وَحَفِظْنَـٰهَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْطَـٰنٍ رَّجِيمٍ 17
Translations
And We have protected it from every devil expelled [from the mercy of Allāh]
Transliteration
Wa hafizhnaha min kulli shayṭānin rajīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's protection of the heavens from the attempts of devils (shayāṭīn) to eavesdrop on divine knowledge and revelation. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that Allah has guarded the celestial realm with shooting stars and other means, preventing the devils from ascending to hear the conversations of the angels regarding matters of the Unseen (Ghayb). This establishes the completeness and security of divine revelation against satanic interference or corruption.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Hijr's discussion of the creation of the heavens and the preservation of divine knowledge. The broader passage addresses how Allah protects celestial knowledge from satanic infiltration, emphasizing the purity and inviolability of revelation. This contextualizes Allah's protection of the Quranic message itself from demonic distortion.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned in Sahih Bukhari that when the Qur'an is recited, the devils flee because they cannot approach the word of Allah. Additionally, a hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah relates to the shooting of stars at devils who attempt to ascend to the heavens to listen to revelations.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reassures believers that Allah's revelation is divinely guarded and cannot be corrupted by evil forces, offering comfort that the Qur'an remains pristine and authentic. It also teaches that believers can have confidence in the completeness of their faith, as Allah actively protects the sources of guidance from satanic deception.