The World of Jinn -I

The Quran and Sunnah )Prophet's sayings and actions( 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.
Almighty Allaah Says )what means(:"And I did not create the jinn and
mankind except to worship Me."]Quran 51:56[ and also )what means(:"O
company of jinn and mankind, did there not come to you messengers from
among you, relating to you My verses …?"]Quran 6:130[
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. Jinn 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 )what means(:"… Indeed, he )Satan(
sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. …"]Quran
7:27[
Allaah has told us in the Noble Quran the essence from which the jinn
were created. He Says )what means(:"And the jinn We created before
from scorching fire."]Quran 15:27[
And also )what means(:"And He created the jinn from a smokeless flame
of fire."]Quran 55:15[
According to one prophetic narration that was narrated by 'Aa'ishahthe
Prophetsaid:"The angels were created from light, the jinn were created
from fire, and Aadam was created from that which has been described to
you )soil(."]Muslim[
Types of jinn
Allaah, the Most Exalted, has created different types of jinn. Among
them are some that can take on different forms, such as dogs and
snakes; some who are like flying winds with wings; and some that can
travel and rest. The Messenger of Allaahsaid:"The jinn are of three
types: a type that has wings, 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."]At-Tabaraani and others[
The jinn and the Children of Aadam
Every individual among the Children of Aadam has a jinn who has been
appointed to be his constant companion )Qareen(. Ibn Mas'oodsaid: "The
Messenger of Allaahsaid:"There is not one of you who does not have a
jinn appointed to be his constant companion." They )present
companions( said: "And you too, O Messenger of Allaah?"Hesaid:"And me
too, but Allaah has helped me and he has submitted )became a believing
Muslim(, so that he only helps me to do good."]Muslim[
Their powers
Almighty Allaah has given the jinn powers that He has not given to
humans. He has told us about some of their powers, such as the ability
to move and travel quickly. A genie from among the jinn guaranteed to
the Prophet Sulaymaan )Solomon(that he would bring the throne of the
Queen of Yemen toJerusalemin a moment faster than that needed for a
man to get up from where he was sitting. Allaah says )what means(:"A
powerful one from among the jinn said, "I will bring it to you before
you rise from your place, and indeed, I am for this ]task[ strong and
trustworthy." Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, "I will
bring it to you before your glance returns to you." And when ]Solomon[
saw it placed before him, he said, "This is from the favor of my Lord
..."]Quran 27:39-40[
The food and drink of the jinn
The jinn eat and drink. Ibn Mas'oodsaid: "The Messenger of
Allaahsaid:"One the jinn called me, and I went with him and recited
Quran for them.' He took me and showed me the traces of where they had
been and the traces of their fires. They )his fellow jinn( asked him
for food and he said: "You can have every bone on which the name of
Allaah has been mentioned that comes into your possession, as meat,
and all the droppings as food for your animals." The Prophetsaid, "So
do not use ]these things[ for cleaning yourselves ]after relieving
oneself[, for they are the food and provision of your
brothers.'"]Muslim[
The believing jinn may eat any bone on which the name of Allaah has
been mentioned, because the Messengerdid not permit them to have
anything on which Allaah's name has not been mentioned - those are for
the disbelievers among the jinn.
The beasts of the jinn
According to the narration that was narrated by Ibn Mas'oodthat we
have quoted above, the jinn asked the Messengerfor 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. Hence, the Prophettaught us to take precautions when
entering such places, by reciting the Athkaar )supplications(
prescribed by Islam. One of these was reported by Anas Ibn Maalikwho
said: "When the Messenger of Allaahused to relieve himself, he would
say:"Allaahumma inni a'oothu bika min al-khubuthi wa'l-khabaa'ith )O
Allaah, I seek refuge with You from the evil ones, male and
female(.'"]Al-Bukhaari[