Belief in the Jinns is a part of the belief in the unseen; and it is one of the attributes of the pious and successful people. Here inshaa Allaah, we shall explore the belief of the Muslim concerning these creatures based on the Qur'aan and Sunnah as transmitted by the pious predecessors.
What they are.
The Jinns are creatures of Allaah that are different from humans and angels. While man was created from clay, the angels from light, Allaah created the Jinns from smokeless flame of fire before the creation of man. He says:
"And the jinn, we created aforetime from the smokeless flame of fire." (Q15:27).
He also says:
"And the jinns did He create from a smokeless flame of fire." (Q55:15).
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“The angels were created from light, the jinn were created from smokeless fire, and Aadam was created from what has been described to you (by Allaah in the Qur'aan)." (Muslim)...
Concerning their being created before man Allaah says:
"And indeed, we created man from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud. And the jinn, we created aforetime from the smokeless flame of fire" (Q15:26-27).
Denials
A few of the people deny the existence of the Jinns. While some of the polytheists claim that the Jinns are the souls of the planets, some of the philosophers claim that Jinns are the evil inclinations in the souls of mankind in the same way the angels are the inclinations for good in the soul of man. Yet some of the modern day people allege that the Jinns are the bacteria and microbes that modern science has recently discovered.
It is necessary to mention that what most of these deniers can say is that they have no knowledge concerning the existence of the Jinns from what they were created, whether they eat, drink? Whetherthey procreate? What forms and shape they take and similar other issues.
Rebuttals
Concerning these denials which are based on ignorance, Allaah says:
"Nay, they deny that; the knowledge whereof they could not compass..."(Q10:39).
Also, the statements of Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) some of which are quoted above; clearly mention what the Jinns were created from. And they establish that the Jinns actually exist as separate creatures different from mankind and angels. Do the Jinns actually exist? Yes, they do, and it is a part of the belief of the Muslims. Allaah says:
"Say (o Muhammad): "It has been revealed to me that a group (from three to ten in number) of jinns listened (to this Qur'aan). They said: 'Verily! We have heard a wonderful Recital (this Qur'aan)!" (Q72:1).
He also says:
"And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the masculine among the jinns, but they (jinns) increased them (mankind) in sin and disbelief." (Q72:6).
Similar verses abound in the Qur'aan.
Inshaa Allaah, in our next edition we shall be looking into the statements of Allaah and his Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)concerning the issues of whether they eat or drink; whether they procreate or not what forms and shape they take and other similar issues."
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited