The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

72. THE JINN a
A Meccan sura that gives an account of what a group of jinn said when they
overheard a recitation of the Quran and realized its truth (verses 1–15). This
is a lesson to the Meccan Arabs, who are also told that the Prophet can help
them only by delivering the Message––God is the All Powerful One (verses
16–28). The disbelievers are threatened with what they will meet on the Day
of Judgement (verses 23–7).
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1 Say [Prophet], ‘It has been revealed to me that a group of jinn once
listened in and said, “We have heard a wondrous Quran, 2 that gives
guidance to the right path, and we have come to believe it––We shall
never set up partners with our Lord––3 and that He––exalted be the
glory of our Lord!––has neither spouse nor child. 4 Outrageous
things have been said about God by the foolish among us, 5 although
we had thought that no man or jinn would [dare to] tell a lie about
Him. 6 Men have sought refuge with the jinn in the past, but they
only misguided them further. 7 They thought, as you did, that God
would never raise anyone from the dead. 8 We tried to reach heaven,
but discovered it to be full of stern guards and shooting stars––9 we
used to sit in places there, listening, b but anyone trying to listen now
will find a shooting star lying in wait for him––10 [so now] we do not
know whether those who live on earth are due for misfortune, or
whether their Lord intends to guide them. 11 Some of us are righteous
and others less so: we follow different paths. 12 We know we can
never frustrate God on earth; we can never escape Him. 13 When we
heard the guidance we came to believe: whoever believes in his Lord
need fear no loss nor injustice. 14 Some of us submit to Him and
others go the wrong way: those who submit to God have found wise
guidance, 15 but those who go wrong will be fuel for Hellfire.” ’
16 If they c had taken to the right way, We would have given them
a Unseen beings.
b They were listening for hints of what might come next, but in verse 10 they say they
are no longer able to know the future (cf. verse 26 below).
c The Meccan Arabs.