What does Quran 72:21 mean?

Quran 72:21 (Surah Al-Jinn, Ayah 21) translates to: "Say, "Indeed, I do not possess for you [the power of] harm or right direction.""

Which Surah and Juz is Quran 72:21 from?

This ayah is from Surah Al-Jinn (The Jinn), the 72th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 29.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 72:21?

Yes — there are 4 hadiths related to this ayah from Sunan an-Nasa'i, Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan Ibn Majah.

What tafsir is available for Quran 72:21?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Al-Jalalayn, Ibn Abbas — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

What topics does Quran 72:21 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Prophethood, Human Limitation, Tawhid, Supplication, Divine Revelation.

Ayah 20

قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَدْعُوا۟ رَبِّى وَلَآ أُشْرِكُ بِهِ...

72:21Al-Jinn

Ayah 22

قُلْ إِنِّى لَن يُجِيرَنِى مِنَ ٱللَّهِ أَحَدٌۭ وَ...

قُلْ إِنِّى لَآ أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّۭا وَلَا رَشَدًۭا

Qul innee laaa amliku lakum darranw wa laa rashadaa

Say, "Indeed, I do not possess for you [the power of] harm or right direction."

Themes in this ayah

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The Prophet ﷺ83

Scores run 0–100: how strongly this ayah speaks to a theme. 70+ is central, 50+ is clear, under 50 is weak.

6 other themes with weak connections

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The Prophet ﷺ

72:21Ayah 128

4 ayahs in Al-Jinn are strongly about the Prophet. This is one of them.

← Previous on The Prophet ﷺ72:19And that when the Servant of Allah stood up supplicating Him, they almost became about him a compacted mass."Next on The Prophet ﷺ →72:22Say, "Indeed, there will never protect me from Allah anyone [if I should disobey], nor will I find in other than Him a refuge.

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 72:21→

Say ‘I truly have no power to bring you any harm to lead you astray or any guidance’ any good.

When the Messenger of Allah said: "Then there is no harm."

Sunan Abu Dawud #4047The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Ibrahim b. 'Abd Allah through a different chain of narrators. This version added:Munkar

I do not say that he had forbidden you.

Sunan Ibn Majah #3735It was narrated from Usamah bin Zaid that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:Sahih

“I am not leaving behind me any tribulation that is more harmful to men than women.”

Sunan Ibn Majah #2978It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“I do not forbid it,” meaning mastigure.

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72:21Al-Jinn

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Tafsir

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About Quran 72:21