Al-Jinn 72:21
The Jinn · Meccan · Juz 29 · Page 573
Neither Harm Nor Guidance
قُلۡ إِنِّي لَآ أَمۡلِكُ لَكُمۡ ضَرࣰّا وَلَا رَشَدࣰا ٢١
Say: Lo! I control not hurt nor benefit for you.
Translation: Marmaduke Pickthall
Meaning
Say: “I do not possess for you harm or right direction.”
Insight
According to Elmalılı, mentioning “right direction” instead of benefit as the counterpart of harm is a rhetorical device: “I can neither harm nor benefit, neither mislead nor guide.”
Reflect
Seek guidance from Allah, not from people.
This short note is based on Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır’s Turkish commentary and has not yet been reviewed by a scholar.
Elmalılı’s commentary
An English translation of Elmalılı’s full commentary is coming soon. Read the original Turkish ›