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Jinn: Difference between revisions
→Qur'an: I've edited the intro paragraphs slightly as I believe they didn't make sense before and corrected a few typos. Then added some Quran verses mostly on jinn being blocked from the Exalted Assembly, and quite a few hadith covering this point and some more absurdities such as the link to black dog shapeshifting there.
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(→Qur'an: I've edited the intro paragraphs slightly as I believe they didn't make sense before and corrected a few typos. Then added some Quran verses mostly on jinn being blocked from the Exalted Assembly, and quite a few hadith covering this point and some more absurdities such as the link to black dog shapeshifting there.) |
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===Scholars' views=== | ===Scholars' views=== | ||
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]] was a proponent of this view in his ''Essay on the jinn'' (Ibn Taymiyyah also claimed to know and have mastered the "poetry of the jinn"). | 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"). | ||
All qualities and | All qualities and behaviours of the jinn other than possession and certain types of interactions with humans, however, are agreed upon (such as those stated above), as they are stated in explicit terms in Islamic scriptures. | ||
==Cultural presence== | ==Cultural presence== | ||
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The interaction between men and jinn is further stressed here: | The interaction between men and jinn is further stressed here: | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|6|128}}|On the day when He shall muster them all together: 'Company of jinn, you have made much of mankind.' Then their friends among mankind will say, 'Our Lord, we have profited each of the other, and we have reached the term determined by Thee for us. He will say: 'The Fire is your lodging, therein to dwell forever' - except as God will; surely thy Lord is All-wise, All-knowing.}}Prophets are sent to both humans and jinn: | {{Quote|{{Quran|6|128}}|On the day when He shall muster them all together: 'Company of jinn, you have made much of mankind.' Then their friends among mankind will say, 'Our Lord, we have profited each of the other, and we have reached the term determined by Thee for us. He will say: 'The Fire is your lodging, therein to dwell forever' - except as God will; surely thy Lord is All-wise, All-knowing.}}Both jinn and mankind can be lead astray: | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|114|1-6}}|1. Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, | |||
2. The King of mankind, | |||
3. The god of mankind, | |||
4. From the evil of the sneaking whisperer, | |||
5. Who whispereth in the hearts of mankind, | |||
6. Of the jinn and of mankind.}} | |||
Prophets are sent to both humans and jinn: | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|6|130}}|'Company of jinn and mankind, did not Messengers come to you from among you, relating to you My signs and warning you of the encounter of this your day?' They shall say, 'We bear witness against ourselves.' They were deluded by the present life, and they bear witness against themselves that they were unbelievers.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|6|130}}|'Company of jinn and mankind, did not Messengers come to you from among you, relating to you My signs and warning you of the encounter of this your day?' They shall say, 'We bear witness against ourselves.' They were deluded by the present life, and they bear witness against themselves that they were unbelievers.}} | ||
Jinn are aware of at least some previous revelations given to and used by humans (mentioning Moses), and spread the word to warn other jinn: | Jinn are aware of at least some previous revelations given to and used by humans (mentioning Moses), and spread the word to warn other jinn: | ||
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It is unclear how rules around e.g. circumcision and eating halal/kosher are followed or if they are at all relevant. | It is unclear how rules around e.g. circumcision and eating halal/kosher are followed or if they are at all relevant. | ||
'''The jinn can create buildings/structures and transport people to far locations instantly:''' | '''The jinn can create buildings/structures and transport people to far locations instantly:''' | ||
The Qur'an states that Sulayman (Solomon) had control over an army and workforce comprised of jinns and animals, among others: | The Qur'an states that Sulayman (Solomon) had control over an army and workforce comprised of jinns and animals, among others: | ||
