Question : 


Who are the jinn? How did Allaah create them? 

Answer : 

Praise be to Allaah. 

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] 

Just as Adam had descendents, so Iblees had descendents too, as Allaah says of Iblees (interpretation of the meaning): 

�Will you then take him (Iblees) and his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me while they are enemies to you? What an evil is the exchange for the Zaalimoon (polytheists, and wrongdoers, etc)� 

[al-Kahf 18:50] 

Allaah created the jinn and mankind to worship Him. Whoever obeys Him will enter Paradise and whoever disobeys Him will enter Hell: 

�And I (Allaah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone). 

I seek not any provision from them (i.e. provision for themselves or for My creatures) nor do I ask that they should feed Me (i.e. feed themselves or My creatures). 

Verily, Allaah is the All Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong� 

[al-Dhaariyaat 51:56 � interpretation] 

All of the jinn, like mankind, are accountable. Among them there are believers and kaafirs, those who obey Allaah and those who disobey Him, as Allaah tells us that they said: 

��There are among us some that are righteous, and some the contrary; we are groups having different ways (religious sects)�� 

[al-Jinn 72:11 � interpretation of the meaning] 

The jinn will be rewarded or punished in the Hereafter just like mankind. Allaah tells us that they said: 

��And of us some are Muslims (who have submitted to Allaah, after listening to this Qur�aan), and of us some are Al-Qaasitoon (disbelievers those who have deviated from the Right Path)�. And whosoever has embraced Islam (i.e. has become a Muslim by submitting to Allaah), then such have sought the Right Path.� 

And as for the Qaasitoon (disbelievers who deviated from the Right Path), they shall be firewood for Hell� 

[al-Jinn 72:14-15 � interpretation of the meaning] 

The jinn and mankind will all be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection before the Lord of the Worlds. None of them will be able to postpone that or flee from it. 

�O assembly of jinn and men! If you have power to pass beyond the zones of the heavens and the earth, then pass beyond (them)! But you will never be able to pass them, except with authority (from Allaah)!� 

[al-Rahmaan 55:33 � interpretation of the meaning] 

Whoever among the jinn or mankind tries to flee from the Reckoning will never be able to do so, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

�There will be sent against you both, smokeless flames of fire and (molten) brass, and you will not be able to defend yourselves 

[al-Rahmaan 55:35] 

When the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was in Makkah, a group of the jinn came to him; they heard the Qur�aan and were moved by it: 

�And (remember) when We sent towards you (Muhammad) a group (three to ten persons) of the jinn, (quietly) listening to the Qur�aan. When they stood in the presence thereof, they said: �Listen in silence!� And when it was finished, they returned to their people, as warners� 

[al-Ahqaaf 46:29 � interpretation of the meaning] 

Some of the jinn believed when they heard the Qur�aan, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

�Say (O Muhammad): �It has been revealed to me that a group (from three to ten in number) of jinn listened (to this Qur�aan). They said: �Verily, we have heard a wonderful Recitation (this Qur�aan)! 

It guides to the Right Path, and we have believed therein, and we shall never join (in worship) anything with our Lord (Allaah)��� 

[al-Jinn 72:1-2] 

Both Adam and Iblees fell into sin, but Adam regretted it and repented, and Allaah accepted his repentance: 

�Then Adam received from his Lord Words. And his Lord pardoned him (accepted his repentance). Verily, He is the One Who forgives (accepts repentance), the Most Merciful� 

[al-Baqarah 2:37 � interpretation of the meaning] 

But Iblees refused and was arrogant, so he was one of the disbelievers: 

�And (remember) when We said to the angels: �Prostrate yourselves before Adam.� And they prostrated except Iblees (Satan), he refused and was proud and was one of the disbelievers (disobedient to Allaah)� 

[al-Baqarah 2:34 � interpretation of the meaning] 

Whoever disobeys Allaah out of pride and arrogance, among the jinn and mankind, is following the Shaytaan and will be gathered with him in the Fire of Hell if he does not repent, as Allaah said to Iblees: 

�(Allaah) said: �The truth is � and the truth I say 

That I will fill Hell with you [Iblees (Satan)] and those of them (mankind) that follow you, together�� 

[Saad 38:84-85 � interpretation of the meaning] 

The friends of the Most Merciful (Allaah), among the jinn and mankind, co-operate in righteousness and piety, and the friends of the Shaytaan, among the jinn and mankind, co-operate in sin and transgression. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

�And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies � Shayaateen (devils) among mankind and jinn, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception). If your Lord had so willed, they would not have done it; so leave them alone with their fabrications� 

[al-An�aam 6:112] 

The jinn used to have places near the heavens where they would sit to eavesdrop (on the inhabitants of the heavens), but when Allaah sent His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) they were no longer allowed to do that. Whoever among them tries to listen is burned with a flaming fire, as Allaah tells us that the jinn said: 

� �And we have sought to reach the heaven; but found it filled with stern guards and flaming fires. 

