Do Muslims believe in jinn (or is it genies)?

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I dont exactly understand the concept of jinn.In Western society we ussually interpret jinn as genies like the kind that grant you wishes.Yet in Islam I think that it’s like more then that.Their like some special kind of spirit with their own world and such.Can someone explain this to me.Thank you very much so for your time.
 
This question sounds a bit condescending.I know muslims to be very holy people who put more emphasis on doing the will of God(Allah)
 
franny50 said:
This question sounds a bit condescending.I know muslims to be very holy people who put more emphasis on doing the will of God(Allah)
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The question is quite valid. I too am curious about how Muslims regard djinn because they seem associated with Muslm folklore. In that same manner, I wouldn’t find it condescending if a non-Christian asked me about angels and demons, even though his/her perception of them comes more from video games and comic books than anything theological.
 
sidetrack said:
I dont exactly understand the concept of jinn.In Western society we ussually interpret jinn as genies like the kind that grant you wishes.Yet in Islam I think that it’s like more then that.Their like some special kind of spirit with their own world and such.Can someone explain this to me.Thank you very much so for your time.
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I think they consider them to be like humans, only different in constitution. By that I mean that they think that they are capable of choosing between good and evil and have free will like humans, but they do not have bodies like we do. I think they have a teaching that goes something like, “Angels were made from light, demons from darkness, humans from earth, and the djinn from smoke and fire.” Help, Muslim brothers and sisters? :confused:
 
In Islam, there are three kinds of intelligent beings – angels, djinn and humans. Angels are made from light, humans from clay, and djinn from “smokeless fire”. Angels do not have free will but both djinn and humans do. Indeed, djinn have a whole parallel society with different religions, commerce, animals, etc. and they may be morally good, bad or neutral. They are just like humans, only we can’t see them.

According to the Qur’an, Satan (“Shaitan” – “شيطان”) is a djinn rather than an angel (as he is in Christianity and Judaism). If someone did not believe in the djinn, he would not believe in the devil.

Djinn are also frequently mentioned in the Qur’an and there is even a whole surah about them (here is an old translation of Surah Al-Jinn).
 
MuchAfraid said:
In Islam, there are three kinds of intelligent beings – angels, djinn and humans. Angels are made from light, humans from clay, and djinn from “smokeless fire”. Angels do not have free will but both djinn and humans do. Indeed, djinn have a whole parallel society with different religions, commerce, animals, etc. and they may be morally good, bad or neutral. They are just like humans, only we can’t see them.

According to the Qur’an, Satan (“Shaitan” – “شيطان”) is a djinn rather than an angel (as he is in Christianity and Judaism). If someone did not believe in the djinn, he would not believe in the devil.

Djinn are also frequently mentioned in the Qur’an and there is even a whole surah about them (here is an old translation of Surah Al-Jinn).
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Ah you have a good understanding on this. Do you believe it?

God Bless, Gary
 
MuchAfraid said:
In Islam, there are three kinds of intelligent beings – angels, djinn and humans. Angels are made from light, humans from clay, and djinn from “smokeless fire”. Angels do not have free will but both djinn and humans do. Indeed, djinn have a whole parallel society with different religions, commerce, animals, etc. and they may be morally good, bad or neutral. They are just like humans, only we can’t see them.

According to the Qur’an, Satan (“Shaitan” – “شيطان”) is a djinn rather than an angel (as he is in Christianity and Judaism). If someone did not believe in the djinn, he would not believe in the devil.

Djinn are also frequently mentioned in the Qur’an and there is even a whole surah about them (here is an old translation of Surah Al-Jinn).
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Very interesting! Thank you for this! I wonder what the Catholic position is on the possible existence of such creatures?
 
In Western societies, the jinn would be known as fairies, elves, leprechauns, spirits, ghosts, demons, goblins and the like.

Indeed, there is a more than fair chance that the so-called extra-terrestrials who seemingly travel in UFOs are in fact members of the jinn family.

As to whether they are good or bad, they are similar to humans in that some are good and others are evil.
 
The Qur’aan and Sunnah indicate that the jinn exist, and that there is a purpose for their existence in this life, which is to worship Allaah Alone, with no partner or associate. Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings):

“And I (Allaah) created not the jinns and humans, except they should worship Me (Alone).” [al-Dhaariyaat 51:56].

The world of the jinn is an independent and separate world, with its own distinct nature and features that are hidden from the world of humans. Jinns and humans have some things in common, such as the possession of understanding and the choice between the way of good and the way of evil. The word jinn comes from an Arabic root meaning “hidden from sight”. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“… Verily he [Shaytaan] and his qabeeluhu [his soldiers from the jinn or his tribe] see you from where you cannot see them…” [al-A’raaf 7:27]

“And the jinn, We created aforetime from the smokeless flame o fire.” [al-Hijr 15:27]

“And the jinns did He create from a smokeless flame of fire.” [al-Rahmaan 55:15].