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With the implication being according to many scholars that it is possible for them to have intercourse with humans, such as in classical [https://quranx.com/Tafsirs/55.56 tasfirs], and rulings from [http://eshaykh.com/family/can-a-jinn-perform-sex-with-your-wife/ shaykhs]. And many ruling that jinn can technically perform marriages with humans, but it is not lawful.<ref>https://islamqa.org/hanafi/daruliftaa/7923/human-jinn-inter-marriages/</ref> <ref>https://www.islamawareness.net/Jinn/fatwa_marry.html</ref> <ref>https://fiqh.islamonline.net/en/may-a-human-marry-a-jinni/</ref> | With the implication being according to many scholars that it is possible for them to have intercourse with humans, such as in classical [https://quranx.com/Tafsirs/55.56 tasfirs], and rulings from [http://eshaykh.com/family/can-a-jinn-perform-sex-with-your-wife/ shaykhs]. And many ruling that jinn can technically perform marriages with humans, but it is not lawful.<ref>https://islamqa.org/hanafi/daruliftaa/7923/human-jinn-inter-marriages/</ref> <ref>https://www.islamawareness.net/Jinn/fatwa_marry.html</ref> <ref>https://fiqh.islamonline.net/en/may-a-human-marry-a-jinni/</ref> | ||
'''Satan''' | '''Satan''' | ||
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{{Quote|{{quran|7|27}}|O Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you as he caused your (first) parents to go forth from the Garden and tore off from them their robe (of innocence) that he might manifest their shame to them. Lo! he seeth you, he and his tribe, from whence ye see him not. Lo! We have made the devils protecting friends for those who believe not.}} | {{Quote|{{quran|7|27}}|O Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you as he caused your (first) parents to go forth from the Garden and tore off from them their robe (of innocence) that he might manifest their shame to them. Lo! he seeth you, he and his tribe, from whence ye see him not. Lo! We have made the devils protecting friends for those who believe not.}} | ||
While some classical Islamic scholars differentiated between the "''shayateen''" (plural of Satan, or Shaytan, and translatable as "demons") and the jinn, most simply understood the shayateen to be the group of jinn who committed themselves to serving Shaytan (the head evil Jinn) or who engaged in evil black magic contracts with people. The Qur'an describes such demons as having helped propagate the secrets of black magic that had been revealed to the people of Babylon by two angels: | While some classical Islamic scholars differentiated between the "''shayateen''" (plural of Satan, or Shaytan, and translatable as "demons") and the jinn, most simply understood the shayateen to be the group of jinn who committed themselves to serving Shaytan (the head evil Jinn) or who engaged in evil black magic contracts with people. The Qur'an describes such demons as having helped propagate the secrets of black magic that had been revealed to the people of Babylon by two angels: | ||
{{Quote|{{quran|2|102}}|And follow that which the devils falsely related against the kingdom of Solomon. Solomon disbelieved not; but the devils disbelieved, teaching mankind magic and that which was revealed to the two angels in Babel, Harut and Marut. Nor did they (the two angels) teach it to anyone till they had said: We are only a temptation, therefore disbelieve not (in the guidance of Allah). And from these two (angles) people learn that by which they cause division between man and wife; but they injure thereby no-one save by Allah's leave. And they learn that which harmeth them and profiteth them not. And surely they do know that he who trafficketh therein will have no (happy) portion in the Hereafter; and surely evil is the price for which they sell their souls, if they but knew.}}'''Madness and Possession''' | {{Quote|{{quran|2|102}}|And follow that which the devils falsely related against the kingdom of Solomon. Solomon disbelieved not; but the devils disbelieved, teaching mankind magic and that which was revealed to the two angels in Babel, Harut and Marut. Nor did they (the two angels) teach it to anyone till they had said: We are only a temptation, therefore disbelieve not (in the guidance of Allah). And from these two (angles) people learn that by which they cause division between man and wife; but they injure thereby no-one save by Allah's leave. And they learn that which harmeth them and profiteth them not. And surely they do know that he who trafficketh therein will have no (happy) portion in the Hereafter; and surely evil is the price for which they sell their souls, if they but knew.}}'''Blocked from reaching upper skies/heavens by stars/meteors''' | ||
