THE WORLD OF JINNS

Bismillah ir-rahman ir-rahim

Assalam alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatu

Some people believe in ghosts and spirits which are led to believe they are no more than souls of dead people, however they are both folk tales and fantasies. Like everything, Islam explains the unseen from the realm of Jinns.

THEIR EXISTENCE.

The world of jinn is an independent and separate one, with its own distinct nature and features that are hidden from the world of the humans. They are beings that are created with free will, living on earth in a world parallel to mankind. The Arabic word ‘Jinn’ is from ‘Janna’ which means conceal and thus they are invisible from man. As ibn Faris said in Maqayis al-Lughah. The jinn are so called because they are concealed from mankind, and the fetus is called janeen in Arabic because he is concealed in is mother’s womb, and a garden is called jannah because it is concealed by trees, and an insane person is majnoon because his mind is covered, and so on in all derivations from this root.

The invisibility is one reason most people deny their existence but the Qur’an and Sunnah indicate that jinns do exist and their purpose for their existence in this life is to worship Allah alone. In Surah Ad-Dhariyat says (Q52:56), “And I have not created jinns and men, except that they should worship Me.” They do however possess some characteristics in common with human beings such as the ability to think and reflect, likewise they have the ability to choose between good and evil. However they differ from human beings too in character. The jinns are created from ‘Marijin min nar’ (i.e fire) “And He created jinns from fire free from smoke” this is Ar-Rahman (Q55:15). According to ibn Abbas, Mujahid AlHasan al-basri and others; the meaning of ‘Marijin min nar’ is the extreme of the flame, and in another narration, as the purest and best of fire. In a hadeeth recorded by Muslim on the authority of Aisha, the Messenger of Allah said (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), “The angels were created from light, the jinn were created from smokeless flame of fire and Adam was created from what has been described to you [by Allah in the Qur’an].” In a commentary Imam Nawawi said: the smokeless fire is that mixed with the blackness of the fire. Then again Jinns were created before human and Al-Hijr clearly states it, “We created man from sounding clay, from mud molded into shape. And the jinn race, We had created before, from the fire of a scorching wind.” (Q15:26-27).

TYPES OF JINN.

Allah has created different types of jinn. Among them are some who can take on different forms, such as dogs and snakes; some who are like flying winds with wings; and some who can travel and rest. Abu Tha’labah al-Khushani said, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The jinn are of three types: a types that has wings, and they fly through the air; a type that looks like snakes and dogs; and a type that stops for a rest then resumes its journey.”

THEIR ABILITIES.

Allah has given the jinn powers that he has not given to humans. Allah has told us about some of their powers, such as the ability to move and travel quickly. An ‘ifreet from among the jinn guaranteed to the Prophet Sulaiman (AS) that he would bring the throne of the Queen of Yemen to Jerusalem in a moment faster than that needed for a man to get up from where he was sitting. Jinns can appear in different forms both animals and people etc. Among the clearest evidence from a hadeeth of Abu Hurairah who said: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) put me in charge of guarding the zakah of Ramadhan. Someone came to me and started scooping up some of the food, and I said, “By Allah, I will take you to the Messenger of Allah.” He complained of being in need and having dependents, so Abu Hurairah took pity on him and let the third occasion, Abu Huraira said: “I will take you to the Messenger of Allah. This is the third time and each time you say that you will not come back.” He said, “Let me go and I will teach you something by means of which Allah will benefit you.” I said, “What is it?” He said: “When you go to bed, recite Ayat al-Kursi until you complete the verse, then you will always have a protector from Allah, and no devil will come near you until morning comes. So I let him go, and the next morning I told the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He told you the truth, although he is a liar. Do you know who have been speaking to for three nights, O Abu Hurairah?” He said: “No.” He said: “That was a devil (a shaytan).” This hadeeth does teach us a number of things, that one of the characteristics of shaytan is lying, and that he may appear in various forms that may be seen, and that the words of Allah. “Verily, he and Qabiluhu (his soldiers from the jinn or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them.” From Surah Al-‘Araf. Apply to when he is in the form with which he was created. In another narration shaytan appeared to the Quraysh in the form of Suraqah ibn Malik ibn Ju’sham and promised them aid and triumph in the battle of Badr.

