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| Grouping | Supernatural being |
|---|---|
| Folklore | Arab and Islamic |
| Other name(s) | Djinn, genies |
| Region | Muslim world |
Jinn or djinn (Arabic: جِنّ), alternatively genies, are supernatural beings in pre-Islamic Arabian religion and Islam.[1] Their existence is generally defined as parallel to humans, as they have free will, are accountable for their deeds, and can be either believers (Muslims) or disbelievers (kuffar) in God.
Since jinn are neither innately evil nor innately good, Islam acknowledged spirits from other religions and could adapt them during its expansion. Likewise, 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, with both being subject to divine judgement and an afterlife.[4] The Quran condemns the pre-Islamic Arabian practice of worshipping or seeking protection from them.[5]
While they are naturally invisible, jinn are supposed to be composed of thin and subtle bodies (أَجْسَام, ajsām) and are capable of shapeshifting, usually choosing to appear as snakes, but also as scorpions, lizards, or humans. A jinn's interaction with a human may be negative, positive, or neutral; and can range from casual to highly intimate, even involving sexual activity and the production of hybrid offspring. However, they rarely meddle in human affairs, preferring instead to live among their own in a societal arrangement similar to that of the Arabian tribes. Upon being disturbed or harmed by humans, they usually retaliate in kind, with the most drastic interactions leading them to possess the assailant's body, thus requiring exorcism.
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 their assaults, as they may be called upon by sorcerers and witches to cause harm. A commonly held belief is that jinn cannot hurt someone who wears something with the name of God (الله, Allāh) written on it. These folkloric beliefs and practices, although especially common throughout the Muslim world in the past, have been met with increasing disapproval due to their association with idolatry.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
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Nünlist-2015was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ El-Zein 2009, p. 19–21.
- ^ El-Zein 2009, p. 37.
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