CHAP. LXXII.
Intitled, The Genii; revealed at Mecca.
In the name of the most merciful God.
[a] See chap. 46, p. 408, not. d.
[a] The foolish among us;] Viz. Eblis, or the rebellious genii.
[b] There are certain men who fly for refuge unto certain of the genii;] For the Arabs, when they found themselves in a desart in the evening (the genii being supposed to haunt such places about that time), used to say, I fly for refuge unto the Lord of this valley, that he may defend me from the foolish among his people [1] .
[1] Al Beidawi.
[c] They also thought, as ye thought, &c.] It is uncertain which of these pronouns is to be referred to mankind, and which to the genii, some expositors taking that of the third person to relate to the former, and that of the second person to the latter; and others being of the contrary opinion.
[d] See chap. 15. p. 211.
[e] See the Prelim. Disc. §. IV. p. 72, &c.
[f] We will water them with abundant rain;] i.e. We will grant them plenty of all good things. Some think by these words rain is promised to the Meccans, after their seven years’ drought, on their embracing Islâm.
[g] The servant of God;] viz. Mohammed.
[a] That he may know that they have executed the commissions of their Lord;] That is to say, either that the prophet may know that Gabriel and the other angels, who bring down the revelation, have communicated it to him pure and free from any diabolical suggestions; or that God may know that the prophet has published the same to mankind [1] .
[1] Idem.