وَأَنَّا ظَنَنَّآ أَن لَّن نُّعْجِزَ ٱللَّهَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَن نُّعْجِزَهُۥ هَرَبًا 12
Translations
And we have become certain that we will never cause failure to Allāh upon earth, nor can we escape Him by flight.
Transliteration
Wa anna zananna an lan nu'jiza Allaha fi al-ardi wa lan nu'jizahu haraba
Tafsir (Explanation)
The jinn affirm that they understand the impossibility of escaping or overwhelming Allah's power and knowledge, whether on earth or through flight. This statement reflects the jinn's recognition of Allah's absolute sovereignty and omnipotence—they cannot evade His will through any means, whether by remaining on earth or attempting to flee. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize this as the jinn's humble acknowledgment of divine supremacy after their journey seeking water for Prophet Solomon.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the jinn's testimony in Surah Al-Jinn, where they recount their experience listening to the Quran and their subsequent belief. The broader context involves the jinn describing their failed search for water and their recognition of Solomon's power as a sign of Allah's greater authority. This surah was revealed in Mecca and addresses the jinn's spiritual transformation upon hearing Allah's word.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3461) regarding the jinn's acceptance of Islam and their testimony is contextually relevant. Additionally, the hadith in Tirmidhi about the jinn's covenant to obey Allah's commands relates to this theme of divine submission.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true wisdom lies in recognizing Allah's absolute power and the futility of resistance against His will—a lesson applicable to all believers who should place their complete trust in Allah rather than relying on worldly means or attempting to evade divine justice through any avenue.