From the layman's (Nasir Ali) Desk:
THE JINN -Part 4 Continued:
Many Islamic authorities have mentioned in their books an interesting fact which is also mentioned by Imam Suyuti in Khasais al-Kubra on the strength of the narration of Umar ® which is summarized here as follows: Once when the Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) was residing in Makkah a very old man came to visit the Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam). This old man spoke in the language of Jinn so Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) asked him which tribe of Jinn did he belong to. He replied that he was the grandson of Iblis (Satan). When asked about his antecedents he replied that he was Hamm the son of Heem who was the son of Lakhis who was the son of Iblis. When the Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) inquired about his age the old man replied that as a kid he had seen Qabeel (Cain) murdering his brother Habeel (Abel) both of whom were the sons of Adam (a.s.). During Ibrahim's (a.s.) time he embraced his faith and was also a witness when the prophet was thrown into the fire which he tried to extinguish. Then he embraced the faith of Moosa (a.s.) who taught him the Torah. Then he embraced the faith of Isa (a.s.) who taught him about the Bible. The old man had a very important message to deliver to the Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) who said, “Give me the message”. He said “Jesus (pbuh) said to me that “after my demise, Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) will come as the last Messenger of God to this world, you will be alive at that time and you will get a chance to meet him (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam). When you meet holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam), convey my salutations to him.” On hearing this from Hamm the Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) felt very happy and with tears in his eyes thanked Almighty Allah. He (sal Allahu Alayhi wasallam) said: “Peace be upon you and my brother Jesus .” Then holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) asked Hamm “do you want anything from me?” Hamm said, “O Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) I want to embrace Islam at your hand, please teach me some chapters of holy Quran.” The Holy Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) taught him ten chapters of holy Quran.” The Surahs included Surah Waqiya, Surah Naba, Surah Takweer, Surah Kafiroon, Surah Falaq and Surah Naas. After narrating this whole scenario, Umar-e-Farooq ® said: ”after that day, we never saw him again.”
A frequent activity associated with the Jinn is foretelling the future. It was a common feature before the advent of the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) for people to seek the help of soothsayers and fortune-tellers who in turn would turn to the Jinn for help. According to a hadith: Narrated A’isha (RA), I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The angels descend from the clouds and mention this or that decreed in the Heaven. The devils listen stealthily to such matter, come down to inspire the soothsayers with it, and the latter would add to it one-hundred lies of his own." [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadith Number 432]. The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) himself described how the jinn tried to steal the messages in the heaven. Abu-Huraira reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) informed him, “When Allah decrees a matter in heaven, the angels move their wings in submission to His word which is like a chain on a smooth stone. When their hearts are delivered from fear they say, ‘What did your Lord say?’ and receive the reply, ‘That which He said is the truth and He is the Most High and the Greatest.’ Then those who listen by stealth hear it (i.e., the jinn), and they are like this, some above others (and Sufyan a narrator, illustrated this point by turning his hand over and separating the fingers). Then one who hears the word passes it on to the one below him, and so forth until one of them passes it to the tongue of a soothsayer or diviner. Often a flame catches him before he is able to pass it on. He then mixes with it one hundred lies. People then ask, ‘Isn’t it true that he did not make such a statement on a specific date,’ and he is believed because of that one word which was heard from the heavens.” (Recorded by al-Bukhari in his Sahih)
The sins of omission and commission and the punishments and rewards are applicable to both in the next life since Jinn too, as humans, have free will whether to obey or disobey. According to Surah Jinn, (72:11): And among us, there are righteous folks and among us, there are far from that. We are sects having different rules. Regarding the righteous and believing Jinn: And when we heard the guidance, we believed therein, and whoso believeth in his Lord, he feareth neither loss nor oppression (Surah Jinn, 72:13). And there are among us some who have surrendered (to Allah) and there are among us some who are unjust. And whoso hath surrendered to Allah, such have taken the right path purposefully (Surah Jinn 72:14).
The Jinn, like any other living creature, will also die. This is mentioned in the Qur’an: "Allah will say, ‘Enter you in the company of nations who passed away before you, of men and Jinn, into the Fire." (Qur’an 7:38). Only Iblis has been granted respite as already stated. In Surah al-Saffat, verse 158 it is stated: And they have invented a blood-relationship between Him and the Jinn: but the Jinn know (quite well) that they have indeed to appear (before his Judgment- Seat)! So it is stated in Surah Anam, 128: One day will He gather them all together, (and say): "O ye assembly of Jinns! Much (toll) did ye take of men." Their friends amongst men will say: "Our Lord! we made a profit from each other: but (alas!) we reached our term - which Thou didst appoint for us." He will say: "The Fire be your dwelling-place: you will dwell therein forever, except as Allah willeth." for thy Lord is full of wisdom and knowledge. In Surah Al-Araf v.179, it is stated: Many are the Jinns and men we have made for Hell: They have hearts wherewith they understand not, eyes wherewith they see not, and ears wherewith they hear not. They are like cattle,- nay more misguided: for they are heedless (of warning). Allah the Almighty stated in Surah al-An’aam v.130. "O ye assembly of Jinns and men! came there not unto you apostles from amongst you, setting forth unto you My signs, and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say: "We bear witness against ourselves." It was the life of this world that deceived them. So against themselves will they bear witness that they rejected Faith. Allah says in Surah Hud, verse 119: Except those on whom thy Lord hath bestowed His Mercy: and for this did He create them: and the Word of thy Lord shall be fulfilled: "I will fill Hell with jinns and men all together."
According to the author of Rashahat ‘Ain al-Hayat (Beads of Dew from the Source of Life), Mawlana Jami said: “The truth of the matter is that the father of the jinn is other than Satan, although Satan does belong to the species of the jinn. The father of the jinn is a hermaphrodite [khuntha]…There is no benefit in spending time with them, and their company is positively harmful. Since they are created from fire and air, their principal attributes are pride and rebelliousness. Those who frequent them are thereby infected with arrogance and conceit…Warfare amongst them is not rare, since their essential attributes are boastfulness, asserting superiority over one another, arrogance, and overbearing tyranny…On the Day of resurrection, those of them who deserve punishment are thrown into the cold hell, since they are not affected by the fire.” In other words, the Jinn have communities and families and social classes on the lines of humans with kings and rulers, armies and courts, indulging at times in wars and negotiations and creating treaties.
The believing and righteous Jinn would be in Paradise as explicitly stated in Surah Rahman: “(Maidens) whom no man or Jinn before them has deflowered” (55:74). These “Maidens” are the Hoor al-Ayn whose abode is only Paradise. Another popularly held belief held by some scholars such as Imam Malik, Imam Shafi’i, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Abu Yusuf is that the Jinn will be in the outskirts of paradise, where humans can see them (but they cannot see the humans). According to Imam Abu Hanifa, their reward is to be saved from the Hellfire. Ibn Katheer points out that a better proof of the Jinn entering the Paradise is Allah’s statement in Surah Rahman: Whoever fears the judgment of his Lord there will be two gardens. So which of your Lord’s favours will you both deny?” (55:46-47). As indicated before, here “Both” refers to mankind as well as the Jinn. Allah has blessed Jinn and humans by rewarding the righteous among them admission to Paradise.
Continued in Part 5.
NASIR
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