and what follows them.

When the jinn heard the Quran, they said:

“O our people, we have heard a Book revealed after Moses, confirming what came before it, guiding to the truth and to a straight path.”

“O our people, respond to the caller of Allah and believe in him.”

This verse and those that follow.

The jinn also said:

“Among us are those who submit to Allah, and among us are the unjust. Those who submit have sought out right guidance.”

This verse and those that follow.

In several places in the Quran, He says:

“O mankind, worship your Lord.”

“O mankind, fear your Lord.”

Thus, He commanded them to do that for which He created them. He sent messengers to mankind and the jinn, and Muhammad was sent to both mankind and the jinn. He recited the Quran to the jinn, and it is reported that when he recited Sūrat al-Rahmān to them, each time he recited:

“Then which of your Lord’s favours will you both deny?”

they would say: “We deny none of Your favours, our Lord; to You belongs all praise.”

This, then, is certainly the meaning intended by the verse. It is what the great majority of Muslims understand from it and cite it to establish. They acknowledge that Allah created them to worship Him, not to neglect His right.

In the two Sahīh collections, Mu‘ādh ibn Jabal reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to him:

“O Mu‘ādh, do you know Allah’s right over His servants?”

He replied: “Allah and His Messenger know best.”

He said: “Allah’s right over His servants is that they worship Him and associate nothing with Him. Do you know the servants’ right over Allah if they do that?”

I said: “Allah and His Messenger know best.”

He said: “Their right over Him is that He not punish them.”

In the Musnad, Ibn ‘Umar reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“I have been sent with the sword before the Hour, so that Allah alone is worshipped, without any partner. My provision has been placed beneath the shade of my spear. Humiliation and abasement have been laid upon those who oppose my command. Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”