Surah Al-Ahqaf 46:29

The Story of the Jinns listening to the Qur'an

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

وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَآ إِلَيْكَ نَفَراً مِّنَ الْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقُرْءَانَ

(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 ﷺ 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 ﷺ never recited Qur'an to the Jinns, nor did he see them. Allah's Messenger ﷺ 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 ﷺ 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,

قَالُواْ أَنصِتُواْ

(They said: "Listen quietly.") meaning, hush! They were nine in number, and one of them was called Zawba`ah. So Allah revealed,

وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَآ إِلَيْكَ نَفَراً مِّنَ الْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقُرْءَانَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُواْ أَنصِتُواْ فَلَمَّا قُضِىَ وَلَّوْاْ 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:

ضَلَـلٍ مُّبِينٍ

( manifest error.) Thus, this report along with the above one by Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, indicate that Allah's Messenger ﷺ 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,

وَلَّوْاْ 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 ﷺ. 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,

وَمَآ 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,

وَمَآ 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 Surat Al-An`am,

يَـمَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ وَالإِنْسِ 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 الُّلؤْلُؤُ 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,

قَالُواْ يقَوْمَنَآ إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا كِتَـباً أُنزِلَ مِن بَعْدِ مُوسَى

(They said: "O our people! Verily, we have heard a Book sent down after Musa...") They did not mention `Isa, peace be upon him, because the Injil that was revealed to him contained admonitions and exhortations, but very few permissions or prohibitions. Thus, it was in reality like a complement to the legislation of the Tawrah, the Tawrah being the reference. That is why they said, "Sent down after Musa." This is also the way that Waraqah bin Nawfal spoke when the Prophet told him about his first meeting with Jibril, An-Namus, peace be upon him. He said: "Very good, very good! This is (the angel) that used to come to Musa. I wish that I was still a young man (to support you)."

مُصَدِّقاً لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ

(confirming what came before it,) meaning, the Scriptures that were revealed before it to the previous Prophets. They then said,

يَهْدِى إِلَى الْحَقِّ

(it guides to the truth) means in belief and information.

وَإِلَى طَرِيقٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

(and to the straight path.) which means, in deeds. For verily, the Qur'an contains two things: information and commandments. Its information is true, and its commandments are all just, as Allah says,

وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقاً وَعَدْلاً

(And the Word of Your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice.) (6:115) Allah says,

هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ

(It is He Who has sent His Messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth.) (9:122) The guidance is the beneficent knowledge, and the religion of truth means the righteous good deeds. Thus, the Jinns said,

يَهْدِى إِلَى الْحَقِّ

(it guides to the truth) in matters of belief,

وَإِلَى طَرِيقٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

(and to the straight path.) meaning, in regard to actions.

يقَوْمَنَآ أَجِيبُواْ دَاعِىَ اللَّهِ

(O our people! Respond to Allah's Caller,) This is proof that Muhammad ﷺ has been sent to both the human beings and the Jinns. Thus, Allah says,

أَجِيبُواْ دَاعِىَ اللَّهِ وَءَامِنُواْ بِهِ

(Respond to Allah's Caller and believe in him.) Then Allah says,

يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ

(He will then forgive you some of your sins,) Some scholars say that "some" here is auxiliary, but this is questionable since it is rarely used to strengthen an affirmative meaning. Others say that it means partial forgiveness.

وَيُجِرْكُمْ مِّنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

(and protect you from a painful torment.) meaning, He will protect you from His painful punishment. Then Allah informs that they said,

وَمَن لاَّ يُجِبْ دَاعِىَ اللَّهِ فَلَيْسَ بِمُعْجِزٍ فِى الاٌّرْضَ

(And whosoever does not respond to Allah's Caller, he cannot escape on earth,) meaning, Allah's power encompasses him and surrounds him.

وَلَيْسَ لَهُ مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَآءُ

(and he will not have besides Allah any protectors.) meaning, no one can protect him against Allah.

أُوْلَـئِكَ فِى ضَلَـلٍ مُّبِينٍ

(Those are in manifest error. ) This is a threat and warning. Thus, those Jinns called their people with encouragement and warning. Because of this, many of the Jinns took heed and came to Allah's Messenger in successive delegations; and verily, Allah is worthy of all praise and gratitude, and Allah knows best.

Dalam ayat ini, Allah memerintahkan kepada Rasulullah saw agar menyampaikan kepada orang-orang musyrik Mekah peristiwa tentang pertemuannya dengan sekelompok jin yang telah datang kepadanya untuk mendengarkan dan memperhatikan pembacaan ayat-ayat Al-Qur'an. Pada waktu mereka mendengarkan bacaannya, di antara mereka ada yang berkata kepada yang lain, "Dengarlah baik-baik bacaan Al-Qur'an ini agar dengan demikian kita dapat memusatkan perhatian kepada bacaan yang belum pernah kita dengar selama ini dan untuk menunjukkan sikap dan budi pekerti yang baik pada waktu mendengarkan pembacaan ayat Al-Qur'an yang mulia ini." Setelah mereka selesai mendengarkan bacaan Al-Qur'an itu, mereka kembali kepada kaumnya untuk menyampaikan apa yang telah mereka dengarkan itu.

Dalam ayat ini diterangkan bahwa jin telah mendengarkan pembacaan ayat-ayat Al-Qur'an dari Nabi saw. Bagaimana cara jin mendengarkan pembacaan itu dan bagaimana Nabi saw memperdengarkannya tidak ada keterangan yang menerangkannya dengan jelas. Demikian pula, tidak ada bukti-bukti nyata yang dapat dikemukakan dengan pasti adanya alam jin itu sendiri.

