Jinn

This article is about the concept of jinn in Islamic and Middle Eastern lore. For demons in Islam; otherwise known as the "offspring of Iblis", see Shaitan.
Several terms redirect here. For other uses, see Jinni (disambiguation), Jinn (disambiguation), Djinn (disambiguation), and Genie (disambiguation).

Jinn
Jinn gather to do battle with the hero Faramarz. Illustration in an illuminated manuscript of the Iranian epic Shahnameh
GroupingMythical creature
FolkloreReligion in pre-Islamic Arabia, Islamic folklore
RegionMuslim world

Jinn (Arabic: جِنّ‎), also romanized as djinn or anglicized as genies, are invisible creatures in early pre-Islamic Arabia and later in Islamic culture and beliefs.[1] Like humans, they are accountable for their deeds and can be either believers (Muslims) or disbelievers (kafir), depending on whether they accept God's guidance.

Since jinn are neither innately evil nor innately good, Islam acknowledged spirits from other religions and could adapt them during its expansion. Jinn are not a strictly Islamic concept; they may represent several pagan beliefs integrated into Islam.[2][a] Islam places jinn and humans on the same plane in relation to God, both being subject to God's judgement and an afterlife.[4] The Quran condemns the pre-Islamic Arabian practice of worshipping or seeking protection from them.[5]

Although usually invisible, jinn are supposed to be composed of thin and subtle bodies (Arabic: أَجْسَام, romanized: ajsām), and can change at will. They favor a snake form, but can also choose to appear as scorpions, lizards, or humans. They may even engage in sexual affairs with humans and produce offspring. If they are injured by someone, they usually seek revenge or possess the assailant's body, requiring exorcism. Jinn rarely meddle in human affairs, preferring to live with their own kind in tribes similar to those of pre-Islamic Arabia.

Individual jinn appear on charms and talismans. They are called upon for protection or magical aid, often under the leadership of a king. Many people who believe in jinn wear amulets to protect themselves against the assaults of the jinn, sent out by sorcerers and witches. A commonly held belief is that jinn cannot hurt someone who wears something with the name of God written on it. While some Muslim scholars in the past had ambivalent attitudes towards jinn, contemporary Muslim scholarship increasingly associate jinn with idolatry.

  1. ^ Hans Daiber. "Introduction, text, and commentary". Islamic Concept of Belief in the 4th/10th Century. Abu l-Lait as-Samarqandi's commentary on Abu Hanifa (died 150/767) al-Fiqh al-absat. By as-Samarqandi, Abu l-Lait. Studia Culturae Islamicae (in Arabic and English). Vol. 52. Tokyo: Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. p. 243. OCLC 35600707.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference McAuliffe-2005-EncQrn was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Nünlist-2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ El-Zein 2009, p. 19–21.
  5. ^ El-Zein 2009, p. 37.


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