In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Every culture across the world has stories about ethereal or inter-dimensional beings who exist beyond the material world. People might understand them as ghosts (spirits of dead people), demons (malevolent spirits), or even aliens from another planet. Many people have also documented their experiences with paranormal activity, in which the ordinary laws of nature appear to bend or break. The Quran and Sunnah explain that these phenomena are caused by the jinn.
The jinn are a species of intelligent creatures who were created by Allah from an intense, smokeless fire. They exist in the Unseen realm of creation, another dimension without physical or material form. Many jinn are merely creatures like any other animal, but Satan, or Iblis, is the leader of the evil jinn.
Allah said:
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ لَا يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ كَمَا أَخْرَجَ أَبَوَيْكُم مِّنَ الْجَنَّةِ يَنزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوْآتِهِمَا ۗ إِنَّهُ يَرَاكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا الشَّيَاطِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he had expelled your parents from the garden, stripping their clothes to reveal their nakedness. He and his tribe see you from where you do not see them. Verily, We have appointed devils as the allies of those who do not have faith.
Surat al-A’raf 7:27
And Allah said:
وَالْجَانَّ خَلَقْنَاهُ مِن قَبْلُ مِن نَّارِ السَّمُومِ
We created the jinn before from a scorching fire.
Surat al-Hijr 15:27
And Allah said:
وَخَلَقَ الْجَانَّ مِن مَّارِجٍ مِّن نَّارٍ
He created the jinn from a mixture of fire.
Surat al-Rahman 55:15
Ibn Abbas commented on this verse, saying:
أَنَّهَا نَارٌ لَا دُخَانَ لَهَا وَالصَّوَاعِقُ تَكُونُ مِنْهَا
It is a fire without smoke and lightning bolts come from it.
Source: Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī 55:15
Aisha, RadhiAllahu Anha, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
خُلِقَتْ الْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ نُورٍ وَخُلِقَ الْجَانُّ مِنْ مَارِجٍ مِنْ نَارٍ وَخُلِقَ آدَمُ مِمَّا وُصِفَ لَكُمْ
The angels were created from light, the jinn were created from a mixture of fire, and Adam was created as has been described for you.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2996, Grade: Sahih
Al-Nawawi commented on this tradition, writing:
وَالْمَارِجُ اللَّهَبُ الْمُخْتَلِطُ بِسَوَادِ النَّارِ
The mixture is a flame blended in the blackness of fire.
Source: Sharḥ al-Nawawī ‘alá Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2996
From these descriptions, it is clear that the jinn do not have physical bodies like the rest of creatures, although the exact scientific modality (kayfiyyah) of their existence remains unknown. Science by definition can only study physical, tangible objects, so it has little to tell us about the nature of jinn.
The jinn can see us and interact with us, while we cannot see them unless they materialize in a form of their choosing. Different species of jinn have the power to shape-shift or assume various corporeal forms to affect the physical world.
Abu Tha’labah, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
الْجِنُّ عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ أَصْنَافٍ صِنْفٌ كِلَابٌ وَحَيَّاتٌ وَصِنْفٌ يَطِيرُونَ فِي الْهَوَاءِ وَصِنْفٌ يَحُلُّونَ وَيَظْعَنُونَ
The jinn have three forms: one form like dogs and snakes, one form flies through the air, and one form comes and goes.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 6156, Grade: Sahih
Many people have encountered ‘ghosts’ or ‘poltergeists’ with the appearance of dead loved ones or people from the past. Many other people witness ‘aliens’ and ‘UFOs’ which they think are creatures from another planet. In reality, these experiences are caused by mischievous jinn who take on these forms as a trick.
Jinn also have the ability to appear in people’s dreams, but they are unable to take the form of the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam).
