72:23)

Illā balāghan — except (nothing is in my hands) but conveying, delivering. Mina llāhi — from Allah. Wa-risālātihi — and His messages, His commands. Wa-man yaʿṣi llāha wa-rasūlahu — and whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, acts in opposition to them. Fa-inna lahū — then for him indeed there is. Nāra jahannama — the fire of Jahannam, the blazing flames of Hell. Khālidīna fīhā abadā — residing therein forever.

Translation: "(Nothing is in my hands) but conveying and delivering the commands and messages of Allah — and whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, for him is the fire of Hell in which he will remain forever."

It is completely clear that shirk is not a sin like other sins, since a sinner may remain in Hell permanently — although permanently going to Hell is indeed a punishment for sin. However, the believer who is a sinner, being a Muslim, will not remain forever in Hell, because when a believer is present, faith is the most important thing.

حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَوْا مَا يُوعَدُونَ فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ أَضْعَفُ نَاصِرًا وَأَقَلُّ عَدَدًا

ḥattā idhā raʾaw mā yūʿadūna fa-sayyaʿlamūna man aḍʿafu nāṣiran wa-aqallu ʿadadā.

"Until when they see what they are promised, then they shall know who is weaker in helpers and fewer in number." (al-Jinn 72:24)

Ḥattā idhā raʾaw — until when they see, when they behold. Mā yūʿadūna — that which they are promised, that punishment of which they are threatened. Fa-sayyaʿlamūna — they will very soon come to know, it will become apparent. Man aḍʿafu nāṣirā — who has the weaker helpers. Wa-aqallu ʿadadā — and whose number is smaller and fewer.

Translation: "Until when they see that punishment which they are being threatened with — then they will know whose helpers are the more weak and meager in number (they will be far fewer)."

قُلْ إِنْ أَدْرِي أَقَرِيبٌ مَّا تُوعَدُونَ أَمْ يَجْعَلُ لَهُ رَبِّي أَمَدًا

qul in adrī a-qarībun mā tūʿadūna am yajʿal lahū rabbī amadā.

"Say: I do not know whether what you are promised is near or whether my Lord will appoint for it a term." (al-Jinn 72:25)

Qul — (O Prophet!) say to them. In adrī — I do not know — dhāt yadraynī means to know by thought and deliberation. A-qarībun mā tūʿadūna — whether what you are being promised is near. Am yajʿal lahū — or whether my Lord appoints for it. Amadā — a period, a time, a delay.

Translation: "(O Prophet!) Say: I do not know whether the promised punishment is near or whether my Lord has appointed a duration (a respite) for it."

عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلَا يُظْهِرُ عَلَى غَيْبِهِ أَحَدًا

ʿālimu l-ghaybi fa-lā yuẓhiru ʿalā ghaybihi aḥadā.

"The Knower of the unseen — He does not disclose His unseen to anyone." (al-Jinn 72:26)

ʿālimu l-ghaybi — the Knower of the unseen, the One who knows that which is hidden from our eyes and minds. Fa-lā yuẓhiru — so He does not reveal, does not make known. ʿAlā ghaybihi aḥadā — concerning His unseen to any person, to any individual whatsoever.

Translation: "He is the Knower of the Unseen (the Unseen is His domain) — He does not inform anyone of His unseen."

إِلَّا مَنِ ارْتَضَى مِن رَّسُولٍ فَإِنَّهُ يَسْلُكُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ رَصَدًا

illā mani rtaḍā min rasūlin fa-innahu yasluku min bayni yadayhi wa-min khalfih raṣadā.

"Except a messenger with whom He is pleased — for He places watchers before him and behind him." (al-Jinn 72:27)

Illā mani rtaḍā — except a person whom He chooses and is pleased with, selects as worthy — meaning the chosen messengers. Min rasūlin — from among the messengers, the choice prophets. Fa-innahu yasluku — because then He places, He walks along — because He settles them and appoints. Min bayni yadayhi — from before the Prophet, in front. Wa-min khalfih — and from behind, from after him. Raṣadā — watchers, guards — those who stand in concealed watch.

Translation: "(He does not give knowledge of the Unseen to anyone) but He does reveal it to the chosen and approved Messengers — though He makes angels march before and behind such Messengers as watchers (so that nothing is distorted on the way)."

Esteemed readers, the matter of the knowledge of the unseen has become greatly important in our age. Therefore I have written on this matter before and will write again — and will clarify the issue. The clear fact is that the Unseen in its absolute sense is a reality pertaining to the Divine Self — meaning no one knows anything about the Divine Person Himself. If someone knows one aspect of something, he does not know its reality — because if a person knows even one aspect of a thing, he can make an inference as to it from past, present and future — but the servant is one who knows only what he learns, and he is limited and restricted. Some unseen things are those known from the prophets, and some unseen things are revealed to such persons as are of this nature, so that they can convey them to human beings. Shayāṭīn also try to eavesdrop with some margin. The Islamic ruling is that every Muslim must believe in the unseen and this unseen certainty and conviction should be embraced.

لِيَعْلَمَ أَن قَدْ أَبْلَغُوا رِسَالَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَحَاطَ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ وَأَحْصَى كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عَدَدًا

li-yaʿlama an qad ablaghū risālāti rabbihim wa-aḥāṭa bi-mā ladayhim wa-aḥṣā kulla shayʾin ʿadadā.

"That He may know that they have conveyed the messages of their Lord — and He encompasses all that is with them and keeps count of everything." (al-Jinn 72:28)

Li-yaʿlama — so that Allah Most High comes to know. An qad ablaghū — that they have conveyed, that the angels and messengers have delivered to the Umma the messages of their Lord. Wa-aḥāṭa bi-mā ladayhim — and He has enclosed them in a complete guardianship. Wa-aḥṣā — and He has enumerated, counted, taken full account of. Kulla shayʾin ʿadadā — every single thing, every item, in its precise count.

Translation: "So that (the Almighty comes to know that they have conveyed His messages and commands) and He has established a full surrounding guardianship of them — and has kept count of and fully registered every single thing."

Esteemed readers, Allah Most High always knows everything — this is an eternal quality. What this means here is: so that everything becomes apparent from above, and the governance of Allah, i.e., the divine administration of the universe, is established by system.