Jinn: Difference between revisions

'''Jinn''' (جن‎ ''ǧinn'', singular جني ''ǧinnī'' ; variant spelling ''djinn'') or, as Romanized more broadly, '''genies'''<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/genie|2=2012-04-27}} Genie] - Wiktionary, accessed April 27, 2012</ref> are said to be supernatural creatures that occupy a parallel world to that of mankind. They are mentioned in the [[Qur'an]], [[hadith]], other [[Islam and Scripture|Islamic texts]] and Arab folklore. The Jinn are believed to exist in many sub-species themselves, with some living in the air, others as humans on land, and some like "snakes and dogs".<ref>Hughes, Thomas Patrick (1885). "Genii". ''Dictionary of Islam: Being a Cyclopædia of the Doctrines, Rites, Ceremonies'' . London, UK: W.H.Allen. pp. 134–6. Retrieved 4 October 2019.</ref> Together, the various jinns, humans and angels make up the three sentient creations of [[Allah]]. Like human beings, the jinn can also be good, evil, or neutrally benevolent.<ref>El-Zein, Amira. [http://books.google.com/books?id=H-k9oc9xsuAC&pg=PA116-IA117&lpg=PA116-IA117&dq=Jinn:+Medieval+Islamic+Civilization+-+An+Encyclopaedia&source=bl&ots=TSnTkHUY_j&sig=mXTd96-4uH5A5dpRvcBvgDGjUS4&hl=en&ei=HScES6WOBMLDlAek9IHtAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CAwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Jinn%3A%20Medieval%20Islamic%20Civilization%20-%20An%20Encyclopaedia&f=false "Jinn,"] 420-421, in Meri, Joseph W., ''Medieval Islamic Civilization - An Encyclopedia''.</ref>

Jinn are usually invisible to humans, and humans do not appear clearly to them. Frequenting [[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Toilet Etiquette#Say a prayer when entering, to ward off jinn and demons|toilets]],<ref>{{Abudawud|1|6}}</ref> they feed on feces and bones,<ref>{{Bukhari|5|58|200}}</ref> have the power to travel large distances at extreme speeds and are thought to live in remote areas, mountains, seas, trees, and the air. Like humans: jinn can also choose to become Muslims, will be judged on the Day of Judgment, and will accordingly be sent to Paradise or [[Hell]].<ref>''Tafsīr''; ''Bakhsh az tafsīr-e kohan'', p. 181; Loeffler, p. 46</ref>

While many Islamic scholars today reject the possibility of jinn possession, there is classical precedent for belief in jinn's ability to possess and interact with human beings in this and numerous other ways. Most famously, [[Ibn Taymiyyah]] (a famous 'proto-[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salafi_movement#:~:text=The%20Salafi%20movement%20aimed%20to,of%20sharia%20(Islamic%20law). Salafist]' movement scholar who taught other influential figures including [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Kathir Ibn Kathir]) was a proponent of this view in his ''[https://www.kalamullah.com/Books/Ibn%20Taymiyahs%20Essay%20on%20the%20Jinn.pdf Essay on the jinn]'' (Ibn Taymiyyah also claimed to know and have mastered the "poetry of the jinn").

{{Quote|El-Zein, Dr Amira. Islam, Arabs, and the Intelligent World of the Jinn (Contemporary Issues in the Middle East) (p. 17). Syracuse University Press. Kindle Edition.|Fourteenth-century jurist Badr al-din al-Shibli (b. 1312) understood these verses refer to the incident when the jinn came to see the Prophet Muhammad, and indicated these jinn were specifically Jews, because they mention Moses.}}

{{Quote|El-Zein, Dr Amira. Islam, Arabs, and the Intelligent World of the Jinn (Contemporary Issues in the Middle East) (p. 74). Syracuse University Press. Kindle Edition.|Pre-Islamic Arabs believed evil jinn bring madness upon people as well. In fact, the term majnun (possessed/mad/insane in Arabic) literally means “to be possessed by a jinni.” The terms jinn and majnun both are derived from the same linguistic root j-n-n.}}

That once he was in the company of the Prophet (ﷺ) carrying a water pot for his ablution and for cleaning his private parts. While he was following him carrying it (i.e. the pot), the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Who is this?" He said, "I am Abu Huraira." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Bring me stones in order to clean my private parts, and do not bring any bones or animal dung." Abu Huraira went on narrating: So I brought some stones, carrying them in the corner of my robe till I put them by his side and went away. When he finished, I walked with him and asked, "What about the bone and the animal dung?" He said, "They are of the food of Jinns. The delegate of Jinns of (the city of) Nasibin came to me--and how nice those Jinns were--and asked me for the remains of the human food. I invoked Allah for them that they would never pass by a bone or animal dung but find food on them."}}{{Quote|{{Abudawud|1|39}}|Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas'ud: A deputation of the jinn came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: O Muhammad, forbid your community to cleans themselves with a bone or dung or charcoal, for in them Allah has provided sustenance for us. So the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade them to do so.}}

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Cover your utensils and tie your water skins, and close your doors and keep your children close to you at night, as the Jinns spread out at such time and snatch things away. When you go to bed, put out your lights, for the mischief-doer (i.e. the rat) may drag away the wick of the candle and burn the dwellers of the house." Ata said, "The devils." (instead of the Jinns).}}Satan, who is believed to be a jinn, causes yawning:

{{Quote|{{Muslim|2|462}}|Abu Huraira reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said. When any one of you awakes up from sleep and performs ablution, he must clean his nose three times, for the devil spends the night in the interior of his nose.}}Shapeshift into black dogs: