The Jinn – JSS2 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

The Jinn are unseen beings created by Allah from smokeless fire, who have free will like humans and will be judged on the Day of Judgement.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain the meaning of the word “Jinn” and what the Jinn were created from;
2. state the physical, spiritual and mental characteristics of the Jinn;
3. state the similarities and differences between humans and Jinn;
4. name the types of Jinn and describe where and how they live;
5. list ways a Muslim can seek protection from evil Jinn;
6. narrate the stories of Iblis and of the Jinn who heard the Qur’an.

What are the Jinn?

The Jinn are a group of beings created by Allah who are hidden from human sight in their natural form.

• Sources: the Holy Qur’an and many Hadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) mention them.
• Belief: a Muslim must believe in the Jinn.
• Unseen world: they belong to the unseen world, like the angels.

What does the word “Jinn” mean?

“Jinn” comes from the Arabic root “janna”, which means “to hide” or “to conceal”.

• Reason for the name: the Jinn are hidden from human sight in their natural form.

What were humans, angels and Jinn created from?

How were the Jinn created?

Allah created the Jinn from smokeless fire before He created humans.

• Surah Al-Hijr, 15:27: “And the Jinn, We created before from scorching fire.”
• Surah Ar-Rahman, 55:15: “And He created the Jinn from a smokeless flame of fire.”
• Sahih Muslim: the Prophet (peace be upon him) said angels were created from light, Jinn from smokeless fire, and Adam from what has been described to you (clay).
• Order of creation: the Jinn were created before humans.

What are the characteristics of the Jinn?

The Jinn have physical characteristics and spiritual and mental characteristics.

Physical characteristics

• Invisible to humans: humans cannot normally see Jinn in their natural form.
• Can change form: Jinn can appear in different shapes, including human and animal forms.
• Move quickly: Jinn can cover great distances in a very short time.
• Have bodies and needs: they eat, drink, marry, have children and die.
• Differ in strength: some are strong and some are weak.

Spiritual and mental characteristics

• Free will: Jinn choose between right and wrong, like humans.
• Intelligence: Jinn can understand, learn and make decisions.
• Different beliefs: some Jinn believe in Allah and are Muslims, while others disbelieve.
• Different characters: some are good, kind and helpful, while others are evil and harmful.

How are humans and Jinn alike and different?

Humans are beings made from clay who can be seen, while Jinn are beings made from smokeless fire who are normally unseen. Both have free will.

What are the similarities between humans and Jinn?

1. Creation by Allah: both were created by Allah.
2. Free will: both can choose between good and evil.
3. Accountability: both will be judged on the Day of Judgement.
4. Worship: both were created to worship Allah (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, 51:56).
5. Basic needs: both eat, drink, marry and have children.
6. Death: both humans and Jinn die.

What are the differences between humans and Jinn?

How are the Jinn mentioned in the Qur’an?

The Jinn appear in many places in the Qur’an, and Chapter 72 is named Surah Al-Jinn.

1. Purpose of creation: “And I (Allah) created not the Jinn and humans except that they should worship Me.” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, 51:56)
2. Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon): Allah gave him control over some Jinn who built for him, made statues and dived into the sea.
3. Listening to the Qur’an: a group of Jinn heard the Prophet recite the Qur’an and believed (Surah Al-Jinn).
4. Iblis: he disobeyed Allah and refused to bow to Adam. The Qur’an says: “They prostrated except Iblis. He was one of the Jinn; he disobeyed the Command of his Lord.” (Surah Al-Kahf, 18:50)

What are the types of Jinn?

Five kinds of Jinn are commonly named in Islamic teaching: regular Jinn, Ifrit, Marid, Shayateen and Qarin.

1. Regular Jinn: the common Jinn, who may be good or bad, Muslim or non-Muslim.
2. Ifrit: a strong and powerful Jinn. In Surah An-Naml, 27:39, an Ifrit told Prophet Sulaiman: “I will bring it to you before you rise from your place.”
3. Marid: a powerful Jinn, often described as rebellious.
4. Shayateen (devils): the evil Jinn who follow Iblis and try to mislead humans.
5. Qarin: a Jinn companion assigned to each person. The Prophet said his own Qarin had become Muslim with Allah’s help.

