Middle Eastern Folklore: The Jinn

The jinn have gone by many variation of name and there are a number of different breeds. Referred to commonly in Western culture as 'Genies', the jinn are also referenced as 'Djinn', 'Jinni', 'Djinnies', and 'Jinnies'. Some say they are lesser than angels, but others refer to all angels and demons as being jinn; but also that not all jinn are angels or demons. There are believed to have been created thousands of years before humans, and it is thought the jinn were made of smokeless fire; instead of clay from the earth as how humans were made. It's thought that they live in the unseen realm and that they can choose between good and evil, plus can have families, just as humans do. It is said some jinn can attach themselves to objects, especially ones which are old that they can reside in and use to travel. They could also become attached to precious or semi-precious stones such as opals.

History

Belief in the jinn predates Islam, although it seems much of the information found about these beings has since been told and passed on through the Qur'an and Islamic belief. In Arabian mythology, a jinni is a spirit which inhabits the earth and is unseen by humans. It's capable of assuming various forms and using various extraordinary powers. Shape-shifting in particular seems to be a common trait amongst depictions of the jinn and the different breeds of jinn. Belief in the jinn was common in pre-Islamic Arabia, and it was believed the jinn inspired poets and soothsayers of the time.

The name 'jinn' comes from Arabic tribal root 'ja-na-na' which means 'hidden from sight', or 'to hide or conceal'. Apparently another meaning is 'demons or spirits'. I've also found that it comes from the word 'Janna' which means 'hide' or 'conceal', plus that it could come from 'jnn' or 'gnn' which means 'to hide' or 'to be hidden'. The term 'genie' is often used to refer to a jinn who has been enslaved to do the bidding of a human. Genie is a synonym for jinn and comes from the Latin 'genius', which was used in reference to a protective spirit each human is thought to have since birth.

Before Islam, which was founded in the 7th century, people believed the jinn to be spirits who controlled the weather and made fields fertile; and so they were worshipped by pre-Islamic Arabians because they were associated with elements of nature. This particular view has been suggested by Amira el-Zein, the author of 'Islam, Arabs, and the Intelligent World of the Jinn'. It is also believed that the jinn were treated with both admiration and fear. Some researchers have suggested that the jinn originate in ancient Mesopotamian mythology where similar entities were worshipped as gods. One of these ancient Mesopotamian entities, made famous through the film 'The Exorcist', is the demon known as Pazuzu; who's statue is pictured below.

Some Arabian traditions say that the jinn are the original inhabitants of earth and that they once ruled the planet after battling other life which was known as the Hinn and the Binn. I have found in further research that the Hinn are said to be one of the breeds of jinn, but relating to this information they were early life forms made of wind, and the Binn were made from water. In one mythological tradition, it's also thought that the Hinn and Binn could have been ancient tribes that had supernatural powers. The hinn in particular are said to have been mentioned in pre-Islamic Arabian lore, and their existence is accepted by Alawi Muslims and the Druze community. The Druze also believe in the binn, and these creatures are said to live in Yemen. The Druze also refer to the rimm and timm, and some people suggest that all four beings (the rimm, timm, hinn, and binn) are described in the Book of Genesis as the Nephilim; mysterious giants who existed before humans.

Some muslim traditions say that once the hinn and binn were defeated by the jinn, destruction followed as the jinn had become prideful and thought they were greater than Allah. The world was subject to corruption and injustice, and Allah tried sending warnings but these were all ignored. Angels made of pure light were then sent to battle the bad jinn. I've found this to be in reference to the creation story as according to the Qur'an; although some do not associate the jinn with the creation story, and only view the jinn as magical creatures. According to Islamic tradition, Allah created angels on Wednesday and the jinn came into being on Thursday. The 11th century Persian cosmographer, Zakariya al-Qazwini, placed the origin of the jinn early in God's creation of life and before humans. He described them as imperceptible creatures that were able to shape-shift. The jinn existed for thousands of years until all but a few jinn were defeated, and so humans were then created on Friday. In the Book of Enoch, a battle is described between angels and demons and this may have been the inspiration for later descriptions of the jinn by Muslims such as al-Qazwini and Ibn Kathir's.

