Sūrah 72 · Meccan

How Sūrah Al-Jinn was revealed.

Where and when it came down, what it teaches, and the hadith about it — all on one calm page.

Read Al-Jinn → The revelation story
Where revealed Meccan

Revealed in the Meccan period, before the migration to Madīnah.

Order of revelation #40

Its place in the traditional order in which the sūrahs were revealed.

Length 28 ayahs

2 reading sections in the Muṣḥaf.

The revelation story

How and when it came down.

This Makkan surah primarily seeks to prove the truth of the Quran and the prophethood of Muḥammad (ﷺ) by documenting the hidden miracle of the Jinn’s conversion. It establishes monotheism, refutes the worship of the Jinn and the practice of soothsaying, and warns the polytheists of their impending punishment and eventual regret.

Themes and purpose:

This Makkan surah primarily seeks to prove the truth of the Quran and the prophethood of Muḥammad (ﷺ) by documenting the hidden miracle of the Jinn’s conversion. It establishes monotheism, refutes the worship of the Jinn and the practice of soothsaying, and warns the polytheists of their impending punishment and eventual regret.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Makkan by consensus.

Context: The surah was revealed following the incident where a group of Jinn listened to the Prophet (ﷺ) reciting the Qur’ān while traveling near the ʿUkāẓ marketplace. It was revealed in the 10th year of the Prophethood, placing it shortly before the Prophet’s journey to Ṭā’if and three years before the Hijrah.

Chronology: It is counted as the 40th surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat al-Aʿrāf and before Yā-Sīn.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah is known by two primary names: "Sūrat al-Jinn" (The Jinn) due to its theme, and "Sūrat Qul Ūḥiya" (Say: It has been revealed) for its opening phrase.

Ayah Count: 28 ayahs by consensus.

Surah Overview:

  • Proving the honor of the Prophet (ﷺ) by establishing that his call reached the Jinn, who immediately understood its message of monotheism and guidance. [1-7]
  • Establishing the Jinn are a distinct creation, composed of different ranks (righteous and unrighteous). [11-15]
  • Refuting Soothsaying and the claim that humans can know the unseen, affirming that knowledge of the unseen belongs solely to Allah. [26-28]
  • Monotheism Establishing Allah's greatness and His freedom from having partners, spouses, or children. [3]
  • Refuting Idol Worship: Invalidating the worship of Jinn and all false gods. [16-20]
  • The Cosmic Order: Detailing the disruption of the Jinn's attempts to eavesdrop on the heavens due to the meteoric projectiles. [8-10]
  • Warning the polytheists of the consequences of their disbelief and that they will regret for opposing the Prophet (ﷺ) eventually. [23, 25]
  • Affirming the final judgment and the Prophet’s (ﷺ) role as a clear messenger. [27-28]

Sūrah background — via the Quran Foundation Content API. Shown as supplied by the provider. We do not edit, summarise or generate it.

Hadith about this sūrah

What the hadith say.

These 1 narrations in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī are connected to specific āyāt of this sūrah — a linkage reviewed by the Quran Foundation. Open any one to read it in full, in Arabic and English.

  1. Relates to āyah1
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 773

    حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ انْطَلَقَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي طَائِفَةٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ عَامِدِينَ إِلَى سُوقِ عُكَاظٍ، وَقَدْ حِيلَ بَيْنَ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَبَيْنَ خَبَرِ السَّمَاءِ، وَأُرْسِلَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّهُبُ، فَرَجَعَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ إِلَى قَوْمِهِمْ‏.‏ فَقَالُوا مَا لَكُمْ فَقَالُوا حِيلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ خَبَرِ السَّمَاءِ، وَأُرْسِلَتْ عَلَيْنَا الشُّهُبُ‏.‏ قَالُوا مَا حَالَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ خَبَرِ السَّمَاءِ إِلاَّ شَىْءٌ حَدَثَ، فَاضْرِبُوا مَشَارِقَ الأَرْضِ وَمَغَارِبَهَا، فَانْظُرُوا مَا هَذَا الَّذِي حَالَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ خَبَرِ السَّمَاءِ فَانْصَرَفَ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ تَوَجَّهُوا نَحْوَ تِهَامَةَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهْوَ بِنَخْلَةَ، عَامِدِينَ إِلَى سُوقِ عُكَاظٍ وَهْوَ يُصَلِّي بِأَصْحَابِهِ صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ، فَلَمَّا سَمِعُوا الْقُرْآنَ اسْتَمَعُوا لَهُ فَقَالُوا هَذَا وَاللَّهِ الَّذِي حَالَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ خَبَرِ السَّمَاءِ‏.‏ فَهُنَالِكَ حِينَ رَجَعُوا إِلَى قَوْمِهِمْ وَقَالُوا يَا قَوْمَنَا ‏﴿‏إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًا * يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ فَآمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا‏﴾‏ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم [quran sura="72" aya_start="1" aya_end="1"]‏{‏قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَىَّ‏}‏ وَإِنَّمَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْهِ قَوْلُ الْجِنِّ‏.‏

    Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet (ﷺ) set out with the intention of going to Suq `Ukaz (market of `Ukaz) along with some of his companions. At the same time, a barrier was put between the devils and the news of heaven. Fire commenced to be thrown at them. The Devils went to their people, who asked them, "What is wrong with you?" They said, "A barrier has been placed between us and the news of heaven. And fire has been thrown at us." They said, "The thing which has put a barrier between you and the news of heaven must be something which has happened recently. Go eastward and westward and see what has put a barrier between you and the news of heaven." Those who went towards Tuhama came across the Prophet at a place called Nakhla and it was on the way to Suq `Ukaz and the Prophet (ﷺ) was offering the Fajr prayer with his companions. When they heard the Qur'an they listened to it and said, "By Allah, this is the thing which has put a barrier between us and the news of heaven." They went to their people and said, "O our people; verily we have heard a wonderful recital (Qur'an) which shows the true path; we believed in it and would not ascribe partners to our Lord." Allah revealed the following verses to his Prophet (Sura 'Jinn') (72): "Say: It has been revealed to me." And what was revealed to him was the conversation of the Jinns.

    Open at Sunnah.com →

The link between each āyah and these narrations is the Quran Foundation's reviewed reference map. The wording is reproduced verbatim from a public-domain edition of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and is not edited, summarised or generated; every narration also opens at Sunnah.com so it can be checked against another copy.

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