Home > Sira > The devils barred from listening to the sky at the Quran's descent
The barring of the devils from listening to the sky at the Quran’s descent: the jinn’s nine additions, the market of Ukaz and al-Jinn 1-2, the unknown stars and Abd Yalayl, Iblis seeking Prophet Mohamed and Jibril repelling him, from Ibn Abbas, al-Boukhari, Mouslim and al-Waqidi.
Updated on 07 September 2026 at 11:07 PM
Such is the chapter of the barring of the jinn and the rebellious devils from eavesdropping at the moment the Quran was sent down: so that none of them could snatch from it even one letter and cast it upon the tongue of his ally, muddling the affair and mingling the truth. It was of Allah’s mercy, grace and gentleness toward His creation that He veiled them from the sky, as Allah the Most High informs of them:
“We had touched the heaven and found it filled with stern guards and meteorites. And we used to sit therein in positions for hearing. But whoever listens now will find for him a flaming dart lying in wait. And we know not whether evil is intended for those on earth or whether their Lord intends for them a right path.”
Sura al-Jinn, 8-10
And He said:
“And it is not the devils who have brought it down. It is not allowable for them, nor would they be able. Indeed they are repelled from listening.”
Sura ach-Chou’ara, 210-212
The hafiz Abu Nu’aym related, from Sulayman ibn Ahmad : that is, at-Tabarani :, a chain going back to Said ibn Jubayr, from Ibn Abbas: “The jinn ascended to the sky listening to the revelation: when they heard a word they added nine [more] to it. The word was truth, and their additions were falsehood. When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was sent, their listening seats were barred from them: they mentioned it to Iblis: and the stars were not shot before that. Iblis said to them: This is for an affair that has occurred on earth. He sent his troops, who found the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) standing, praying between two mountains; they came to him and informed him, and he said: This is the event that has occurred on earth.”
Abu Awana related, from Abu Bachr, from Said ibn Jubayr, from Ibn Abbas: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his Companions were heading toward the market of Ukaz, while a barrier had been set between the devils and the news of the sky, and meteorites shot against them. The devils returned to their peoples, who said: “What ails you?” They answered: “A barrier has been set between us and the news of the sky, and meteorites have been shot against us.” It was said to them: “That is but from an event that occurred: scour the earth’s easts and wests.” The group heading toward the Tihamah met him at Nakhla, heading toward the market of Ukaz, praying dawn with his Companions. When they heard the Quran, they listened to it and said: “This is what parted us from the news of the sky.” They returned to their people and said: “O our people, we have heard a wondrous Quran guiding to rectitude: we believe in it, and we shall associate none with our Lord.” Allah then sent down to His prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him):
“Say: It has been revealed to me that a group of jinn listened and said: Indeed we have heard a wondrous Recitation, which guides to rectitude. So we have believed in it, and we will never associate with our Lord anyone.”
Sura al-Jinn, 1-2
This account is related in the two Sahihs.
Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shayba related, from Muhammad ibn Fudayl, from Ata ibn as-Sa’ib, from Said ibn Jubayr, from Ibn Abbas: every jinn tribe had its listening seats. When the revelation descended, the angels heard a sound like the sound of an iron plate cast upon the Safa rock. When the angels heard, they fell prostrate, not raising their heads until it descended. Once descended, some said to others: “What did your Lord say?” If it was of what occurs in the sky, they said: “The truth, and He is the Most High, the Most Great.” If it was of what occurs on earth, of an affair of the unseen, or death, or another earthly matter, they spoke of it: “It will be thus and so.” The devils heard that and brought it down upon their allies. When Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was sent, they were driven off by the stars.
Thaqif was the first people informed: the shepherd went to his flock and slaughtered daily a sheep, and the camel-herder slaughtered daily a camel. The people rushed into their wealth; some said to others: “Do not: if these are the stars by which one is guided, then [the stars remain]; else it is for an event that occurred.” They looked: the guiding stars were as they were, nothing gone from them, and they stopped. Allah turned the jinn away: they heard the Quran; when they reached him, it was said: “Listen!” And the devils went to Iblis and informed him. He said: “An event has occurred on earth: bring me from every land a handful of dust.” They brought him the dust of the Tihamah, and he said: “Here is the event’s place.” al-Bayhaqi and al-Hakim related it, through the chain of Hammad ibn Salama, from Ata ibn as-Sa’ib.
al-Waqidi related, from Ussama ibn Zayd ibn Aslam, from Omar ibn Abdan al-Absi, from Ibn Ka’b: “Since ’Issa’s ascension no star was shot, until the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) became prophet and it was shot. Quraysh saw a spectacle never seen: they let loose their cattle and freed their slaves, believing it the end of the world. The news reached the people of Taif, and Thaqif did the like. That reached Abd Yalayl ibn Amr, who said: Why have you done what I see? They answered: Stars were shot: we saw them rushing down from the sky. He said: Restoring wealth after its loss is grievous: do not hasten, and observe; if these are known stars, it is the people’s end; if unknown stars, it is for an event that occurred.” They observed: they were unknown, and informed him. He said: “The matter is still deferred: this coincides with a prophet’s appearance.” Shortly after, Abu Soufyan ibn Harb came for his wealth; Abd Yalayl discussed the stars with him, and Abu Soufyan said: “Muhammad ibn Abdallah has appeared, claiming to be a sent prophet.” Abd Yalayl said: “At that moment the stars were shot.”
