THE JINN - AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE PART 7.

THE JINN – Part 7 continued:

Types of Jinn:

Abu Tha`labah al-Khushni says that the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) says: “The jinn are of three types: a type that has wings and 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.” (Reported by At-Tahawi in Mushkil Al-’Athar). According to Ibn Jareer, Wahb ibn Munabbih, who was from among the Tabiian, said:  “The jinn are of different types. The pure jinn are spirits who do not eat, drink, die or produce offspring. And there are other types who do eat, drink, produce offspring, get married and die. These are the female demons, ghouls, and the like.”(Lawaami’ al-Anwaar, 2/222).  However, there is no evidence for what Wahb said.  It is also said that Jinn have ranks among them according to their powers and their degree of rebellion.  We cannot be sure of their authenticiy except for the sources from the Quran and the Sunnah.     Al-Jahiz states: “People distribute jinn into ranks. If the jinni lives with humans, he is called ‘Aamir. If he is a jinni that attacks young boys, he is called Ruh (pl. arwaah). If he is a malicious, haughty being, then he is a demon. If he is stronger than a demon, he is then a Marid. If he is more powerful than a Marid, then he is an Ifreet.”

Regarding the Jinn who fly, these are also the Jinn that used to eavesdrop on the heavens, to get information on people. They were used by fortune tellers. After the coming of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), these Jinn could not go near the heavens, because they would get stuck by balls of fire. The angels speak in the clouds about things that will happen on earth, certain Jinn eavesdrop close to heaven and relay the messages to their masters the fortune tellers, who along mixed with that information mix hundred of lies.

Now, Maarids are rebellious Jinn and worse than the Shaitan Jinn. According to Surah as-saaffat (chapter 37, verse:7) "wa hifzum min kule shayateen, maarid" [and (there is) a safeguard against every rebellious Shaitan, maarid].  They are old, ancient and they are powerful but they are very malicious and evil. They are deadly, they teach magicians on magic. So many magicians,  if they are powerful enough, will have a Maarid under their keep. They are also known as Blue Jinn and are often associated with the wish-granting Jinn. 

Ifreet is one of the most powerful of all Jinn. They come in good and bad. We can find a reference in Surah an-Naml where Hazrat Sulaiman (Solomon) is interested in getting the throne of Queen of Sheba before her arrival to his kingdom for submission:  38. He said (to his own men): "Ye chiefs! which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?" 39. Said an 'Ifrit, of the Jinns: "I will bring it to thee before thou rise from thy council: indeed I have full strength for the purpose and may be trusted."  Hazrat Sulaiman (a.s.) wanted the job done faster than what an Ifreet could accomplish.  So in the next verse, we learn:  40. Said one who had knowledge of the Book: "I will bring it to thee within the twinkling of an eye!" Then when (Solomon) saw it placed firmly before him, he said: "This is by the Grace of my Lord!- to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! and if any is grateful, truly his gratitude is (a gain) for his own soul; but if any is ungrateful, truly my Lord is Free of all Needs, Supreme in Honour !"  We also know that during his heavenly Night Journey Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) encountered an Ifreet.  

Khubuth: These are the ones that dwell in the toilets and can be summoned by evil magicians for assistance. There is a specific supplication to be said when going to the toilet, to protect us from the male and female khubuth “allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika min al-khubthi wa’l-khabaa’ith (o allaah, i seek refuge with you from the male and female devils, khubthi, khabaa'ith (male and female).

Khinzab: These are the ones that disturb us during prayers. They are the devil’s helpers.

Aamir (dweller): If the jinni is one of those who live in houses with people, they call him ‘Aamir (dweller), pl.‘Ummaar. Prophet Muhammad (saw) told us to warn a Jinn that lives in your house (mostly in the form of a dark black snake) – three times. If it does not leave the house on the third time, you then Kill it, because it is not a Jinn but a Devil.

Rooh (spirits):  If the jinni is one of those who interact with children, they call them Ruh, pl. Arwaah (spirits). We hear a lot from our children seeing cartoons in real life. Ones who are scared of water speak of the same cartoonish things appearing in water to them.