According to a hadeeth narrated by ‘Aa’ishah, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The angels were created from light, the jinn were created from fire, and Aadam was created from that which has been described to you.” (Reported by Muslim, 5314).

Types of jinn
**Allaah 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 Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah 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.” (Reported by al-Tahhaawi in Mushkil al-Athaar, 4/95, and by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer, 22/214.

Shaykh al-Albaani said in al-Mishkaat (2/1206, no. 4148): al-Tahhaawi and Abu’l-Shaykh reported it with a saheeh isnaad).
 
*** continued from above *****

The jinn and the sons of Aadam

Every individual among the sons of Aadam has a jinn who has been appointed to be his constant companion (qareen). Ibn Mas’ood said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, ‘There is not one of you who does not have a jinn appointed to be his constant companion.’

They said, ‘And you too, O Messenger of Allaah?’ He said, ‘Me too, but Allaah has helped me and he has submitted, so that he only helps me to do good.’” (Reported by Muslim, 2814).

Their powers

Allaah has given the jinn powers that he has not given to humans. Allaah 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 Sulaymaan (peace be upon him) 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.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

The food and drink of the jinn

The jinn eat and drink.

The beasts of the jinn

According to the hadeeth narrated by Ibn Mas’ood, that we have quoted above, the jinn asked the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) for provision, and he said to them: “…and [you can have] all the droppings as food for your animals.”

The dwelling-places of the jinn

**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 and graveyards. **

Some jinns are Muslims and some are kaafirs

Allaah tells us that some of the jinn said (interpretation of the meaning):

“ ‘And some of us are Muslims, and of us some are al-qaasitoon (disbelievers – those who have deviated from the Right Path). And whosoever has embraced Islam, then such have sought the Right Path. And as for the qaasitoon, they shall be firewood for Hell.’” [al-Jinn 72:14-15]

Saying Bismillaah (in the Name of Allaah) before entering one’s home, before eating or drinking, and before having intercourse will also keep the Shaytaan from entering the house or partaking with a person in his food, drink and sexual activity.

Similarly, mentioning the name of Allaah before entering the toilet or taking off one’s clothes will prevent the jinn from seeing a person’s ‘awrah or harming him, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “To put a barrier that will prevent the jinn from seeing the ‘awrah of the sons of Aadam, let any one of you say ‘Bismillaah’ when entering the toilet.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 551; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 3611).

islam-qa.com/en/ref/2340/jinn
 
You will notice - which I know you have - 😛 The info I posted above came out of islam Q&A site - and this is what islam believes in.

I remember Sam777 on several occasions said & posted that when a muslim enters the bathroom, they must walk in with I think their “right” foot first and say a small prayer because they believe that jinns live in the toilet.

OY VEY
 
**Who are the jinn? How did Allaah create them? **

The jinn are part of the creation of Allaah. He created them from fire before He created Adam, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And indeed, We created man from dried (sounding) clay of altered mud.

And the jinn, We created aforetime from the smokeless flame of fire”

[al-Hijr 15:26-27]

islam-qa.com/en/ref/13378/jinn
 
Oh yeah… 😃

I remember the old Italians in our family with the salt over the shoulder for good luck…!!

😛
 
Fell off my chair JC… -see black bold above -

I did read the elilepsy stuff on the q&a and simply ignored it… there was way too much info to post for the OP’s review on the topic “jinn”

Now… if you’ll excuse me… I have to run to the kitchen and throw some salt over my shoulder… 😃
 
Surah 46:29
And when We inclined toward thee (Muhammad) certain of the jinn, who wished to hear the Qur’an and, when they were in its presence, said: Give ear! and, when it was finished, turned back to their people, warning.

Mohammed even converted some so there are Muslim Jinns too 😃
 
My daughter also had epilepsy. Thank goodness the stigma is disappearing!

books.google.com/books?id=bDOlAjrkZl8C&pg=PA113&lpg=PA113&dq=hadiths+and+temporal+lobe+seizures&source=bl&ots=-O9zw7k7s9&sig=nrP3My-MFLXl48qxE-bLRgW3wAI&hl=en&ei=H2FJTZz6LoqugQehidUl&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBoQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
*The first to suspect that Muhammad had epilepsy was Halima or her husband, when Muhammad was five ears old. Theophanes, 192 [752-817] a Byzantine historian was the first scholar to claim that Muhammad suffered from epilepsy. *