And verily, we used to sit there in stations, to (steal) a hearing, but any who listens now will find a flaming fire watching him in ambush�� 

[al-Jinn 72:8-9 � interpretation of the meaning] 

The jinn are with us on this earth, but by the mercy of Allaah they see us and we do not see them, as Allaah says of Iblees and his tribe (interpretation of the meaning): 

�Verily, he and Qabeeluhu (his soldiers from the jinn or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them� 

[al-A�raaf 7:27] 

Whoever can see you when you cannot see him, and he is your enemy, is more dangerous. So you must always beware of him and protect yourself from the devils among the jinn and mankind. 



From Usool al-Deen al-Islami, by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem al-Tuwayjri. (www.islam-qa.com)




Question : 


I have read your explanation on Jinn (Reference No: 2340 ). 
Can you please explain further, such as Jinn�s Life style, Housing, Children, Family life, Prayers (i. e. is it like ours), Burial after death, is normal Haram and Halal things applicable?, Do they fight each other like human, Categories (i. e. like ours blacks, Europeans, this country that country etc), do they effected by natural things like Rain, Winds, Earthquakes etc... 

Answer : 

Praise be to Allaah. 

Firstly: 

The jinn are part of the creation of Allaah, and they are His slaves who are accountable and subject to commands and prohibitions, just like human beings. There are believers, disbelievers and evildoers among them. Those of them who do good will enter Paradise and those who do evil will deserve to be punished. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

�And I (Allaah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)�

[al-Dhaariyaat 51:56] 

And Allaah says concerning the jinn (interpretation of the meaning): 

��There are among us some that are righteous, and some the contrary; we are groups having different ways (religious sects).��

[al-Jinn 72:11] 

�And of us some are Muslims (who have submitted to Allaah, after listening to this Qur�aan), and of us some are Al‑Qaasitoon (disbelievers those who have deviated from the Right Path). And whosoever has embraced Islam (i.e. has become a Muslim by submitting to Allaah), then such have sought the Right Path.

15. And as for the Qaasitoon (disbelievers who deviated from the Right Path), they shall be firewood for Hell�

[al-Jinn 72:14, 15] 

With regard to their being accountable and subject to commands and prohibitions, the scholars are unanimously agreed that they are accountable. Some of the scholars suggested that the accountability to which they are subject is exactly the same as that to which human beings are subject, whilst others suggested that their accountability is in accordance with their abilities and capabilities. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

They are enjoined concerning basic matters and minor issues according to their nature; they are not like human beings in essence and reality, so the commands and prohibitions to which they are subject are not like those to which humans are subject, but they have in common with humans, the fact that they are subject commands and prohibitions, and rulings on what is permitted and what is forbidden. Concerning this I know of no dispute among the Muslims. End quote. 

Majmoo� al-Fataawa, 4/233. 

With regard to their lives and dwelling places, they are like all other creatures, they have their own lives, they get married and produce offspring. Allaah says of Iblees (Interpretation of the meaning): 

�Will you then take him (Iblees) and his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me while they are enemies to you?�

[al-Kahf 15:50] 

With regard to their dwellings, they often gather in ruins and unclean places like toilets and garbage dumps. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: �These toilets are haunted (inhabited by devils), so when anyone of you goes to the toilet let him say, �A�oodhu Billaahi min al-khubthi wa�l-khabaa�ith (I seek refuge Allaah from the male and female devils).� Narrated by Abu Dawood, 6; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth al-Saheehah, 1070. 

With regard to the phrase al-khubthi wa�l-kabaa�ith (translated above as �male and female devils�), it has been suggested that al-khubth may mean evil and al-khabaa�ith may mean evil spirits, which includes both male and female devils. 