Adanya alam jin itu hanya didapat dari ayat-ayat Al-Qur'an dan hadis Nabi saw. Maka kita sebagai umat Islam wajib mempercayai adanya jin itu, sebagaimana kita wajib mempercayai adanya malaikat, karena kepercayaan kepada adanya jin dan malaikat termasuk dalam keimanan kepada seluruh isi Al-Qur'an yang merupakan sumber pokok agama Islam.

Malaikat dan jin termasuk makhluk gaib, karena itu hanya Allah saja yang mengetahui dengan pasti tentang hakikat dan kejadiannya. Seorang Muslim wajib percaya bahwa Nabi Muhammad pernah berhubungan dengan malaikat, seperti ketika menerima wahyu dan sebagainya. Demikian pula seorang Muslim wajib percaya pula bahwa pada suatu waktu, ketika Rasulullah saw masih hidup, beliau pernah berhubungan dengan jin, yaitu ketika membacakan ayat-ayat Al-Qur'an kepada mereka, dan waktu mereka mendengarkan dengan sungguh-sungguh, kemudian menyampaikan kepada kaumnya.

Mengenai hadis-hadis Rasulullah yang menerangkan pertemuan beliau dengan serombongan jin antara lain hadis di bawah ini:

Masruq berkata, "Aku bertanya kepada Ibnu Mas'ud tentang siapa yang memberitahukan kepada Nabi Muhammad saw akan kehadiran jin pada malam mereka mendengarkan bacaan Al-Qur'an," beliau menjawab, "Yang memberitahukan kehadiran mereka ialah pohon kayu itu." (Riwayat al-Bukhari dan Muslim)

Pada hadis yang lain disebutkan sebagai berikut:

'Alqamah berkata, "Aku bertanya kepada Ibnu Mas'ud, adakah salah seorang di antara kamu yang menyertai Rasulullah saw pada malam pertemuannya dengan jin?" Ibnu Mas'ud menjawab, "Tidak seorang pun di antara kami yang menyertainya." (Riwayat Ahmad, Muslim, dan at-Tirmidhi)

Ayat ini diturunkan ketika Rasulullah saw dan para sahabat sedang menghadapi tantangan yang sangat berat dari kaum musyrik Mekah. Setelah istri yang beliau cintai, Khadijah wafat, kemudian disusul dengan wafatnya paman beliau, Abu thalib, beliau merasa kehilangan orang-orang yang selama ini melindungi dan menolong beliau dari gangguan orang-orang Quraisy. Sementara itu, ancaman dan gangguan orang Quraisy semakin bertambah. Menghadapi keadaan semacam ini beliau pergi ke kota thaif dengan harapan akan mendapat perlindungan dan pertolongan dari Bani saqif. Tetapi beliau tidak memperoleh apa yang diharapkannya, bahkan Bani saqif sendiri bertindak kasar dengan menyuruh budak-budak mereka mengusir dan melempari Rasulullah saw sehingga kaki beliau luka dan berdarah. Mereka memaksa Rasulullah saw melarikan diri ke kebun 'Utbah dan Syaibah. Di sana beliau berlindung dari teriknya matahari. Setelah beliau berdoa meminta pertolongan dari Allah, barulah budak-budak itu pergi. Kemudian Rasulullah kembali ke Mekah. Dalam perjalanan itu, beliau singgah di Nakhlah, suatu tempat di pinggir kota Mekah. Beliau bermalam di sana. Maka pada malam ketika beliau sedang salat dan membaca Al-Qur'an dalam salat itu, Allah mengerahkan tujuh pemuka jin untuk mendengarkan Nabi saw membaca Al-Qur'an. Beliau tidak mengetahui akan kedatangan jin dan beliau juga tidak mengetahui saat jin itu kembali ke tempatnya. Dengan turunnya ayat ini barulah Rasulullah saw mengetahui kedatangan jin itu.

Ayat ini diturunkan untuk menenteramkan hati Nabi dan para sahabatnya. Tidak lama setelah itu, terjadilah peristiwa Isra' dan Mi'raj. Kedua peristiwa itu menambah kuat hati Nabi dan keyakinannya akan keberhasilannya menyampaikan risalah yang ditugaskan Allah kepadanya.

Ayat ini juga menerangkan bahwa jin memperhatikan ayat-ayat Al-Qur'an yang dibaca Rasulullah, kemudian menyampaikan isi Al-Qur'an itu kepada kaumnya. Dari peristiwa ini, dapat diambil kesimpulan bahwa seruan Rasulullah saw itu tidak saja tertuju kepada seluruh manusia, tetapi juga ditujukan kepada jin, makhluk gaib yang tidak dapat diketahui hakikat dan keadaannya oleh manusia. Hanya saja kita manusia tidak mengetahui kapan dan bagaimana caranya jin itu melaksanakan perintah dan menjauhi larangan Allah.

Sebagian ahli tafsir mengambil kesimpulan berdasarkan ayat ini bahwa seandainya ada makhluk hidup yang berada di luar planet bumi ini, yang keadaannya seperti manusia, yaitu dapat berpikir, berbuat, dan berperasaan, maka risalah Muhammad saw berlaku pula bagi mereka, dan kaum Muslimin wajib menyampaikannya kepada mereka sedapat mungkin. Jin sebagai makhluk gaib wajib melaksanakan risalah Muhammad saw dan tentulah makhluk lain yang tidak gaib dan sama dengan manusia lebih wajib lagi melaksanakan risalah Muhammad saw.