Al-Kashshaf on Al-Jinn 72:6

Surah Al-Jinn 72:6

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ﱷ ﱸ ﱹ ﱺ ﱻ ﱼ ﱽ ﱾ ﱿ ﲀ ﲁ

And there were men from mankind who sought refuge in men from the jinn, so they [only] increased them in burden.

Al-Jinn: (6) "And indeed, there were men..."

"And al-rahaq (the burden/excess):" It is the committing of forbidden acts.

The meaning: That mankind, by seeking refuge in them (the Jinn), increased them in arrogance and disbelief. This is because when a man from the Arabs would spend the evening in a desolate valley during his travels and fear for his life, he would say: "I seek refuge in the master of this valley from the foolish among his people," meaning the Jinn and their leader. When they (the Jinn) heard that, they grew arrogant and said: "We have become masters over both Jinn and mankind." That is their rahaq (burden/excess).

Alternatively, it means: The Jinn increased mankind in rahaq (sin/misguidance) by seducing them and leading them astray because they sought refuge in them.

"And that they..."—meaning mankind—"thought as you thought." This is speech from the Jinn, said by some of them to others. It is also said that both verses are part of the revelation. The pronoun in "and that they thought" refers to the Jinn, and the address in "you thought" is to the disbelievers of Quraysh.

(7) "And we have sought [to reach] the heaven but found it filled with powerful guards and burning flames. And we used to sit therein in positions for hearing, but whoever listens now will find a burning flame lying in wait for him."

Tafsir of Al-Jinn 72:6

Al-Kashshaf

Al-Jinn: (6) "And indeed, there were men..."

(7) "And we have sought [to reach] the heaven but found it filled with powerful guards and burning flames. And we used to sit therein in positions for hearing, but whoever listens now will find a burning flame lying in wait for him."