There is no doubt that the jinn die, for they are included in the words of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning): 

�Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish�

[al-Rahmaan 55:26]

It should be noted that the world of the jinn is the world of the unseen, and we do not know anything about it except that which Allaah has told us in His Book or on the lips of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). 

Based on this, we cannot say anything about them except that which has been narrated in the texts of Islam; anything other than that is hidden from us. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

�And follow not (O man, i.e., say not, or do not, or witness not) that of which you have no knowledge. Verily, the hearing, and the sight, and the heart of each of those ones will be questioned (by Allaah)�

[al-Isra� 17:36] 

For more information on this topic, see the book �Aalim al-Jinn wa�l-Shayateen by Dr �Umar Sulaymaan al-Ashqar. 

[Translator�s note: this book is available in English under the title The World of the Jinn and Devils in the Light of the Qur�aan and Sunnah, published as Vol. 3 of the Islamic Creed Series by the International Islamic Publishing House, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.] 

It should be noted that Allaah has given us information about the jinn and other creatures for our benefit, and what He has concealed from us we do not need to know. If knowing that was essential for us, Allaah would have told us. Hence we should not concern ourselves with such matters or look into the mysteries of the jinn which can only be known through revelation. 

What a person should ask about is his religion, its acts of worship and beliefs, what he should do, and other important matters which have been enjoined or forbidden, so that he can be a true slave of Allaah. 

In the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) we have a good example. They did not ask the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about such matters in which there is no benefit in knowing and no harm in not knowing. 

I ask Allaah to bless us with beneficial knowledge and enable us to do righteous deeds. 

And Allaah knows best. 



Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com)


Question : 


Can the jinn appear in human form? Do the jinn have a real form?. 

Answer : 

Praise be to Allaah. 

The question is composed of two parts. 

1 � Do the jinn appear in human form?

2 � Do the jinn have a real form? 

With regard to the first question, it may be said: 

Firstly: it should be noted that the basic principle concerning the jinn is that they are concealed from mankind, hence they are called jinn, because the Arabic root janna refers to a single original meaning which is to cover and conceal, as Ibn Faaris said in Maqaayees al-Lughah. The jinn are so called because they are concealed from mankind, and the foetus is called janeen in Arabic because he is concealed in his mother�s womb, and a garden is called jannah because it is concealed by trees, and an insane person is called majnoon because his mind is covered, and so on in all derivations from this root. 

Allaah has told us of this when He said (interpretation of the meaning): 

�O Children of Adam! Let not Shaytaan (Satan) deceive you, as he got your parents [Adam and Hawwaa� (Eve)] out of Paradise, stripping them of their raiments, to show them their private parts. Verily, he and Qabeeluhu (his soldiers from the jinn or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them�

[al-A�raaf 7:27] 

Secondly: can they appear in human form? 
The answer to that is that it is proven in the Sunnah and from real life that the jinn appear in different forms, such as the forms of people and animals, etc. Among the clearest evidence of that from the Sunnah is the story narrated by al-Bukhaari (3275) from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) put me in charge of guarding the zakaah of Ramadaan. Someone came to me and started scooping up some of the food, and I said, �By Allaah, I will take you to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).� He complained of being in need and having dependents, so Abu Hurayrah took pity on him and let him go. This happened three times, and on the third occasion, Abu Hurayrah said: �I will take you to the Messenger of Allaah. This is the third time and each time you say that you will not come back, then you come back.� He said, �Let me go and I will teach you something by means of which Allaah will benefit you.� I said: �What is it?� he said: �When you go to bed, recite Aayat al-Kursi, �Allaah! Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), Al-Hayyul-Qayyoom (the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists)�� [al-Baqarah 2:255] until you complete the verse, then you will always have a protector from Allaah, and no devil will come near you until morning comes. So I let him go, and the next morning I told the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) what had happened. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: �He told you the truth, although he is a liar. Do you know who you have been speaking to for three nights, O Abu Hurayrah?� He said: �No.� He said: �That was a devil (a shaytaan).� 

Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said in al-Fath: This hadeeth teaches us a number of things� that one of the characteristics of the Shaytaan is lying, and that he may appear in various forms that may be seen, and that the words of Allaah, �Verily, he and Qabeeluhu (his soldiers from the jinn or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them� [al-A�raaf 7:27], apply to when he is in the form with which he was created. 

