Who Are Jinn and Why Are Muslims Afraid of Them (8 photos)

Supernatural forces have inspired fear throughout human history. A multitude of mythical creatures and spirits inhabit the imaginary world around us. This bestiary includes both monsters common to different cultures and unique ones. In the Islamic world, jinn, often hostile, still inspire fear. What are these mythical creatures, and why are they so feared even in the enlightened 21st century?





In Islamic mythology, jinn are spirits that are often hostile to humans. It is believed that the Creator created them from smokeless fire. Djinns could be both deadly and beneficial. Anyone who managed to bend this spirit to their will could gain untold riches, fame, eternal youth, and basically anything they desired. Therefore, in the Middle Ages, thousands of scholars sought a reliable way to control djinns.

Who are djinns and how do they live?

Much is known about these mythical creatures. They are intelligent, live in their own world, forbidden to humans, and have wives and children. Djinns have their own cities, rulers, and even a religion. A djinn is a male entity, while the Arabs called female spirits djiniri or djinnii.



Dancing Djinn

Before the adoption of Islam, jinn were considered deities and were worshiped. Festivals were held in their honor, and sacrifices were even made to them. But with the adoption of the new faith, they were relegated to the category of evil spirits, which was generally typical of other religions. A similar fate awaited the Slavic pagan gods with the advent of Orthodoxy.

Islamic theologians say that the Almighty created three types of intelligent beings with their own will: humans, angels, and jinn. Among all three types, there are both positive, orthodox, and negative characters. In the Quran, in Surah Al-Jinn, there are these words:

"It was revealed to me that a group of jinn listened to the recitation of the Quran and said, 'Indeed, we have heard a wondrous Quran. It guides, and we believe in it...'"





The Conflict Between Man and Shaitan (Jinn)

How the Jinn Appeared

So, devout Muslims, although not often, encounter jinn. The main negative jinn is considered to be Iblis, the equivalent of the Christian Lucifer. Their stories are very similar. Iblis was also a favorite of the Almighty and considered one of the most trusted angels. But over time, he became arrogant and disobeyed his master. For this, he was punished by exile from heaven to earth and transferred from the ranks of angels to the ranks of jinn.

Iblis and his minions perform all the functions of Satan and his host. They entice people to lie and paganism, inciting them to deception, theft, and adultery. The chief jinn's servants are the shaitans, or devils and demons in our language. Although not all jinn obey Iblis's will, Muslims distrust all such heroes. They believe that the jinn are not interested in improving the lives of humans and, albeit surreptitiously, harm us.



This is fully reflected in Arabic and Persian fairy tales. There, jinn under human control use incorrectly formulated human desires to harm or at least humiliate them. Jinn can also seduce men with unearthly beauty and then betray them. Female jinn are masters at destroying families and destinies.

Hierarchy of Evil Spirits in Islam

Muslim demonology divides jinn into four categories: marids, ifrits, silats, and ghouls. The marids are considered the most ferocious and also the most hostile to humans. They are asexual and incorporeal spirits capable of taking the forms of humans, animals, and plants. They most often appear as a gray-haired old man with a long beard and dressed in white robes. Legends say that the marids are capable of spitting scorching flames.



Depiction of a wandering jinn in an ancient Arabic book

These jinn were expelled from Paradise along with Iblis. They were condemned to the Kingdom of Shadows, but thanks to their cunning, they escaped this fate and now reside in the human world. The Ifrits are Iblis's closest lieutenants, who found themselves with him in the Underworld. They possess immense power and are capable of accomplishing what we would consider impossible.

Silat are the classic djinn from Eastern fairy tales. They can fly and have blue skin. When enslaved by a human, silat are willing to grant any three wishes, but are also prone to deception. They behave very much like humans—they also love to dress beautifully and adore jewelry and expensive items. They cannot be called benevolent spirits, as silat often harm people out of mischief or curiosity, and can even take a person's life.

Ghouls are the most terrifying creations of the djinn world. It is believed that Iblis himself created them, as the Almighty would not waste time on such vile creatures. Ghouls combine the traits of werewolves and vampires. They love to lie in wait for lone travelers at night along roadsides or among ruins. Such a djinn can not only drink the blood of an unfortunate victim, but also consume it entirely.



Three-Headed Ifrit Djinn

These djinn are especially dangerous to children, who are considered a delicacy. When ghouls cannot find a living victim, they unhesitatingly dig up graves and devour the corpses. Ghouls resemble our devils in appearance. They are creatures with donkey hooves, horns, and a furry body. For a short time, a ghoul can disguise itself as a human being or even a beautiful woman, but only to lure a person into a trap and kill them.

How to Fight Djinns

Belief in djinns is still very strong among Muslims. Therefore, every believer knows the basic methods of combating these evil spirits. Most often, various amulets, talismans, and magical objects are used. Some even perform special rituals designed to protect their home or business from jinn. But clergy have a different opinion on this matter.



Iblis tempting a Muslim in a dream

Imams assert that a person with strong faith does not need additional protection from jinn. Here is what Mufti Kamil Hazrat Samigullin, Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Republic of Tatarstan, writes about this:

"Undoubtedly, Iblis and the shaitans flee from those who adhere to the laws of Allah Almighty and do not transgress the bounds of what is permitted." And the more effort a person makes on the path of the Creator, the more Iblis and his devils distance themselves from him."

Simply put, the jinn are powerless against those who truly believe in Allah and follow all the instructions of the Prophet. The more often a Muslim prays and the more righteous their life, the less likely they are to fall under the influence of evil spirits. Therefore, adherence to the canons of faith, absolute sobriety, and integrity are a Muslim's main protection.



Iblis and his assistants

As we can see, demons in the Abrahamic religions are very similar. The only difference between the bestiaries of Islam and Christianity is that in the East they believe in Muslim jinn, but we cannot have respectable devils.