Surah Nas Tafsir

Surah Nas Ayah 1 - 3 continued

It is confirmed in the Sahih that he (the Prophet) said,

مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا قَدْ وُكِّلَ بِهِ قَرِينُهُ

There is not a single one of you except that his companion (a devil) has been assigned to him.

They (the Companions) said, "What about you, O Messenger of Allah!''

He replied,

نَعَمْ،

إِلَّا أَنَّ اللهَ أَعَانَنِي عَلَيْهِ فَأَسْلَمَ، فَلَا يَأْمُرُنِي إِلَّا بِخَيْرٍ

Yes.

However, Allah has helped me against him and he has accepted Islam. Thus, he only commands me to do good.

It is also confirmed in the Two Sahihs from Anas, who reported the story of Safiyyah when she came to visit the Prophet while he was performing Itikaf, that he went out with her during the night to walk her back to her house. So, two men from the Ansar met him (on the way). When they saw the Prophet, they began walking swiftly. So, the Messenger of Allah said,

عَلَى رِسْلِكُمَا، إِنَّهَا صَفِيَّةُ بِنْتُ حُيَيَ

Slow down! This is Safiyyah bint Huyay!

They said, "Glory be to Allah, O Messenger of Allah!''

He said,

إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَجْرِي مِنِ ابْنِ آدَمَ مَجْرَى الدَّم، وَإِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ يَقْذِفَ فِي قُلُوبِكُمَا شَيْئًا، أَوْ قَالَ: شَرًّا

Verily, Shaytan runs in the Son of Adam like the running of the blood. And verily, I feared that he might cast something into your hearts -- or he said -- evil.

Surah Nas Ayah 4

Said bin Jubayr reported that Ibn Abbas said concerning Allah's statement, 

... الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاس ﴿٤﴾ 

The whisperer (Al-Waswas) who withdraws.

"The devil who is squatting (perched) upon the heart of the Son of Adam. So when he becomes absentminded and heedless he whispers. Then, when he remembers Allah he withdraws.''

Mujahid and Qatadah also said this.

Al-Mutamir bin Sulayman reported that his father said,

"It has been mentioned to me that Shaytan is Al-Waswas. He blows into the heart of the Son of Adam when he is sad and when he is happy. But when he (man) remembers Allah, Shaytan withdraws.''

Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn Abbas;الْوَسْوَاسِ  The whisperer.

"He is Shaytan. He whispers and then when he is obeyed, he withdraws.''

Surah Nas Ayah 5-6

As for Allah's saying;

الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاس ﴿٥﴾ 

Who whispers in the breasts of An-Nas.

Is this specific for the Children of Adam as is apparent, or is it general, including both mankind and Jinns

There are two views concerning this. This is because they (the Jinns) are also included in the usage of the word An-Nas (the people) in most cases.

Ibn Jarir said,

"The phrase Rijalun min Al-Jinn (Men from the Jinns) has been used in reference to them, so it is not strange for the word An-Nas to be applied to them also.''

Then Allah says,

مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَ النَّاس ﴿٦﴾  

Of Jinn and An-Nas.

Is this explanatory of Allah's statement, الَّذِى يُوَسْوِسُ فِى صُدُورِ النَّاسِ  Who whispers in the breasts of An-Nas.

Then, Allah explains this by saying, مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِOf Jinn and An-Nas.

This is supportive of the second view.

It has also been said that Allah's saying, مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ Of Jinn and An-Nas, is an explanation of who is it that whispers into the breasts of mankind from the devils of mankind and Jinns.

This is similar to Allah's saying,

وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نِبِىٍّ عَدُوّاً شَيَـطِينَ الإِنْسِ وَالْجِنِّ يُوحِى بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُوراً

And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies --Shayatin among mankind and Jinn, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion. (6:112)

Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn Abbas said,

"A man came to the Prophet and said,

`O Messenger of Allah! Sometimes I say things to myself that I would rather fall from the sky than say (aloud openly). '

The Prophet said,

اللهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللهُ أَكْبَرٌ الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي رَدَّ كَيْدَهُ إِلَى الْوَسْوَسَةِ

Allah is Most Great!

Allah is Most Great!

All praise is due to Allah Who sent his (Shaytan's) plot back as only a whisper.''

Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i also recorded this Hadith.

This is the end of the Tafsir. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, the Lord of all that exists.