Jinn

“The Arabic word Qareen has two meanings. It may mean a friend or a companion, as stated in the following verse: “A speaker of them saith: Lo! I had a comrade.” (As-Saffat: 51) i.e. (I had an unbelieving friend who was trying to lead me astray during my life).

The other meaning of the word Qareen is the demon permanently assigned to each person during his/her life whose job is to seduce human beings. Allah Almighty says: “His comrade saith: Our Lord! I did not cause him to rebel, but he was (himself) far gone in error.” (Qaf: 27) i.e. the devil assigned to seduce him will say: “My lord! It was not me who seduced him at the beginning, but it was he himself who preferred blindness to guidance. So, I helped him achieve his goal through seduction.”

In order to increase their power in seducing people, demons may also take the shape of humans. One day, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was praying besides a column in the mosque. A devil came to him and tried to spoil his prayer but the Prophet took hold of him and wanted to chain him to the column so that people could see him in the following day. However, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) set the devil free when he remembered the prayer of his brother, Prophet Solomon: “My Lord! Forgive me and bestow on me sovereignty such shall not belong to anyone after me.” (Sad: 35)

In another hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) tells us that a demon is assigned to every human being: “There is no one among you but a comrade from among the jinn is assigned to him.” They (the Companions present in that occasion) said: “Even you, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Even me, but Allah granted me victory over him and he became Muslim (or: and I am safe from him), so he only enjoins me to do that which is good.”

In order to get rid of such demon comrade, one should continuously recite the Qur’an, particularly the verse of Al-Kursi (verse number 255 of Surat Al-Baqarah), and the last two verses of the same Surah. Ibn Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him narrated: “ I was with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) during the night in which he met the jinn at the presence of Gabriel. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was reciting the Qur’an while the devil was getting more closer to him. 

Gabriel said to the Prophet: “Would you like me to tell you some words that, when uttered, will make the devil walk prone (without seeing) on his face and will blow out his flame?… say: “ I seek refuge in the incomparable Glory of Allah that can not be violated by the righteous or the cunning from the evil of what goes into the earth and all that comes out thereof; all that comes down from the sky and all that ascends thereto and from the evil of night visitants except for good ones. You are the Most Merciful!” (when the Prophet uttered these words) the devil began groping his way and his flame got extinguished.”

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is also reported to have said: “When the Ghilan (the sorcerers among the devils) appear (in the form of visual objects), then say the call for prayer Adhan ( to protect you against their harm).”

Who are the jinn?

The jinn are among the creatures that Allah (swt) created. Allah (swt) created angels, jinn, mankind, animals, plants and others. Jinn have some qualities like human beings. These qualities are intellect, discrimination, freedom, and the power to choose between right and wrong, between true and false, as well as between good and bad. 

When did Allah (swt) create the jinn? 

Allah (swt) created the jinn before Adam (pbuh) was created. Both were created in heaven and lived in paradise. One may read in Surah Al-Hijr (The Rocky Tract) [Qur’an, 15:26-27]. However, nothing was mentioned about the duration of time of the jinn’s creation before Adam (pbuh).

What are jinn created from?

Jinn are created from fire of hot wind [Qur’an, 15:27]; and from smokeless fire [Qur’an, 55:15]. They were originally made from fire and then molded and shaped in the form and shape that Allah (swt) wanted them to be. This means that they do not anymore possess their fiery nature. It is not known therefore, their final shape, form, and chemical composition. Since we cannot see them, therefore, it is not easy to do any analysis of their chemical nature. In contrast, mankind was created from soil, mud, and clay. They were molded as human beings. Our final form is no more mud or clay.

Do jinn have bodies?

Yes and no! It depends upon the information that one has. One group of scholars believe that jinn do not have bodies of their own. They also do not inhabit bodies of other creatures. However, they do exist independently by themselves. Therefore, they do not know how they exist without bodies: smoke, flame, fire or what?

The other group of scholars do believe that jinn do have bodies either definite or subtle. If their bodies are definite then they have some density; otherwise, if they are subtle, then they are so fine that our weak eyes cannot see them. One may read Surah Al-A’raf (The Heights) [Qur’an, 7:27]. Even if they are subtle they should have weight and density similar to that of the air itself.

Do jinn die?

Yes. Jinn do die. As long as they are creatures created by Allah (swt), they should die. They are creatures that marry, produce children, eat, drink, and die like all other creatures in the universe. One may read Qur’an Surah Al-Rahman (The Most Merciful) [Qur’an, 55:26-28].

Do the jinn feel envy of us?

Yes. There are two types of evil eye: human and the jinn. One has to read regularly ‘A’oozu Billahi Minash-shaitanir Rajeem. Also, by reading Ayah Al-Kursi and Al-Mu’awwazatain, one will be protected from the evil eyes of both the jinn and mankind.

Are there messengers and prophets from within the community of jinn?

Yes. Allah (swt) has sent prophets and messengers to jinn from within the jinn community. Also, Allah (swt) sent Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to mankind, to jinn, and to other creatures. In Surah Al-An’am (The Cattle), Allah (swt) explains that He sent messengers to men and to jinn. See Qur’an [6:130].

Do jinn have different religions, sects and denominations?

In Surah Al-Jinn (Ch. 72), Allah (swt) informs us that some jinn accepted Islam, while others refused. Those who refused have deviated, and developed for themselves different methods, different ways of life, and different religions, sects and denominations.

Do jinn marry and have children?

Yes. Jinn do marry and they do have children. The way they marry is not known to us yet. We may be able to know the future if Allah (swt) wants us to know.

People never knew about microbes, viruses, and the unseen micro creatures. Now we are able to know many things about their life cycles, their life duration, their methods of duplication or reproduction: sexually and asexually. The mere fact that we do not know how the jinn marry and reproduce does not negate their being married and reproduced. The Qur’an stipulates in Surah Al-Kahf (18:50) that they have off springs. Similarly, the Qur’an states in Surah Al-Rahman (55:56) that jinn and human beings never touched (married) the ladies of paradise.

Can human beings and jinn inter-marry? 

Yes and no. It depends upon how one looks at it. It is a known fact in the Qur’an in Surah Al-Israa’ (17:64) that jinn may share with us our wealth and our children. The Hadith of the Prophet (pbuh) reconfirms this concept when he says that when a man has marital relationship with his wife, he should mention the name of Allah (swt). He should seek refuge in Allah (swt) from the outcast shaitan. Otherwise, shaitan folds himself up in the man’s urethra and shall have sexual relations along with him.

Moreover, when a man goes to his wife while she is in her menses, shaitan precedes him. She shall conceive and will bring forth a sterile person (Mukhannath). Such a sterile person is considered to be child of the jinn.

Do jinn have animals as pets?

Yes. Jinn do have animals or beasts of their own. The Prophet (pbuh) mentioned that every piece of dung is fodder for the beasts of the jinn. However, we do not know what type of beasts the jinn have. The same thing is to be said as to the varieties of beasts, their number, their shape, their size, their weight and so on.

Do jinn have homes of their own?

Yes. The jinn do have homes. They live all over the planet earth. However, there are special places that one may find them in abundance and on a regular basis. These are deserts, ruins, places of impurities such as dunghills, bathrooms and graveyards. They live in houses of human beings too. For those who enter their houses mentioning the name of Allah (swt), the jinn cannot have a place to stay overnight in that house. If the people of the house mention the name of Allah (swt) before eating, then the shaitan will not be able to eat with them.

Is it true that animals see jinn and angels? 

Yes. Animals do see angels and shaitan. When a rooster sees an angel, it starts crowing. However, when a donkey starts braying it is seeing a jinn.