Sa’id ibn Mansour related, from Khalid, from Hasin, from Amir ach-Cha’bi, similar words. al-Bayhaqi and al-Hakim related, through the chain of al-Awfi, from Ibn Abbas: “The lower heaven was not guarded during the pause between ’Issa and Muhammad, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon them both.” Ibn Kathir notes: the meaning of whoever denied that guarding is that it was not a severe guard: that statement must be carried upon this one, for what is established in the hadith, from Abd ar-Razzak, from Ma’mar, from az-Zuhri, from Ali ibn al-Hussein, from Ibn Abbas: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was seated when a star was shot, lighting. He said: “What did you say when this was shot?” He said: We said: a great one died, a great one was born. He said: “No, rather...” and he cited the hadith, as has already preceded concerning the creation of the sky and its stars at the beginning of creation. To Allah belongs praise.
Ibn Ishaq mentioned in the sira the account of the shooting of the stars, and related from a notable of Thaqif (though he named him Amr ibn Umayya) that he said to them to observe the stars: whether they were the sky’s landmarks or otherwise. Allah is most knowing. as-Suddi said: the sky was guarded only if there were on earth a prophet or a religion of Allah manifest. The devils, before Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), had taken listening seats in the lower heaven, listening to whatever occurred therein of affairs; when Allah sent Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as prophet, they were stoned one of the nights. The people of Taif panicked at that: “The people of the sky have perished!”, seeing the intensity of the fire in the sky and the meteorites succeeding one another; they freed their slaves and let loose their cattle. Abd Yalayl ibn Amr ibn Umayr said to them: “Woe to you, O people of Taif: hold back your wealth and observe the stars’ landmarks; if you see them stable in their places, the people of the sky have not perished: it is on account of the son of Abu Kabsha; if you see them no more, the people of the sky have perished.” They looked: the stars were there, and they held back their wealth.
The devils panicked that night and came to Iblis, who said: “Bring me from every land a handful of dust.” They brought it him, he smelled it and said: “Your companion is in Mecca.” He sent seven jinn of Nasibin, who came to Mecca and found the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the Sacred Mosque reciting the Quran: they drew near him, eager for the Quran, until their skulls almost reached him, then they embraced Islam, and Allah mentioned their affair to His prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
al-Waqidi related, from Muhammad ibn Salih, the chain of Ibn Abi Hakim : that is, Ismail :, from Ata ibn Yassar, from Abu Hurayra: when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was sent, every idol woke toppled. The devils came to Iblis and said: “There is on earth no idol but it woke toppled.” He said: “A prophet has been sent: seek him in the villages of the peripheries.” They sought him and said: “We found him not.” He said: “I am his companion.” He went out seeking him, and it was cried toward him: “To the seeds of the heart,” meaning Mecca. He sought him there and found him at Qarn ath-Tha’alib, then returned to the devils and said: “I found him, and with him was Jibril. What have you?” They said: “We embellish the lusts in the eyes of his Companions and make them lovely to them.” He said: “Then naught of gravity.”
al-Waqidi related likewise, from Talha ibn Amr, the chain of Ibn Abi Mulayka, from Abdallah ibn Amr: on the day the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) became prophet, the devils were barred the sky and meteorites shot against them. They came to Iblis and reported that to him, and he said: “An affair has occurred: this is a prophet come out to you in the holy land, the Banu Israil’s place of exit.” They went to Sham then returned to him and said: “There is none there.” Iblis said: “I am his companion.” He went out seeking him in Mecca, and there was the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) at Hira, with him descending Jibril. He returned to his companions and said: “Ahmed has been sent, and with him Jibril. What have you?” They said: “The lower world: we make it lovely to the people.” He said: “Then that then.”
al-Waqidi related further, from Talha ibn Amr, from Ata, from Ibn Abbas: the devils listened to the revelation; when Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was sent they were barred and complained of that to Iblis, who said: “An affair has occurred.” He rose above Abu Qubays : the first mountain placed upon the earth : and saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) praying behind the Maqam. He said: “I shall go and break his neck.” He came darting, but Jibril was with him: Jibril struck him a blow that cast him in such and such a place, and the devil fled. al-Waqidi and Abu Ahmad az-Zubayri both related, from Rabah ibn Abi Ma’ruf, from Qays ibn Sa’d, from Mujahid, the like of this, and he said: “He struck him with his foot, casting him toward Aden.”