It is said that when the angels won, the bad jinn were cast to remote places such as islands, caves, and forests. They later featured in Arabian tales as haunting spirits in abandoned places that were waiting for travellers to torment. Others have said the jinn built homes in the ruins of civilisations such as in Maadain Saleh, now in modern day Saudi Arabia, where it is said the prophet Muhammad walked through quickly so to avoid the jinn. It is also thought the jinn built homes in Iram, now in modern day Oman. Muslims are encouraged to recite certain prayers for protection when in places the jinn are assumed to be due to it being said that the jinn can become annoyed by human presence.

It is said that after the battle with the angels, some jinn were taken back to heaven as prisoners where they were then taught by the angels. One of these jinn refused God's orders to bow to Adam as he viewed Adam as a lesser being for being made of clay. This particular jinn sometimes has no name, but is sometimes referred to as Azazel, Iblis, Satan, or Sheitan. In particular, the name Iblis is commonly used in reference to the jinn mythology. The root of the word 'Iblis' is 'basala' which means 'he who causes despair'. It is thought that Iblis is the leader of the demonic jinn and is said to cause fitna, which means troubles. It's also thought Iblis leads people to their own destruction and when expelled from the heavens as punishment for not bowing to Adam, that he then tricked Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden; an act which catalysed their own fall from paradise.

Imam Muslim, a 9th century Persian Islamic scholar, said that Iblis had five sons. The identity of the mother of these sons is unclear, but it is known that each son was a master in creating specific troubles. Tir, also known as Thaber, causes physical injuries. Sut, also known as Misut, spreads lies. Zalmbur encourages dishonest business transactions. Aawar encourages adultery and seduction. Finally, Dasim plays the biggest role by creeping into people's houses and causing problems with the family; especially between the husband and wife. This breaks the family structure; something which is considered Iblis' greatest victory.

Due to Iblis being a jinn, and demons being jinn, it's mostly thought that the jinn are malicious spirits. They are often depicted as demonic and are said to possess or influence humans to do their will. They are also said to seek revenge on humans who trespass on their territory. The Qur'an argues that the evil jinn were created to help sorcerers who were spiritually very far from Allah. It's said these sorcerers can invoke the jinn and force them into obedience through rituals. They then send the jinn to accomplish tasks set either by the sorcerer or by those paying for their services.

In the Qur'an, King Solomon, who is known as Suleiman to Muslims, had the power to control the jinn and was told to keep them occupied to ensure that they didn't have the time to cause disruption on earth. As a result, he used their strength and heavy-labour skills to build the first temple. It's said Solomon could also talk to animals, and that he used his ability to control the rebellious jinn to learn cures for illnesses that were inflicted on humans by the jinn. Solomon's wife, the Queen of Sheba, was believed to be born of a marriage between a jinn and a human.

The jinn have also played a big part in Bedouin folklore, and poetry is often attributed to jinn-like possession. Some people blame the jinn and the unseen world for medical conditions such as epilepsy and bipolar disorder. As a result, they keep these illnesses quiet due to the societal stigma that is associated with jinn-possession. Instead of seeking medical care, these people will instead seek help with religious figures to conduct an exorcism. Sufis and mystics are sometimes sought out to exorcise bad jinn by using haunting and ecstatic nawa music. Cupping therapy is also used by some people to clear away the jinn, which are sometimes referred to as bad energy.

The Arabians of pre-Islam invented a set of exorcism procedures to protect themselves. These methods involved the use of beads, incense, bones, salt, and charms which were written in Arabic, Hebrew, and Syriac. They would also hang a dead animal's teeth, such as those of a fox or cat, around their necks to frighten the jinn and keep them away. Other methods of protection include reciting prayers from the Qur'an, wearing amulets or talismans which have been blessed by a muslim scholar, plus avoiding certain places or buildings. Regarding the typical genie mythology, it's believed the jinn can be tricked into re-entering it's lamp or jar and then the item can be sealed. It's also believed if this is not done, then the jinn could cause plagues. I've also found that the jinn can be repelled by salt and iron.