The jinns can also take on the appearance of certain animals, such as camels, donkeys, cows, dogs or cats but a black dog is their favorite attire. Some snakes that appear in front of Muslims in their houses may be jinn that have embraced Islam and therefore the Messenger of Allah has forbidden us to kill them before the name of Allah has been mentioned three times to them as a warning and a protection. If they continue to be present, they are devils and hence should be killed. Yup this the kind of world we live in. Amazing Subhana Allah.

There is also human possession were the jinns have been given the ability to take over minds and bodies of other creatures. In humans sometimes it can be because the jinn or its family have been hurt in a way or the jinn has fallen in love with that person, and most cases it’s just because the jinn is malicious and wicked. However they are forbidden from doing so and it is a test from Allah. If such possession happens, only the name of Allah should be used to expel the jinn.

THEIR FOOD AND DRINKS.

Ibn Masood said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘Someone from among the jinn called me and went with him and recited Qura’n for them.’ He took us and showed us the traces of where they asked him for food and he said, ‘You can have every bone on which the name of Allah has been mentioned that comes into your possession, as meat, and all the droppings as food for your animals.’ The Prophet of Allah said, ‘So do not use [these things] for cleaning yourselves [after relieving oneself], for they are the food and provision of your brothers.” (Muslim). The believing jinn may eat any bone on which the name of Allah has been mentioned did not permit them to have anything on which Allah’s name has been mentioned, those are for the kuffar among the jinn.

THEIR BEASTS.

According to a hadeeth narrated by ibn Masood that we have quoted above the jinn asked the Messenger for provision, and he said to them: “…and [you can have] all the droppings as food for your animals.”

THEIR DWELLING PLACES.

The jinn live on this earth where we do. They are mostly to be found in ruins and unclean places like bathrooms, dunghills, garbage dumps, deserts and graveyards. Hence the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) taught us to take precautions when entering such places, by reciting the adhkaar prescribed by Islam. One of these was reported by Anas ibn Malik, who said, “When the Messenger of Allah entered the toilet, he would say, “Allahumma inni audhubika minal-khubti wa’lkhabaaith.” (Muslim). Al-Khattabi explained that khubuth is the plural of khateeb (evil or dirty, masculine form), and khabaa’ith is the plural of khabeetha (evil or dirty in female form), and that what is meant is male and female shayateen. Some jinns are Muslims and most are kaafirs. Allah refers the believing jinns in Surah Al-Jinn as follows (Q72:14), “And amongst us are Muslims and others are who are unjust. Whoever accepts Islam has sought out the right path. As for those who are unjust, they will be fuel for the Hell Fire.” And in (Q72:1-4), “Verily we have heard a marvelous Qur’an. It guides unto righteousness so we have believed in it. And we will never make partners with our Lord. He may our Lord’s glory be exalted, has not taken a wife nor a son. What the foolish ones among us used to say about Allah is a horrible lie.”

The disbelievers among the jinn are referred by names such as, ‘Ifreet, Shaytaan, Qareen, demons, devils, spirits, ghost etc. They misguide men away from the path of Allah in various ways, towards shirk and all kinds of disbelief. And Allah says in Surah Al-An’aam (Q6:112), “Likewise, we made for every Prophet an enemy, Shaytan from among mankind and the jinn.”

PROTECTION FROM THE JINN.

Because the jinns can see us while we cannot see them, the Prophet of Allah taught us many ways to protect ourselves from their harm, such as seeking refuge with Allah from accursed Shaytan, by reciting Surah Al-Falaq and An-Nas, and reciting words taught by Allah in the Qura’n. Reciting Bismillah before everything, Duas and Adhkaars such will prevent the jinn from seeing a person’s ‘awrah or harming him. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “To put a barrier that will prevent the jinn from seeing the ‘awrah of the sons of Adam, let any one of you say ‘Bismillah’ when entering the toilet.” (Tirmidhi).

Every individual has a jinn accompanying him referred to as Qareen. This is one of the ways fortune tellers have information about you and your plans and relatives, neighbors etc. your whole life. In this manner the fortune teller is able to tell you past in a vivid detail. This Qareen is a part of man’s test in life because he encourages us to do evil. In a hadeeth, the Messenger of Allah said, “There is no one among you but a companion from among the jinn has been assigned to him.” They said, “Even you, O Messenger of Allah?” he said, “Even me but Allah helped me with him and he became Muslim (or and I am safe from him), so he only enjoins me to do that which is good.”

Careful there might be a jinn on that corner and you don’t even know. May Allah protect us from jinns for He is the Best of Protectors.

And Allah knows best.