Ghoul – Si’lah (Jinn Magicians):  According to a celebrated author, the following tradition:

"The Ghoul is any Jinn that is opposed to travels, assuming various forms and appearances; and affirms that several of the Companions of the Prophet saw Ghouls in their travels; and that before Islam, 'Umar among them saw a Ghoul while on a journey to Syria, and struck it with his sword."  Ibn Kathir said in his Tafseer, that “ghoul” is used for the jinn when it appears at night. Al-Jaahiz said, “It is the name for every jinn that the traveler comes across, appearing in different forms and shapes, both male and female.”  Furthermore, Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) also said:  “No one can change the image in which he was created. But jinn have some magicians among them as do humans, so when you see them (ghul), give the call to prayers (Adaan).”  And it will go away. Ghoul, however, is considered the male magician, and Si’lah the female.  They dwell in deserts, deserted islands and places where there is no human. They are also said to dwell in graveyards and dirty, dingy places.  The people before Islam described them as having a cat-like face, canine teeth, and a forked tongue, and who appeared and disappeared suddenly. According to Arabian folklore, there are several types of ghouls.  They are blood-drinking creatures that feed on human flesh. The female ghoul has the ability to appear like a normal woman who marries an unsuspecting human who becomes her prey.  As for Si’la, some Arab Geographers have stated that there is an island in the sea of China (Sin) called "the island of Si'la" inhabited by these demons.  They are described as creatures of hideous forms, supposed to be Shaitans, the offspring of human beings and Jinn, who eat men.

Al-nasnas – Shiqq: Strangest of all, described as a man split into two, having half a body. Al-Jahiz speaks, that if a Shiqq encounters a human, it beats him till he dies. The Shiqq is a lower form of Jinn.   We already see Half-man diagrams in Witchcraft charms (key/portal for the demons). There might be a connection between a Shiqq and Jinn. But then a Hadith from al-Sahih:  “Some people of Aad rebelled against their prophet. God transformed them into nasnas, with one foot and one hand. They hop like birds and graze like beasts.”  This means people probably put another form of visible creature into a category of Jinn. Only Allah knows.

Hinn: They are the weak Jinn and they especially like to appear as dogs.

Jann: They can take the forms of whirlwinds and white camels and they live in the desert.   They are excellent shape-shifters.  They have the power to hide or reveal oases in the desert.  They are the enemies of the ghoul.

Shaitan (devil – demon) If the jinni is wicked then he is a Shaytan (devil) (plural: Shayateen.)  It is mentioned in 100 verses of the Qur’an, where it mostly points to Demons (Devils) yet some places it points to Satan (Iblees).  Devil (Shaitan) refers to a type of Jinn representing Pure Evil. Most scholars claim that a Jinni may convert to Islam but a Shaytaan, in specific, can never become a Muslim.

Then, there is something from the Jinn which is called the Qareen, which Allaah has caused to accompany every human being. The existence of the Qareen is established by the Quran and the Sunnah. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {His [devil] companion will say, "Our Lord, I did not make him transgress, but he [himself] was in extreme error."} [Quran 50:27] According to Al-Qurtubi and Al-Mahdawi, may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  them, the ‘companion’ in this verse means the devil.  This qareen pushes a person to do evil things and to disobey Allaah.  It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood ® said: The Messenger of Allaah (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) said: “There is no one among you but a companion from among the jinn has been assigned to him.” They said, “Even you, O Messenger of Allaah?’ He said, “Even me, but Allaah helped me with him and he became Muslim (or: and I am safe from him), so he only enjoins me to do that which is good.”  The Urdu word for Qareen is Hamzad.  The more evil we commit then the closer friendship we will develop with the Qareen that is appointed to us and the more weaker we will be to his whispers and when he tempts us to do certain things. In order to repel the effects of the Qareen we need to do as many good deeds as possible including recitation of Qur'an particularly Ayatul Kursi, remembering and glorifying Allah as much as we can, being the best towards others, maintaining ties of kinship and so on. We need to constantly remember Allah and do our utmost to abide by the commands of Allah and follow the Sunnah of Rasulallah (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam).  A Muslim must believe in the existence of such a companion because it entails believing in the texts of the Quran and the Sunnah.

A very popular term we often hear especially in the sub-continent of India and Pakistan is “Muwakkil”, also known as ‘Khodam” in the Arab world.  According to Mahmoud Shelton, a Muwakkil is an angel who is in charge of safeguarding the secrets corresponding to a particular letter of the Arabic alphabet, and in this context, each letter is also associated with a jinni.  In other words, Muwakkils and Khodam are the guardians of the holy letters of the Qur’an and the 99 beautiful Names of Allah (swt).  According to Islamic scholars, Muwakkils are created of half-light (nur) and half smokeless-fire, and they can be summoned during a Wazifa or an Islamic ritual.  Under each Muwakkil there are high-ranking Jinn who can be used by pious Islamic healers.  However, Muwakkils are stronger and more powerful than the Jinn so that the Jinn who are under the command of Muwakkil can kill 1000 Jinn within seconds.  It is commonly known in the Muslim world that every name of Allah (swt) has a Muwakkil constantly praying and repeating that name.   A pious believer who constantly prays and repeats these Mighty Names of Allah (Ism-e-Azam) attracts the corresponding Muwakkil who will help him in attaining his legitimate desires. The power of Ism-e-Azam is such that on the constant practice of reciting the Names, the reciter may even witness the angel one day. 

Continued in Part 8.

NASIR