There is more to jinn than just being thought of as evil demonic entities. In Islamic tradition, many have served as friends and helpers of humans; although interaction between humans and jinn is discouraged. The jinn have been referenced in two different ways. The first way is is to be the opposite of al-Ins, which means something that maintains a shape. This is possibly what gives them their shapeshifter attribute, and it makes them impossible for humans to detect with their sensory organs. This also applies to angels and demons; and so all angels and demons are jinn, but not all jinn are angels and demons. There is much debate on this though as angels can't be disobedient, but jinn can. The second way is that they are an invisible entity made from smokeless fire, although some believe 'smokeless fire' refers to a type of energy. They have similar motivations and needs to humans, and so can eat, drink, and give birth. They are subject to a life cycle, albeit a much longer one than that of a human. They are also thought to be faster and stronger than a human, plus they are able to be believers or non-believers. This makes them subject to judgement for salvation or damnation.

Muhammad, the last prophet of Allah, was sent to not only human communities but also to jinn ones. Plus, it is said that other prophets and messengers were sent to these jinn communities too. These visits allowed for the jinn to learn about Allah and so could seek salvation. In Islam, the jinn are conceptualised as being creatures parallel to human beings that are capable of choosing between good and evil. The good jinn live quietly alongside humans. They also have family structures, kingdoms, and can be of any faith or none. Muhammad asserted his own belief that the jinn existed as spirits of free will. They've also been credited with acts of creativity such as the building of Solomon's temple and the pyramids.

The jinn are believed to occupy a shadow world, which is a parallel world known as 'al-Ghaib' or 'the unseen'. This is shared with humans, but it also transcends time and space. It's also thought that the jinn can fall in love and have sexual encounters with humans; as is believed to be the case with the Queen of Sheba's parents. Plus, some believe that the jinn can choose to be seen and that they can take the form of a loved one. It's also thought that they often resemble goats. They are described in the pre-Islamic mythology of Arabia as appearing as everything, including snakes, scorpions, and humans. They do not shapeshift into cats though, and do not enter our realm through mirrors.

The jinn were favourite figures in North African, Egyptian, Syrian, Persian, and Turkish folklore. Notably, they have appeared in in 'The Thousand and One Nights', which is commonly known as 'Arabian Nights'. The collection of Middle Eastern tales in this book illustrated several kinds of jinn and spirits, plus it first depicted the jinn as wish masters. They entered the muslim imagination in India and Indonesia through Qur-anic descriptions and Arabic literature. A chapter of the Qur'an, known as the Surah Jinn, is dedicated to the jinn. The common folklore is that they are capable of assuming human or animal form and are said to dwell in all conceivable inanimate objects such as trees, stones, and ruins. It's also said they are underneath the earth, in the air, and are in fire. The jinn have become increasingly popular in wester culture due to 'The Exorcist', 'The Mummy', and Disney's 'Aladdin'.

Types Of Jinn

I've found varying information around how many different types of jinn there are. Some say there are five types, and that these are the jann, the jinn, the shuitan, the infrit, and the marid. In total, I have found information regarding ten different types of jinn. These types are the infrit, the marid, the ghoul, the hinn, the jann, the si'la, the palis, the qareen, the shayteen, and the vetala.

The Infrit

This type of jinn is said to frequent ancient ruins. Myths say that they protect the pyramids and other burial grounds. It's also thought that if someone tried to open these areas without the proper counter-spell, then these jinn would come and kill the potential intruders. These jinn live in societies like humans, and so have both royal and social rankings. They prefer to marry other infrit, but are known to marry humans and have children with them. They also have the power to grant wishes. They have free will, and so can be either believers or non-believers. They are considered as wicked and malevolent beings which should be avoided. I've also found that they are physically large and the most powerful, but it seems these traits belong more so to the marid. Plus, I've found that they are referred to as diabolical evil spirits.

The Marid

This type of Jinn is one of the most well known types, and they are thought to be the most powerful. Most modern day understandings of genies are based off the marid. They have the ability to shapeshift and are named after how large they are as 'Marid' means 'giants'. They are known to be able to grant wishes, and so are likely the source of the 'three wishes' legend. Obtaining wishes from these jinn comes at a price, and it often requires a great deal of battle to obtain a wish. These jinn can be made to grant wishes if they are imprisoned with magic, or if a ritual is performed in their honour. It's also said flattery works, but an extraordinary amount of flattery is required to gain their favour. I've also found that the marid live in seas and oceans as a spirit of water, and that they can control the elements.

