Jinn in Islam

Jinn are a creation of Allah distinct from humans and angels. They are made from smokeless fire: "And He created the jinn from a smokeless flame of fire" (Quran 55:15). Like humans, jinn possess free will, are accountable before Allah, and include both believers and disbelievers. An entire surah of the Quran (Surah al-Jinn, Chapter 72) describes a group of jinn who heard the Quran and believed: "Say: It has been revealed to me that a group of jinn listened and said: Indeed, we have heard an amazing Quran. It guides to the right course, and we have believed in it" (Quran 72:1-2).

Nature and Abilities

Jinn are normally invisible to humans, though they have the ability to take physical forms, including human and animal shapes. They eat, drink, marry, and reproduce. They inhabit various places on earth, particularly abandoned areas, bathrooms, and places of impurity. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "These privies are inhabited (by jinn), so when any of you goes to them, let him say: I seek refuge with Allah from al-khubthi wal-khaba'ith (male and female evil beings)" (Sunan Abu Dawud). Jinn can travel great distances quickly and have abilities beyond those of humans, as demonstrated in the story of Sulayman when a jinn offered to bring the throne of the Queen of Sheba before Sulayman could stand from his seat (Quran 27:39).

Iblis and the Shayatin

Iblis (Satan) is a jinn who was elevated to the rank of the angels due to his worship, but refused to prostrate to Adam out of arrogance: "He said: I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay" (Quran 7:12). For this disobedience, he was cursed and expelled, but was given respite until the Day of Judgment to attempt to lead humans astray. The shayatin (devils) are jinn who follow Iblis in his mission of misguidance. They whisper evil suggestions to humans: "From the evil of the retreating whisperer, who whispers in the breasts of mankind, from among jinn and mankind" (Quran 114:4-6).

Interaction Between Humans and Jinn

Islam prohibits seeking help from jinn, practicing magic (sihr), or attempting to communicate with them. The Quran warns: "And there were men from mankind who sought refuge in men from the jinn, so they only increased them in burden" (Quran 72:6). Fortune-telling, séances, and sorcery are all forbidden and can constitute shirk. The Prophet said: "Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for forty nights" (Sahih Muslim), and in another narration: "Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and believes in what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad" (Musnad Ahmad).

Protection from Jinn

The primary means of protection from jinn are the Quran and authentic duas. The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught several protections: reciting Ayat al-Kursi (Quran 2:255) before sleeping, reciting the last two surahs (al-Falaq and al-Nas), saying Bismillah before entering the home and before eating, reciting the morning and evening adhkar, and maintaining regular prayer and remembrance of Allah. Ruqyah (spiritual healing through Quran recitation) is the prescribed Islamic remedy for those affected by jinn or sihr, replacing the prohibited practices of amulets and sorcery.