It is believed by many that Mohammad experienced Temperal Lobe seizures. Compare the signs and symptoms of TLS with hadith discriptions of how Mohammad reacted when revelations occuring:

• Hallucinations
• A sudden sense of unprovoked fear
• A deja vu experience
• The sudden occurrence of a strange odor or taste
• Loss of awareness of surroundings
• Staring
• Lip smacking
• Repeated swallowing or chewing
• Unusual finger movements, such as picking motions
• Epigastric sensations - A rising sensation in the abdomen
• An out-of-body feeling
• Sweating
• Flushed face
• Rapid heart rate

**Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 1, Number 2:
**Narrated 'Aisha: (the mother of the faithful believers) Al-Harith bin Hisham asked Allah’s Apostle “O Allah’s Apostle! How is the Divine Inspiration revealed to you?” Allah’s Apostle replied, “Sometimes it is (revealed) like the ringing of a bell, this form of Inspiration is the hardest of all and then this state passes ’ off after I have grasped what is inspired. Sometimes the Angel comes in the form of a man and talks to me and I grasp whatever he says.” 'Aisha added: Verily I saw the Prophet being inspired Divinely on a very cold day and noticed the **Sweat dropping from his forehead **(as the Inspiration was over).

**Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 1, Number 3:
Narrated 'Aisha: …
The Prophet added, "The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. **
…
Then Allah’s Apostle returned with the Inspiration and with his heart beating severely. Then he went to Khadija bint Khuwailid and said, “Cover me! Cover me!” They covered him till his fear was over and after that he told her everything that had happened and said, “I fear that something may happen to me.”
…

**Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 1, Number 4: **
Narrated Said bin Jubair: Ibn 'Abbas in the explanation of the Statement of Allah. 'Move not your tongue concerning (the Quran) to make haste therewith." (75.16) Said “Allah’s Apostle used to bear the revelation with great trouble and used to move his lips (quickly) with the Inspiration.”

Ibn Sa’d says, "at the moment of inspiration, anxiety pressed upon the Prophet, and his countenance was troubled.

Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 71, Number 660:
Narrated Aisha: Magic was worked on Allah’s Apostle so that he used to think that he had sexual relations with his wives while he actually had not (Sufyan said: That is the hardest kind of magic as it has such an effect). Then one day he said, "O ‘Aisha do you know that Allah has instructed me concerning the matter I asked Him about? Two men came to me and one of them sat near my head and the other sat near my feet. The one near my head asked the other. What is wrong with this man?’ The latter replied the is under the effect of magic The first one asked, Who has worked magic on him?’

**Bukhari, Volume 9, Number 111: **…
Then Allah’s Apostle returned with the Inspiration, his **neck muscles twitching with terror **till he entered upon Khadija and said, “Cover me! Cover me!”

**Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 345: **
Narrated Abu Dhar:
Allah’s Apostle said, "While I was at Mecca the roof of my house was opened and Gabriel descended, opened my chest, and washed it with Zam-zam water. Then he brought a golden tray full of wisdom and faith and having poured its contents into my chest, he closed it. Then he took my hand and ascended with me to the nearest heaven, when I reached the nearest heaven, Gabriel said to the gatekeeper of the heaven, ‘Open (the gate).’ The gatekeeper asked, ‘Who is it?’ Gabriel answered: ‘Gabriel.’ He asked, ‘Is there anyone with you?’ Gabriel replied, ‘Yes, Muhammad I is with me.’ He asked, ‘Has he been called?’ Gabriel said, ‘Yes.’ So the gate was opened and we went over the nearest heaven and there we saw a man sitting with some people on his right and some on his left. When he looked towards his right, he laughed and when he looked toward his left he wept. Then he said, ‘Welcome! O pious Prophet and pious son.’ I asked Gabriel, ‘Who is he?’ He replied, ‘He is Adam and the people on his right and left are the souls of his offspring. Those on his right are the people of Paradise and those on his left are the people of Hell and when he looks towards his right he laughs and when he looks towards his left he weeps.’
 
I believe that Jinn and Genie are the same words; different languages. They even sound phonetically similar. But, I’m no linguistic expert, so I very well may be wrong.

Though, it’s not only the Muslims that believed in the djinn. They existed in pre-Islamic Arabic folklore, which does indicate that Muhammad could have adapted his culture into the religion. This would certainly be no surprise as some pagan rites did carry over into Islam, such as certain rituals performed by Muslims at Mecca, during hajj. Circling the kaaba (the black “cube”) seven times is one such instance, I believe.

From my Muslim days, I can remember that the djinn are also in possession of free will, and so there exists “good and bad” djinn too. Also, that they live in their own societies and live in dirty areas such as toilets. Invisible to humans, of course. However, “possessions” are usually chalked up to them.
 
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