1. Say, Muhammad, to people: ‘It has been revealed to me from Allah that a band of the jinn of Nisibis listened to my recitation in the Subh prayer at Batn Nakhl, a place between Makka and Ta’if. They are the ones who are mentioned in the words of Allah, “And We diverted a group of jinn towards you to listen to the Qur’an…” (46:29), and said when they returned to their people: “ We have heard a most amazing Recitation – in respect of its eloquence and its abundant meanings, and in other ways.

2. It leads to right guidance – faith and correct action, so we believe in it and will not associate anyone with our Lord after today.

3. He – exalted be the Majesty of our Lord! – has neither wife nor son. His Majesty is far above such assertions.

4. The ignorant fools among us have uttered a vile slander against Allah in describing Allah has having a wife and child.

5. We did not think it possible for either man or jinn to say something like that and to tell a lie against Allah.

6. Certain men from among mankind used to seek refuge with certain men from among the jinn when they camped on their journeys in dangerous places. Each man would say, “I seek refuge with the master of this place from the evil of its foolish ones;” but they increased them by this seeking refuge in wickedness so that they said, “We are the masters of jinn and human beings.”

7. They (the jinn) thought – as you human beings also think – that Allah would never raise up anyone after death.

8. The jinn said: We tried, as usual, to travel to heaven to eavesdrop in search of news but found it filled with fierce guards from the angels and burning meteors. That happened when the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, began his mission.

9. We used to sit there on special seats to listen in before he was sent, but anyone listening now finds a fiery meteor in wait for him – which is thrown at him.

10. We have no idea – after eavesdropping – whether evil is intended for those on the earth, or whether their Lord intends them to be rightly guided.

11. Among us there are some who after listening to the Qur’an are righteous and some who are other than that. We follow many different paths. “We are in different groups: Muslims and unbelievers.”

12. We realised we would never thwart Allah on earth and would never thwart Him by flight – we cannot escape Him, whether we remain on earth or flee from it to the heavens –

13. …and when we heard the guidance (the Qur’an), we believed in it. Anyone who believes in his Lord need fear neither belittlement – reduction of his good deeds – nor tyranny – injustice by having his evil deeds increased.

14. Some of us are Muslims and some are deviators – by disbelieving. Those who have become Muslim are those who sought right guidance;

15. …the deviators will be firewood and fuel for Hellfire.”’

16. Allah says about the unbelievers of Makka – If only they were to go straight on the Path of Islam We would give them abundant water to drink – rain from heaven. That was after rain was withheld for seven years –

17. …so that We could test them by it to see how thankful they would be publicly. Whoever turns aside from the remembrance of his Lord (the Qur’an), He will introduce (read as yu‘rida, and also nu‘rid, “We will introduce”) him to an arduous punishment.

18. All mosques belong to Allah so do not call on anyone else besides Allah. When in them do not associate anyone else with Him as the Jews and the Christians do when they enter their synagogues and churches.

19. When the slave of Allah – Mu˛ammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace – stands calling on Him – worshipping Him in Batn Nakhl – they (the jinn listening to his recitation) almost swarm (read as libad and lubad) all over him – pressed together against one another almost like matted felt, in their eagerness to hear the Qur’an.

20. He said – also read as “Say”, to answer the unbelievers when they said, “Retract what you are saying,” – ‘I call only upon my Lord and do not associate anyone else as another god with Him.’

21. Say: ‘I possess no power to do you harm – make you error to guide you right and so do you good.’

22. Say: ‘No one can protect me from the punishment of Allah and I will never find any refuge apart from Him except in Him –

23. …only in transmitting from Allah and His Messages. “I can only convey the Message of Allah to you from Him.” This stresses his inability to do more. As for him who disobeys Allah and His Messenger – disbelieves in His unity and does not believe – he will have the Fire of Hell, remaining in it timelessly, for ever and ever.’

24. So that if they continue in their unbelief until when they see what they were promised of the punishment they will know who has less support (fewer helpers) and smaller numbers: they or the believers, according to one view, or “I or them” according to another. This refers to when that happened at the Battle of Badr, or to what will happen on the Day of Rising. One of them asked, “When will this promise come to pass?” and the next ayat was then revealed.

25. Say: ‘I do not know whether what you are promised by way of punishment is close or whether my Lord will appoint a longer time before it.’ Only Allah knows its time.

26. He is the Knower of the Unseen – He knows what His creatures do not see – and does not divulge His Unseen to anyone. The exception to this follows in the next ayat –

27. …except a Messenger with whom He is well pleased – Allah acquaints His Messenger with any of the Unseen He wishes as a miracle for him. Then He posts sentinels (angels) before him and behind him – to protect him until the revelation is conveyed –

28. …so that He may know – with outward knowledge – that they (the Messengers) h a ve indeed transmitted the Messages of their Lord. He knows and encompasses what is in their hands and has counted accurately the exact number of each and every thing.