The rebellious jinn, referred to as satans, are blocked from reaching the 'Exalted Assembly' (listed in secondary Islamic literature as a group of angels with special knowledge) who they would steal information from. Stars with clear flames are thrown at them by the guardian angels, with the author seemingly conflating stars and meteors (''see: [[Scientific Errors in the Quran#Meteors as stars fired at devils]]''): | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|37|6-10}}|Indeed, We have adorned the nearest heaven with an adornment of stars And as protection against every rebellious devil [So] they may not listen to the exalted assembly [of angels] and are pelted from every side, Repelled; and for them is a constant punishment, Except one who snatches [some words] by theft, but they are pursued by a burning flame, piercing [in brightness].}}{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|And verily We have beautified the world's heaven with lamps, and We have made them missiles for the devils, and for them We have prepared the doom of flame.}}{{Quote|{{Quran|15|6-18}}|And verily in the heaven we have set mansions of the stars, and We have beautified it for beholders. And We have guarded it from every outcast devil, save him who stealeth the hearing, and them doth a clear flame pursue.}}{{Quote|{{Quran|72|8-9}}|And we have sought [to reach] the heaven but found it filled with powerful guards and burning flames. And we used to sit therein in positions for hearing, but whoever listens now will find a burning flame lying in wait for him.}} | |||
'''Madness and Possession''' | |||
Pre-Islamic | Pre-Islamic Arab beliefs supported the claim of jinn possession: | ||
{{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.}} | {{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.}} | ||
The devil's (a jinn) touch making one mad has been interpreted by many classical [https://quranx.com/tafsirs/2.275 commentators] to confirm jinn possession as a cause or the cause of madness: | The devil's (a jinn) touch making one mad has been interpreted by many classical [https://quranx.com/tafsirs/2.275 commentators] to confirm jinn possession as a cause or the cause of madness: | ||
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{{Quote|{{Bukhari|2|21|245}}|Narrated 'Abdullah : A person was mentioned before the Prophet (p.b.u.h) and he was told that he had kept on sleeping till morning and had not got up for the prayer. The Prophet said, "Satan urinated in his ears."}} | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|2|21|245}}|Narrated 'Abdullah : A person was mentioned before the Prophet (p.b.u.h) and he was told that he had kept on sleeping till morning and had not got up for the prayer. The Prophet said, "Satan urinated in his ears."}} | ||
And sometimes hides in people's noses during the night, which can (seemingly) be gotten rid off by cleaning it: | And sometimes hides in people's noses during the night, which can (seemingly) be gotten rid off by cleaning it: | ||
{{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.}} | {{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: | ||
{{Quote|{{Muslim|4|1032}}|Abu Dharr reported: | |||
The Messenger of 'Allah (ﷺ) said: When any one of you stands for prayer and there is a thing before him equal to the back of the saddle that covers him and in case there is not before him (a thing) equal to the back of the saddle, his prayer would be cut off by (passing of an) ass, woman, and black Dog. I said: O Abu Dharr, what feature is there in a black dog which distinguish it from the red dog and the yellow dog? He said: O, son of my brother, I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as you are asking me, and he said: The black dog is a devil.}}{{Quote|{{Ibn Majah||4|28|3210}}|It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: | |||
“I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about the all-black dog and he said: ‘(It is) a devil.’”}}{{Quote|{{Al Tirmidhi||1|2|338}}|Abu Dharr said that : | |||
Allah's Messenger said: "When a man performs Salat, and there is nothing in front of him like the post of a saddle, or a camel saddle, then his Salat is severed by (passing of) a black dog, a woman, and a donkey." It was said to Abu Dharr: "What is the problem with the black dog rather than the red or white one?" He said: "O my nephew! I asked Allah's Messenger just as you have asked me. He said: 'The black dog is a Shaitan (devil).'"}} | |||
This lead to Muhammad even supposedly ordering the killing of black dogs for this reason: | |||
{{Quote|{{Muslim|10|3813}}|Abu Zubair heard Jabir b. 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with him) saying: | |||
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ordered us to kill dogs, and we carried out this order so much so that we also kill the dog coming with a woman from the desert. Then Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) forbade their killing. He (the Prophet further) said: It is your duty the jet-black (dog) having two spots (on the eyes), for it is a devil.}} | |||
Satan can appear with fire to burn you, but are repelled by certain prayers: | |||
{{Quote|{{Muslim|4|1106}}|Abu Darda' reported: | |||