The Ghoul

These jinn are also known as 'Ghul'. They are some of the most greatly feared jinn due to their shapeshifting ability and tendancy to prey on humans. They have a craving for human flesh, and are usually content to feed on a corpse. They are also content to devour humans that are still living, and so this makes them a great threat. They are thought to frequent graveyards, ruins, and places that are generally uninhabited. They tend to attack people who travel alone or in small groups that can be outnumbered by a ghoul pack. Female ghouls are feared because they can appear as a normal human woman who is beautiful. The female ghoul will then convince human men to marry them before eating them. I've also found that they are referred to as a treacherous spirit of changing shape.

The Hinn

This type of jinn appears as dogs and other animals. They are known to be spotted most often in Arabia, Persia, and India. It is thought that there is a possible connection between the hinn and the strange dogs that would lure foreign soldiers into the desert during World War Two and then disappear.

The Jann

These jinn are shapeshifters that live in the desert. There are known as some of the most open-minded and friendly jinn, and are some of the first jinn to have interacted with humans. They appear in the form of whirlwinds and white camels. They can be mischievous, and have the ability to hide or reveal an oasis depending on if they like a certain group of travellers. The jann can be powerful allies, especially as they are enemies of the ghoul. They are known to help humans in their struggles through history and if they decide that one army is righteous then they will protect the warriors who fight for that holy cause. If they deem an army as unworthy, then they will intervene and try to cause trouble.

The Si'la

These jinn are also referred to as 'Sila'. They are also shapeshifters and are fairly tolerant to humans compared to other jinn. They are fond of meddling in human affairs, although they often do this in an attempt to help. They are rarely sighted. I have found that they have been referred to as treacherous spirits of invariable form.

The Palis

They have many similarities to the vampires of Europe and live in the desert. They drain all the blood from their victims by licking the soles of their feet and sucking the blood out. They have very low intelligence and can be outsmarted if two people sleep end to end with the soles of their feet together or under each other's heads.

The Qareen

It is thought that every person in the world is born with their own qareen as it is thought to be the part of a human that causes them to do bad and sin. It's possible to train them to become a servant, but the process takes many years and can be dangerous. Successful endeavours can be very rewarding, and it's thought that the prophet Muhammad turned his qareen into a muslim and so did away with his evil nature entirely. If you successfully train your qareen, you can obtain information on anyone in the world as yours can communicate with someone else's and report back. You could also learn how to cure illnesses, find lost and stolen things, plus influence the qareen of others to get people to do what you want. You can also be aware of anyone coming to see you before they arrive.

The Shayteen

These are referred to as evil jinn who have no hope for salvation. They pledged their allegiance to Iblis, who is sometimes called Shaitan. I've also found that these jinn in particular have been referred to as Shaitans, and that they are unbelieving jinn. Folklore describes them as ugly creatures which can be male or female, and that they can assume human form, however their feet always remain as hooves. They eat excrement and use disease as a weapon. It's also said they exist on the border between light and darkness. The Syrian and Indian shaitans are said to be the strongest in their class. They also functioned as familiars or Greek demons, providing inspiration for poets and soothsayers. Stories of Solomon say the shaitans are no more than particularly knowledgeable jinn, however the Qur'an says they are either the devil or hordes commanded by the devil. In Arabic, Iblis is referred to as ash-Shaytan. Iblis has also been referred to as Shayateen, and is thought to have taught magic and helped humans in exchange for worship.

The shayteen are also known to be the cause of many troubles in the human world, and are sometimes used and controlled by strong dark magicians. They have the ability to cause illness and death, plus are capable of destruction. They can cause a person to lose everything they have, and they can possess humans. Other jinn are also said to be able to possess humans, but the act is much more malevolent when done by the shayteen.

The Vetala

These jinn are often thought of as being the original vampires. They are able to possess corpses and prevent them from decaying. This ability allows them to move freely in the human world and be virtually undetectable. They are extremely intelligent and are thought to be natural psychics. They are often said to have the ability to read thoughts and tell a person's future.

The Jinn Today

Today, with the spread of scientific rationalism, the belief in the jinn amongst muslims is increasingly explained away as being an allegory for natural phenomena. Some people also mentally set the jinn aside as another of God's unfathomable mysteries. However, a 2014 study found that attribution of psychiatric symptoms to the jinn is still common in some muslim populations. Sightings are possibly the most rampant in Bahla, which is a remote Arabic outpost in Oman. Some people say that the jinn cannot physically possess human beings, and that the worst they can do is plant thoughts in the mind; leaving it to the individual to accept or reject the thought. Some muslims also believe the jinn are metaphorical, but others say that denying belief in the jinn negates someone's belief in Islam.