It was narrated that the Shaytaan appeared to Quraysh in the form of Suraaqah ibn Maalik ibn Ju�sham and encouraged them to fight the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). That happened during the battle of Badr. Ibn Jareer al-Tabari narrated in his Tafseer (12564) that �Urwah ibn al-Zubayr said: 

When Quraysh decided to march, mention was made of what was between them and Bani Bakr � i.e., war � and that almost made them change their minds. Then Iblees appeared to them in the form of Suraaqah ibn Ju�sham al-Madlaji, who was one of the nobles of Banu Kinaanah, and said: �I will protect you against Kinaanah so that Kinaanah will not be able to do you any harm.� So they went ahead with their plan. This was also quoted by Ibn Katheer in al-Bidaayah wa�l-Nihaayah, 5/62. 

In Saheeh Muslim (2236) it is narrated that Abu Sa�eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: �In Madeenah there is a group of the jinn who have become Muslim, so whoever sees any of these creatures let him give it a warning three times, then if it appears after that he may kill it, for it is a devil.� 

The word translated as �creatures� here refers to kinds of snakes that appear in houses; they are not to be killed until they have been given a warning three times, because they may be jinn. See Ghareeb al-Hadeeth by Ibn al-Atheer. 

Al-Nawawi said: What this means is that if they do not disappear after being warned, then they are not the kind of creatures that inhabit houses and they are not among the jinn who have become Muslim, rather that is a devil so there is no sin on you if you kill it and Allaah will never give the Shaytaan a way to prevail over you by taking revenge, unlike the creatures (snakes) and jinn who have become Muslim. And Allaah knows best. Sharh Muslim, 14/236. 

There have been many such incidents. Shaykh al-Islam (Ibn Taymiyah) said: The jinn may appear in human and animal form, so they may appear as snakes and scorpions etc, or in the form of camels, cattle, sheep, horses, mules and donkeys, or in the form of birds, or in the form of humans, as the Shaytaan came to Quraysh in the form of Suraaqah ibn Maalik ibn Ju�sham when they wanted to set out for Badr. Majmoo� al-Fataawa, 19/44. 

Thirdly: The jinn have led many people astray by appearing in the forms of awliya� (�saints�) and righteous people etc. Shaykh al-Islam said: The Shaytaan often appears in the form of the person who is being called upon and asked for help, if he is dead or sometimes if he is alive, without the person who called upon him realizing it. Indeed the Shaytaan may appear in his form and the misguided mushrik who is seeking that person�s help may think that the person himself has responded to him when in fact it is the Shaytaan. This also happens to the kuffaar who seek the help of those of whom they think well, whether they are dead or alive, such as the Christians who seek the help of George or others of their saints, and it happens to those so-called Muslims who commit shirk and follow misguidance by seeking the help of those who are dead or absent. The Shaytaan appears to them in the form of the one upon whom they call, without him realizing that� More than one person has told me that they sought my help, and each of them told me a different story. I told each one of them that I did not answer any one of them and I did not know that they were seeking my help. It was said that this was an angel, but I said: Angels do not help mushriks, rather that was a devil who wanted to misguide him. 

Majmoo� al-Fataawa, 19/47-48. 

One of the greatest ways in which a Muslim may seek help against the devils is to �fortify� himself with adhkaar and reciting Aayat al-Kursiy, as stated in the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah quoted above. 

See also questions no. 22816. 12715 and 42073. 

With regard to the second part of the question, which is whether the jinn have a true form: 

With regard to this matter of photographs of the jinn, which have fascinated many people and become widespread on some websites, it is not possible to verify the authenticity of what is in these websites, especially nowadays when people are highly skilled in producing in all kinds of deceptive pictures. Moreover researching such matters brings no spiritual or worldly benefit and serves no purpose. It is better to occupy oneself with things that will bring spiritual or worldly benefit such as reading and understanding what is in the Qur�aan and the saheeh Sunnah, and what a person needs to know and do of correct belief and worship, and the proper attitude and etiquette which the Muslim should develop, and so on. It should also be noted that publishing pictures of animate beings is haraam according to sharee�ah as is stated in the texts. See questions no. 13633, 10668 and 7918. 

We ask Allaah to protect you and raise you in status and forgive your sins and bless you with knowledge and good deeds, for He is the Best One to be asked. 

May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. 



Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com)


Question : 


Every individual among the sons of Adam has a jinn who has been appointed to be his constant companion (Qareen). Ibn Mas'ood reports that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him says: "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, says: 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 Allah? He said, Me too, but Allah has helped me and he has submitted, so that he only helps me to do good." (Reported by Muslim) 
Is it possible to pray for our Jinn to become a Muslim?. 

Answer : 

Praise be to Allaah. 

The hadeeth you mention is a saheeh hadeeth. It was narrated by Muslim (no. 2714), but there is a difference of scholarly opinion as to the meaning of the word �fa aslama� in this hadeeth. This dispute and the most correct view was mentioned by al-Nawawi in his commentary on this hadeeth. He said: 

With regard to the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), �There is none of you who does not have a companion (qareen) appointed for him from among the jinn.� They said, �Even you?� He said, �Even me, but Allaah helped me against him fa aslama [or fa aslamu], so he only tells me to do that which is good.� 

There are two well-known views that have been reported. Those who read the phrase as fa aslamu said that it means, �So I am safe [aslamu] from his evil and temptation.� Those who read it as fa aslama said that it means, �The qareen became Muslim [aslama] and became a believer, so he only tells me to do that which is good.� 

They differed as to which view is correct. Al-Khattaabi said: The correct version is fa aslamu [so I am safe]. Al-Qaadi �Iyaad thought that fa aslama [so he became Muslim] was correct, and this is the preferred version, because he then said, �so he only tells me to do that which is good.� And they differed concerning the report that says fa aslama. It was said that it means he submitted in the sense of surrendering, and it appears in this form (fa astaslama � so he surrendered) in reports narrated elsewhere than in Saheeh Muslim. And it was said that it means that he become a Muslim and a believer. This is the apparent meaning. 

Abu Na�eem al-Asbahaani said in Dalaa�il al-Nubuwwah (1/185): It was said aslama meaning he believed. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was the only one whose qareen became a Muslim and a believer. 

Based on this, having one�s qareen become a Muslim was something that was unique to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). 

So it is not prescribed for the Muslim to pray that his qareen become Muslim, because this is overstepping the limits in du�aa� by asking Allaah for something that belongs only to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and because there is no report that the Sahaabah, who were the keenest of all people to do good and the closest to it, asked Allaah to make their qareens become Muslim, and they did not ask the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to pray for that for them when they heard this hadeeth from him. There is no report that Abu Bakr, �Umar, �Uthmaan and �Ali, who were very keen to do good, or their sons, did that. We have to follow the guidance of these great Sahaabah because they understood this religion properly and learned it directly from its source, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and it is not permissible for us to follow any path but theirs. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

�And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad) after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers� way, We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell � what an evil destination!�

[al-Nisa� 4:115] 

This hadeeth was narrated in the context of warning the Sahaabah against the fitnah of the qareen. Al-Nawawi said: This hadeeth is a warning against the fitnah of the qareen and his whispers and temptation. [The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)] warned us against him so that we can be as cautious as possible.� This is what we must do, according to sharee�ah. 

It is sufficient for us to recite the du�aa�s that Allaah has taught us, for example: 

�And say: �My Lord! I seek refuge with You from the whisperings (suggestions) of the Shayaateen (devils).

And I seek refuge with You, My Lord! lest they should come near me��

[al-Mu�minoon 23:97-98 � interpretation of the meaning] 

And you should recite Soorat al-Ikhlaas and the Mi�wadhatayn (the last two soorahs of the Qur�aan) morning and evening, as well as the dhikrs narrated in saheeh ahaadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). You should also recite Aayat al-Kursiy before going to sleep, and Bismillaah il-Rahmaan il-Raheem before doing anything, and you should seek refuge with Allaah every time you notice the whispers of the Shaytaan. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

�And if an evil whisper from Shaytaan (Satan) tries to turn you away (O Muhammad) (from doing good), then seek refuge in Allaah. Verily, He is the All‑Hearer, the All‑Knower�

[Fussilat 41:36] 

I ask Allaah to make you more keen to do good and to protect us and you from the Shaytaan and his whisperings. Ameen. 



Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com)

• Introduction
• The jinn
• Jinn companion
• Jinn entering humans
• Protection against jinn
• Black magic
• Those who practice black magic
• Treatment of black magic
• Un-doing witchcraft with witchcraft
• The evil eye
• Envy
• Epilepsy
• Aayatal-Kursiy