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) stood up (to pray) and we heard him say:" I seek refuge in Allah from thee." Then said:" curse thee with Allah's curse" three times, then he stretched out his hand as though he was taking hold of something. When he finished the prayer, we said: Messenger of Allah, we heard you say something during the prayer which we have not heard you say before, and we saw you stretch out your hand. He replied: Allah's enemy Iblis came with a flame of fire to put it in my face, so I said three times:" I Seek refuge in Allah from thee." Then I said three times:" I curse thee with Allah's full curse." But he did not retreat (on any one of these) three occasions. Thereafter I meant to seize him. I swear by Allah that had it not been for the supplication of my brother Sulaiman he would have been bound, and made an object of sport for the children of Medina.}} | |||
God also gave power to Muhammad to seize jinn, who originally intended to tie one to a mosque pillar, but thought otherwise after thinking of Suliman (Solomon): | |||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|1|8|450}}|Narrated Abu Huraira: | |||
"The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Last night a big demon (afreet) from the Jinns came to me and wanted to interrupt my prayers (or said something similar) but Allah enabled me to overpower him. I wanted to fasten him to one of the pillars of the mosque so that all of you could See him in the morning but I remembered the statement of my brother Solomon (as stated in Quran): My Lord! Forgive me and bestow on me a kingdom such as shall not belong to anybody after me (38.35)." The sub narrator Rauh said, "He (the demon) was dismissed humiliated."}} | |||
And: | |||
{{Quote|{{Muslim|4|1104}}|Abu Huraira reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: A highly wicked one amongst the Jinn escaped yesternight to interrupt my prayer, but Allah gave me power over him, so I seized him and intended to tie him to one of the pillars of the mosque in order that you, all together or all, might look at him, but I remembered the supplication of my brother Sulaiman:" My Lord, forgive me, give me such a kingdom as will not be possible for anyone after me" (Qur'an, xxxvii. 35).}} | |||
We are given confirmation of the jinn from listening to 'the exalted assembly' of angels and stealing information, getting attacked with shooting stars, and often embellishing it with lies before passing the information on: | |||
{{Quote|{{Muslim|26|5538}}|'Abdullah. Ibn 'Abbas reported: A person from the Ansar who was amongst the Companions of Allah's Messenger (pbuh reported to me: As we were sitting during the night with Allah's Messenger (pbuh), a meteor shot gave a dazzling light. Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said: What did you say in the pre-Islamic days when there was such a shot (of meteor)? They said: Allah and His Messenger know best (the actual position), but we, however, used to say that that very night a great man had been born and a great man had died, whereupon Allah's Messenger pbuh) said: (These meteors) are shot neither at the death of anyone nor on the birth of anyone. Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, issues Command when He decides to do a thing. Then (the Angels) supporting the Throne sing His glory, then sing the dwellers of heaven who are near to them until this glory of God reaches them who are in the heaven of this world. Then those who are near the supporters of the Throne ask these supporters of the Throne: What your Lord has said? And they accordingly inform them what He says. Then the dwellers of heaven seek information from them until this information reaches the heaven of the world. In this process of transmission (the jinn snatches) what he manages to overhear and he carries it to his friends. And when the Angels see the jinn they attack them with meteors. If they narrate only which they manage to snatch that is correct but they alloy it with lies and make additions to it.}} | |||
And in: | |||
{{Quote|{{Ibn Majah||1|1|194}}|It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that: | |||
The Prophet said: "When Allah decrees a matter in heaven, the angels beat their wings in submission to his decree (with a sound) like a chain beating a rock. Then "When fear is banished from their hearts, they say: 'What is it that your Lord has said?' They say: 'The truth. And He is The Most High, The Most Great." He said: 'Then the eavesdroppers (from among the jinn) listen out for that, one above the other, so (one of them) hears the words and passes it on to the one beneath him. The Shihab (shooting star) may strike him before he can pass it on to the one beneath him and the latter can pass it on to the soothsayer or sorcerer, or it may not strike him until he has passed it on. And he ads one hundred lies to it, and only that word which was overheard from the heavens is true."}} | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||