Surah As-Saaffaat (37) — Ayah 158

(Ayah 158) ➊ { وَ جَعَلُوْا بَيْنَهٗ وَ بَيْنَ الْجِنَّةِ نَسَبًا … :} What is meant by establishing lineage between Allah and the jinn? Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) has mentioned two opinions in his exegesis. The first is the statement of Mujahid that the polytheists said, "The angels are the daughters of Allah." So Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) asked, "Then who are their mothers?" They said, {’’بَنَاتُ سَرَوَاتِ الْجِنِّ‘‘} "The daughters of the jinn chieftainesses." However, in this explanation, a lineage relationship is not established between Allah and the jinn, rather an affinity (in-law) relationship is established, because if the daughters of the jinn women (Allah forbid) are the wives of Allah, then the jinn would be fathers-in-law. Moreover, Mujahid did not meet Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), so this is disconnected. The second opinion is narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the enemies of Allah considered Allah and Iblis to be two brothers. The commentators have stated in this explanation that this was the belief of the Iranians that there are two creators: one is the creator of good, whom they call "Yazdan," and the other is the creator of evil, whom they call "Ahriman." However, there are two flaws in this explanation as well: first, its chain is not established, because Tabari narrated it through 'Awfi from Ibn Abbas, which is weak; second, it mentions a brotherly relationship between Allah and Iblis, whereas the verse mentions the general jinn.

Some commentators have said that here {’’ الْجِنَّةِ ‘‘} refers to the angels, because the jinn are called "jinn" due to their hidden nature, as the same meaning is found in words like "janin" (embryo), "junoon" (madness), etc., and the angels are also hidden, so the meaning here is that they established a lineage relationship between the angels and Allah, by considering them the daughters of Allah. However, there are two flaws in this as well: first, calling the angels "jinn" is a great stretch, because the jinn are created from fire and the angels from light. The second flaw is that this matter has already been mentioned above in verse (153): « اَصْطَفَى الْبَنَاتِ عَلَى الْبَنِيْنَ» so what is the benefit of mentioning it again without necessity? I have studied many exegeses on this issue, and the summary of all is what I have stated above. In the end, I found satisfaction in the exegesis of Maulana Sanaullah Amritsari, which is that just as the polytheists called the angels the daughters of Allah, they called the jinn the sons (or children) of Allah. The evidence for this is Allah's very statement that they established a lineage between Allah and the jinn. Clearly, the term "lineage" applies first and foremost to sons and daughters. This is not far-fetched from the polytheists, and who can be a more truthful narrator than Allah? (And Allah knows best)

➋ { وَ لَقَدْ عَلِمَتِ الْجِنَّةُ اِنَّهُمْ لَمُحْضَرُوْنَ : ’’مُحْضَرُوْنَ‘‘} (Presented) This is said about those who themselves do not wish to come. That is, certainly the jinn know that they will be presented for reckoning. Is this the way a father deals with his children?

158. 1 This is a reference to the belief of the polytheists that Allah established a marital relationship with the jinn, from which daughters were born. These daughters of Allah are the angels. Thus, a kinship (in-law relationship) was established between Allah and the jinn.

158. 2 However, how can this be authentic? If this were so, then why would Allah subject the jinn to punishment? Would He not consider His kinship? And if this is not the case, rather the jinn themselves know that they will certainly have to enter Hell to face Allah’s wrath and punishment, then how can there be any kinship between Allah and the jinn?

158. And they have established a kinship between Allah and the jinn, while the jinn know well that they will be brought forth [91] (as criminals).

[91]
The In-Law Relationship Between the Jinn and Allah:

When the Arab polytheists were asked, "If the angels are Allah's daughters, then who are their mothers?" they would reply, "The women of the jinn." In this way, they committed yet another injustice and established a relationship of in-lawship and kinship between the jinn and Allah. Allah gave the answer that the jinn are a responsible creation who will be presented before Allah to answer for their deeds. Then, the majority of them will go to Hell, and yet you have made them Allah's in-laws. Is there any limit to your absurdity? Would you be willing to throw your own son-in-law into the fire, or would you accept as your son-in-law someone whom you throw into the fire? Why does your reasoning become so distorted when it comes to Allah?