What is the world of the Jinn like?

The Jinn live in our world but are usually found in places humans do not commonly stay.

Where do the Jinn live?

• Deserts and wastelands: lonely places far from towns.
• Ruins: abandoned and empty buildings.
• Graveyards: places away from daily human activity.
• Dirty places: toilets, bathrooms and rubbish dumps.
• Forests and caves: some remote areas.

How do the Jinn live?

• Groups: they live in families and communities.
• Different ways: some are righteous and some are not (Surah Al-Jinn, 72:11).

What special abilities do the Jinn have?

• Speed: they move quickly from place to place.
• Change of form: they can change their appearance.
• Unseen watching: they can see humans while remaining unseen.

How do Jinn and humans interact?

Jinn and humans can affect each other, but Islam teaches caution and trust in Allah.

1. Whispers: Shayateen whisper evil thoughts to humans to lead them into sin.
2. Harm: evil Jinn may try to frighten or harm people out of hatred or mischief.
3. Possession: some scholars teach that Jinn can affect a person’s body or mind.
4. Illness: most illnesses have natural causes, and Islam encourages seeking medical treatment.

How can a Muslim seek protection from evil Jinn?

A Muslim is protected from evil Jinn mainly by strong faith in Allah, prayer and recitation of the Qur’an.

1. Strong faith in Allah: trust in Allah is the best protection.
2. Regular prayer: perform Salah and remember Allah through duas (supplications).
3. Recitation of the Qur’an: recite chapters such as Surah Al-Baqarah, Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas.
4. Clean surroundings: keep the home clean and keep ritual purity.
5. Bismillah: say “Bismillah” (in the name of Allah) before entering places and before eating.
6. Ayatul Kursi: recite the Throne Verse (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:255).
7. Morning and evening adhkar: recite the daily remembrances taught by the Prophet.
8. Avoid lonely places: do not stay alone at night where Jinn are said to live.

What are the common misconceptions about Jinn?

A misconception is a wrong belief, and several are common about the Jinn.

1. “All Jinn are evil”: many Jinn are good, and some are Muslims.
2. “Jinn cause all illnesses”: most illnesses have natural causes and need medical treatment.
3. “Jinn are everywhere around us”: they mostly stay away from busy human areas.
4. “I can control Jinn through magic”: magic and sorcery are forbidden in Islam and harm the person.
5. “Jinn can tell the future”: only Allah knows the unseen, and fortune tellers mix any overheard news with lies.

What is the story of Iblis (Satan)?

Iblis was a Jinn who worshipped Allah and was with the angels when Allah ordered them to bow to Adam.

1. Allah created Adam and ordered the angels to bow down to him.
2. Iblis was with them but refused, saying he was better because he was made from fire and Adam from clay.
3. Because of his pride and disobedience, Allah cursed him and drove him out of Paradise.
4. Iblis asked for a delay until the Day of Judgement, and Allah granted it.
5. He vowed to mislead humans away from the right path.
6. Iblis became Shaytan (Satan), the open enemy of humans, and his followers (Shayateen) whisper evil to people.

What is the story of the Jinn who heard the Qur’an?

A group of Jinn heard Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) reciting the Qur’an, believed in it and called their people to Islam.

1. The Jinn listened to the Prophet reciting the Qur’an.
2. They were amazed and said they had heard a wonderful Qur’an that guides to the right path.
3. They believed and promised never to join partners with Allah (Surah Al-Jinn, 72:1-2).
4. They returned to their people and invited them to Islam.

• Lesson: the message of the Qur’an is for both humans and Jinn.

Evaluation

1. What does the word “Jinn” mean, and from which Arabic root does it come?
2. State what humans, angels and Jinn were each created from.
3. List four physical characteristics of the Jinn.
4. State three similarities and three differences between humans and Jinn.
5. Mention three ways a Muslim can seek protection from evil Jinn.

Assignment

1. Write a short account of Iblis: why he refused to bow to Adam, what happened to him, and what he vowed to do.
2. Choose three misconceptions about Jinn and give the correct teaching on each.