سُوْرَةُ الصَّافَّاتِ
Surah As-Saaffaat (37) — Ayah 8
لَّا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى ٱلْمَلَإِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ وَيُقْذَفُونَ مِن كُلِّ جَانِبٍ ﴿8﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They cannot listen to the higher group (angels) for they are pelted from every side.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لَّا
lā
Not
يَسَّمَّعُونَ
yassammaʿūna
they may listen
إِلَى
ilā
to
ٱلْمَلَإِ
l-mala-i
the assembly
ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
l-aʿlā
[the] exalted
وَيُقْذَفُونَ
wayuq'dhafūna
are pelted
مِن
min
from
كُلِّ
kulli
every
جَانِبٍۢ
jānibin
side
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
8. They cannot listen to the higher assembly, and they are pelted from every side [5].
[5]
The Prevalence of Soothsaying in the Prophetic Era:
During the Prophetic era ﷺ, soothsaying was widespread in Arabia, and soothsayers held an honorable position in society. It was commonly believed about them that jinn and devils were under their control, who provided them with news of the unseen. Even respectable people would come to them and seek their services, sometimes even coming to them for the resolution of their disputes. An incident involving such a soothsayer is also mentioned in the hadiths. When the Quran was revealed, it contained accounts of previous prophets and nations, as well as some news of the future. Then, the Prophet ﷺ also informed people that an angel comes to him who reveals this word to him. From all these things, those people assumed that perhaps, like other soothsayers, some jinn or devil also comes to him. Thus, once when the Prophet ﷺ fell ill and could not get up for the Tahajjud prayer for two or three nights, Abu Lahab’s wife came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “I think your devil has abandoned you.” [بخاری۔ کتاب التفسیر۔ تفسیر سورۃ والضحیٰ]
And for this very reason, those people considered the Prophet ﷺ to be a soothsayer. In the next two verses, this mistaken belief of theirs is refuted.
[5]
The Prevalence of Soothsaying in the Prophetic Era:
During the Prophetic era ﷺ, soothsaying was widespread in Arabia, and soothsayers held an honorable position in society. It was commonly believed about them that jinn and devils were under their control, who provided them with news of the unseen. Even respectable people would come to them and seek their services, sometimes even coming to them for the resolution of their disputes. An incident involving such a soothsayer is also mentioned in the hadiths. When the Quran was revealed, it contained accounts of previous prophets and nations, as well as some news of the future. Then, the Prophet ﷺ also informed people that an angel comes to him who reveals this word to him. From all these things, those people assumed that perhaps, like other soothsayers, some jinn or devil also comes to him. Thus, once when the Prophet ﷺ fell ill and could not get up for the Tahajjud prayer for two or three nights, Abu Lahab’s wife came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “I think your devil has abandoned you.” [بخاری۔ کتاب التفسیر۔ تفسیر سورۃ والضحیٰ]
And for this very reason, those people considered the Prophet ﷺ to be a soothsayer. In the next two verses, this mistaken belief of theirs is refuted.
