The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 484
CH. 27 AN-NAML PT. 19 وَحُشِرَ لِسُلَيْمَن جُنُودُهُ مِنَ الْجِن And there were gathered. 18 وَالْإِنْسِ وَالطَّيْرِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُوْنَ together unto Solomon his hosts of Jinn and men and birds, and they were formed into separate divisions, 2824 2824. Important Words: "38:19-20. (formed into separate groups) is derived from εs. They say, i. e. he hindered or led or drove such a one and restrained him, and he incited or urged him with such a one. animals such as horses, etc. b (tayyār) which is an intensive form of signifies a sharp-spirited and quick-footed horse that runs so fast that it seems to be flying (Lane). See also 3:50; 7:132 & 17:14. . (janna) جن jinn is derived from) جن means, he stopped the first وزع الجيش جنه part of the army so that their last part may join them. They say i. e. I saw that he was arranging the soldiers in proper order and placing them in rows. Judes, (wazza'a) means, he distributed the property among them. means, God inspired such a one. ε means, parties; companies (Aqrab). Thus according to the different significations of the root word, the Quranic expression of would mean, they were formed into separate groups or classes; (2) they were hindered from cruel and tyrannous acts; (3) they marched like ordered and disciplined army; and (4) their first part was stopped so that their last part might join them. These words show that Solomon had a well- trained and disciplined army which had several separate and distinct departments. means, it concealed, veiled, covered or protected him. means, the darkness of night or its intense darkness; such beings as keep aloof from the people as if remaining concealed, i. e. big people (Lane). Jinn in the present verse may represent mountain or wild people who had not till then been subjugated. Commentary: The verse under comment should be read along with 21:83; 34:13 & 38:38. It seems to refer to the military personnel of Solomon's army. The three words (jinn), (men) and an (birds) may represent three departments of his army. In the present verse and in 34:13, the word which ☑(birds) is the plural of is active participle from which means, it flew or moved in the air by means of wings. _ besides meaning "birds" may also apply to swift 2398 has (jinn) has been used to represent a particular section of the army while in 21:83 & 38:38, the word been used to represent the same class. It seems that Solomon had subdued and subjugated some wild tribes, this approximately being the sense of both the words and who formed an integral part of his army and did sundry other difficult tasks for him.