Book: Siyar A'lam An-Nubala by Ad-Dhahabi - سير أعلام النبلاء ـ الإمام الذهبي
Chapter: The Islam of the Jinn - إسلام الجن
English:
The Islam of the Jinn
Allah, the Exalted, says: “And when We directed a group of jinn towards you, listening to the Quran” [Al-Ahqaf: 29]. And He also says: “O assembly of jinn and mankind, did there not come to you messengers from among you” [Al-An'am: 130]. And the chapter of the Jinn was revealed concerning them.
Abu Bishr narrated from Sa'id ibn Jubayr, from Ibn Abbas, who said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) neither recited to the jinn nor saw them. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out with a group of his companions heading towards the market of 'Ukaz. The devils had been barred from the news of the sky, and shooting stars were sent against them. They returned to their people, who asked: 'What is wrong with you?' They replied: 'We have been barred from the news of the sky and shooting stars have been sent against us.' They said: 'Nothing barred you from the news of the sky except something newly occurred, so search the east and west of the earth.' Then, those directed towards Tihama came to the Messenger of Allah while he was at Nakhlah, heading to the market of 'Ukaz, performs the Fajr prayer with his companions. When they heard the Quran, they listened intently and said: 'By Allah, this is what barred you from the news of the sky.' They returned to their people and said: “Indeed, we heard a wondrous Quran. It guides to the straight path, so we believe in it, and we will never associate anyone with our Lord” [Al-Jinn: 1]. This is what was revealed: “Say: It has been revealed to me” [Al-Jinn: 1], and it is agreed upon (1).
Ibn Abbas' statement that the Prophet (ﷺ) did not recite to the jinn nor see them refers to the first instance when the jinn heard the Quran. Subsequently, a caller from among the jinn came to the Prophet, as mentioned in the report of Ibn Mas'ud, who preserved both accounts. Sufyan al-Thawri narrated from Asim, from Zirr, from Abdullah who said: "They descended upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) while he was reciting the Quran in the valley of Nakhlah. When they heard it, they listened attentively. They said: 'Quiet!' They were seven, one of whom was Zub'aah. Allah, the Exalted, revealed: 'And when We directed a group of jinn towards you' [Al-Ahqaf: 29].
Mas'ar narrated from Ma'an, who said: "My father told me: I asked Masruq: 'Who informed the Prophet (ﷺ) the night they listened to the Quran?' He replied: 'Your father informed me, meaning Ibn Mas'ud, that a tree informed him about them.' It is agreed upon (2).
And Dawud ibn Abi Hind narrated from al-Sha'bi, from Alqama, who said: "I asked Ibn Mas'ud: 'Did any...'
(1) Authentic: Narrated by Al-Bukhari "773" and Muslim "449".
(2) Authentic: Narrated by Al-Bukhari "3859" and Muslim "450" "153" through the chain of Abu Usama, from Mis'ar, with this wording.
Arabic:
قال الله تعالى: ﴿وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَا إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقُرْآنَ﴾ [الأحقاف: ٢٩]، وقال: ﴿يَا مَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ وَالْأِنْسِ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِنْكُمْ﴾ [الأنعام: ١٣٠] وأنزل فيهم سورة الجن.
وقال أبو بشر، عن سعيد بن جبير، عن ابن عباس قال: ما قرأ رسول الله ﷺ على الجن ولا رآهم، انطلق رسول الله ﷺ في طائفة من أصحابه عامدين إلى سوق عكاظ، وقد حيل بين الشياطين وبين خبر السماء، وأرسلت عليهم الشهب، فرجعت الشياطين إلى قومهم، فقالوا: ما لكم؟ فقالوا: حيل بيننا وبين خبر السماء وأرسلت علينا الشهب، قالوا: ما حال بينكم وبين خبر السماء إلا شيء حدث، فاضربوا مشارق الأرض ومغاربها. قال: فانصرف أولئك النفر الذين توجهوا نحو تهامة إلى رسول الله وهو بنخلة، عامدا إلى سوق عكاظ، وهو يصلي بأصحابه صلاة الفجر، فلما سمعوا القرآن استمعوا له، فقالوا: هذا والله الذي حال بينكم وبين خبر السماء، فهنالك حين رجعوا إلى قومهم فقالوا: ﴿إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآَنًا عَجَبًا، يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ فَآَمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا﴾، فأنزلت: ﴿قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ﴾ [الجن: ١]، متفق عليه (١).
ويحمل قول ابن عباس: إن النبي ﷺ ما قرأ على الجن ولا رآهم، يعني أول ما سمعت الجن القرآن، ثم إن داعي الجن أتى النبي ﷺ كما في خبر ابن مسعود، وابن مسعود قد حفظ القصتين، فقال سفيان الثوري عن عاصم عن زر، عن عبد الله قال: هبطوا على رسول الله ﷺ وهو يقرأ القرآن ببطن نخلة، فلما سمعوه أنصتوا، قالوا: صه، وكانوا سبعة أحدهم زوبعة، فأنزل الله تعالى: ﴿وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَا إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ﴾ [الأحقاف: ٢٩].
وقال مسعر، عن معن، قال: حدثنا أبي، قال: سألت مسروقا: من آذن النبي ﷺ ليلة استمعوا القرآن؟ فقال: حدثني أبوك، يعني ابن مسعود: أنه آذنته بهم شجرة. متفق عليه (٢).
وقال داود بن أبي هند، عن الشعبي، عن علقمة، قال: قلت لابن مسعود: هل صحب
(١) صحيح: أخرجه البخاري "٧٧٣"، ومسلم "٤٤٩".(٢) صحيح: أخرجه البخاري "٣٨٥٩"، ومسلم "٤٥٠" "١٥٣" من طريق أبي أسامة، عن مسعر، به.