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Jinn: The Reality
The world of the jinn is a different one from the worlds of mankind and the angels, but the jinn are similar to men in that they have intellect, willpower, and the ability to choose whether to do good or bad. They like men are also ordered with the worship of Allah alone, as Allah says:
And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone). Surah al-Dhariyat, verse 56
The jinn differ from men in their nature and appearance. Their reality is that they are intellectual spirits with willpower like men, but with no physical substance. They are hidden from our senses, and cannot be seen in their true form, nor upon their true nature, but they have the ability to take different forms. They eat, marry, have offspring, and will be held to account for their actions in the hereafter.12
Imam al-Shawkanl said: “They are an intellectual and hidden being that is mostly from fire.”13 Also, it is not possible to see them in the original form in which they were created. Allah says:
O children ofAdam! Let not shaytan deceive you as he got your parents (Adam and Hawwa) out of Paradise, stripping them of their raiments, fo show them their private parts. Verily, /;e dW his tribe see you from ivhere you cannot see them. Verily, Wemade the shayatJn Awliya3 (protectors and helpers) for those who believe not.Surah al-A'raf, verse 27
The jinn are less honourable and lower in standing than men, Shaykh Abu Bakr al-Jazairl said:
Indeed the jinn, even the pious from amongst them are less honourable and lower in standing than men, for the Creator the Most High, has emphasised the honour of mankind in Surah al-Isra’:
And indeed We have honoured the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea, and have provided them with al-Tayyibat (lawful good things), and have preferred them above many ofthose whom We have created with a marked preferment.Surah al-Isra’, verse 70
This prestige has not been mentioned for the jinn in any of the Holy Books, nor by the tongue of any of the Messengers, so from this, it is known that man is of a higher standing than jinn. This is also shown through the way the jinn feel weak and inferior in the presence of men. However, when men seek refuge with the jinn they feel superior and proud because of the way men glorify them, but the truth is the opposite; they only increase in tyranny and disbelief, as Allah mentions concerning them:
And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the males among the jinn, but they (jinn) increased them (mankind) in sin and transgression.Surah Jinn, verse 6
Another proof for this is that when men seek assistance from them and swear by them they immediately answer this call, due to the weakness and inferiority they feel in the presence of the righteous son of Adam who believes in Allah and worships Him alone. As for those of mankind who disbelieve in Allah, then the righteous of the jinn are better than them.14
Indeed, the disbelievers are more astray than cattle, as Allah says:
They are only like cattle-nay, they are even further astray from the Path.Surah al-Furqan, verse 44
The Reason they are Called Jinn
They are known as jinn because they are invisible and hidden from the naked eye. They see men but men do not see them, as Allah says:
Verily, he and his tribe see you from where you cannot see them.Surah al-A‘raf, verse 27
The point being that men cannot see the jinn in their original form, however they may see them in other forms, such as certain animals.
When were theJinn Created?The jinn were created before mankind as is mentioned in the clear text of the Qur’an:
And indeed, We created man from dried (sounding) clay ofaltered mud. And the jinn, we created aforetime from the smokeless flame offire.Surah al-Hijr, verse 26-27