Abu Huraira, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
مَنْ رَآنِي فِي الْمَنَامِ فَقَدْ رَآنِي فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَا يَتَمَثَّلُ بِي
Whoever sees me in a dream has truly seen me, for Satan cannot assume my form.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6592, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Like human beings, there are both good and evil jinn. They can choose to have faith in Allah and perform good deeds, or to disbelieve in Allah and follow the commands of their chief, Satan.
Allah said:
وَأَنَّا مِنَّا الْمُسْلِمُونَ وَمِنَّا الْقَاسِطُونَ ۖ فَمَنْ أَسْلَمَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ تَحَرَّوْا رَشَدًا
The jinn said: Among us are those who surrender to Allah and those who are unjust. Whoever surrenders to Allah, they have taken the right course.
Surat al-Jinn 72:14.
And Allah said:
قَالُوا يَا قَوْمَنَا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا كِتَابًا أُنزِلَ مِن بَعْدِ مُوسَىٰ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْحَقِّ وَإِلَىٰ طَرِيقٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
The jinn said: Our people, we have heard a book revealed after Moses, confirming what is in your hands, guiding to the truth and guiding to a straight path.
Surat al-Ahqaf 46:30
The evil jinn are ordered by Iblis to whisper dark thoughts into the minds of people. Every person has been assigned a devil-companion (qarin) who tries to exploit the weaknesses of humankind by suggesting they act upon their sinful temptations, although Allah has protected His Messengers from their negative influence.
Allah said:
وَقَالَ الشَّيْطَانُ لَمَّا قُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَعَدَكُمْ وَعْدَ الْحَقِّ وَوَعَدتُّكُمْ فَأَخْلَفْتُكُمْ ۖ وَمَا كَانَ لِيَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَانٍ إِلَّا أَن دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَاسْتَجَبْتُمْ لِي ۖ فَلَا تَلُومُونِي وَلُومُوا أَنفُسَكُم
Satan will say when the matter is concluded: Indeed, Allah promised you the truth but I promised you and betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you and you answered me. Do not blame me, but rather blame yourselves.
Surat Ibrahim 14:22
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا وَقَدْ وُكِّلَ بِهِ قَرِينُهُ مِنْ الْجِنِّ
Each one of you has a devil-companion from the jinn over him.
They said, “Even you, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
وَإِيَّايَ إِلَّا أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَعَانَنِي عَلَيْهِ فَأَسْلَمَ فَلَا يَأْمُرُنِي إِلَّا بِخَيْرٍ
Even me, yet Allah helped me against him until he embraced Islam. He does not order me to do anything but good.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2814, Grade: Sahih
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, RadhiAllahu Anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
إِنَّ لِلشَّيْطَانِ لَمَّةً بِابْنِ آدَمَ وَلِلْمَلَكِ لَمَّةً فَأَمَّا لَمَّةُ الشَّيْطَانِ فَإِيعَادٌ بِالشَّرِّ وَتَكْذِيبٌ بِالحَقِّ وَأَمَّا لَمَّةُ الْمَلَكِ فَإِيعَادٌ بِالخَيْرِ وَتَصْدِيقٌ بِالحَقِّ فَمَنْ وَجَدَ ذَلِكَ فَلْيَعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ مِنَ اللهِ فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللَّهَ وَمَنْ وَجَدَ الأُخْرَى فَلْيَتَعَوَّذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
Verily, Satan has influence with the son of Adam and the angel has influence. As for the influence of Satan, he promises evil and denies the truth. As for the influence of the angel, he promises goodness and affirms the truth. Whoever finds this goodness, let him know that it is from Allah and let him praise Allah. Whoever finds something else, let him seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan.
Then, the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) recited the verse:
الشَّيْطَانُ يَعِدُكُمُ الْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُم بِالْفَحْشَاءِ وَاللَّهُ يَعِدُكُم مَّغْفِرَةً مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلًا
Satan threatens you with poverty and commands evil, but Allah promises you forgiveness and favor from Him. (2:268)
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2988, Grade: Sahih
(… Continued in part II)