The correct view, then, is the second: His words “from among jinn and people” explain who whispers, and indicate that those who whisper are of two kinds: humans and jinn. A jinn whispers into human breasts, and a human likewise whispers into human breasts.

Thus, those who whisper are of two kinds: humans and jinn. Whispering means subtly planting suggestions in the heart, and both jinn and humans do this. A human, however, conveys his whispers through the ear, whereas a jinn has no need of that intermediary, since he enters the son of Adam and flows through him as blood flows. Nevertheless, a jinn may assume a visible form and whisper into someone’s ear just as a human does. Al-Bukhārī relates from ‘Urwah, from ‘Ā’ishah, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The angels speak in the ‘anān—that is, the clouds—about a matter that will occur on earth. The devils overhear a word and repeat it into the soothsayer’s ear, with a sound like that of a bottle being filled. They then add to it a hundred lies of their own.”

This is whispering and the planting of suggestions by Satan through the ear.

Just as both humans and jinn engage in such whispering, they also engage in satanic inspiration. Allah Most High says:

6:112 “And thus We have appointed for every prophet enemies—devils from among humankind and jinn—who inspire one another with alluring words in order to deceive.”

Satan inspires a human with his falsehood, and that human in turn inspires another human with it. Thus, human and jinn devils both engage in satanic inspiration, just as they both engage in whispering.

On this understanding, the difficulties and strained interpretations into which the proponents of the first view fell disappear. The verse indicates seeking refuge from the evil of both kinds of devils: human devils and jinn devils.

According to the first view, however, it would mean seeking refuge only from the evil of jinn devils.

Reflect on this, for it is truly remarkable.