A girl has claimed that a bully at her school nearly choked when her tongue swelled up after breaking another student's necklace. The student began speaking in a male voice and claimed to be a jinn who had travelled from afar. Later the parents revealed that the jewelery was bought from a shaman to specifically hold in the malevolent spirit. Another report comes from the devout muslim post graduate, Muhammed al-Hinai. He reported seeing a pale woman in rags, and he heard her cackle in Bahla, Oman. Another local to Bahla claimed that their sibling displayed personality changes after encountering a spirit. The brother was found some nights muttering unintelligble words against a wall. Harib al-Shukhaili, an exorcist local to Bahla, claims to have treated over 5000 people. He also says the jinn want to split us apart, and refers to it as 'the burden of Bahla'.

There are different interpretations of the jinn. Some say it was a classification for a specific group of humans that lived outside of the societies of ancestors. It's also hypothesised that these people were sinful and unruly people who were evil and prideful. Another interpretation is that they are a psychological response to loneliness. It's thought they are a way of entertaining and soothing the mind. In Arabic terminology, this is known as 'waswas' which means whisperings in the mind which can be associated with mind games and wishful thinking. It's often believed that these whisperings are caused by Satan, and it's thought to result in the belief of something being present when nothing is. The imagined then goes on to become a legend which is passed down, and this legend serves as a powerful suggestion to the imaginations that hear it; and so the stories continue.

The jinn are also thought to be a way of explaining illness and disease. The description of jinn being invisible creatures who can cause illness shares similarities to bacteria, viruses, and microorganisms. They not only have similarities in effect on humans, but also in where they can be found. In Saudi Arabia, the death penalty was implemented for cases dealing with jinn in order to prevent sorcery and witchcraft becoming rampant. Literalist believers in the jinn are known as Salafists, and practice Salafism; something which is nationally done across Saudi Arabia. To these practitioners, summoning a jinn is the same as summoning a demon as they believe demons to be unbelieving jinn.

My Thoughts

I think the latter explanations of the jinn regarding being a way of explaining disease and disaster are likely the correct ones. Humans are always trying to give things explanations, and sometimes plagues and disasters occur for no real reason or purpose at all. I think the earlier humans either didn't want to, or couldn't, accept that and so they created gods and creatures such as the jinn to explain the world that they couldn't yet understand. So, I think this explanation is definitely fitting for the mythology around the jinn.

As for if I think some sort of spirit exists in their place, I don't know. I think people could easily create conspiracy theories around the jinn, and they could describe them as a civilisation which existed before humans and helped to build the pyramids. As for the spiritual side, I think there could be something there. The shapeshifting factor is particularly interesting to me as I do believe spirits are not bound to one particular form, and that they can appear however they wish to appear. The jinn do somewhat fit this thought, and it is said they can appear as family members. I've speculated that angels and demons are just human spirits which run on either the positive or the negative, so perhaps this kind of mis-identification is what led to jinn.

I definitely want expecting to find information relating to King Solomon, or to vampires, so that was incredibly interesting. Regarding the vampires, and the ghouls, the jinn could have been created in a similar way to how I speculated about the wendigo. The stories could have been a way of keeping people safe from murderers, dark places, and dark habits. I definitely think that folklore like this has more of a hand in being psychological than it does in being literal.

Thank You!

Thank you for reading this article! I've been wanting to write about the jinn for about a year or so, so I'm glad to have finally gotten round to it. A big reason I wanted to write about them was because they were discussed in an episode of 'Help! My House Is Haunted' that I watched, so I thought best to research them and write and article in order to promote the information which is out there about them. Tv programmes always pose a risk of spreading misinformation unknowingly to the viewer, so I'm glad to have written this article which hopefully counter-balances that. The next article will document a location in Cornwall, and then next Friday I will be documenting a couple of people who were involved with the paranormal.

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Sources I Have Used

1. Britannica

2. Study.com

3. Middle East Eye

4. All That's Interesting

5. Mythology.net

6. Ancient Origins

7. History

8. Britannica: Shaitan

9. Fandom

10. History: Jinn

11. 72. Jinn