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._001.jpg) We are not alone! This statement sounds a little like an ad for a
science fiction movie. It could be just that, but it is not. We really are
not alone here on earth. We are God’s creatures but we are not God’s only
creatures. In the past two articles we have learned a great deal about the
jinn. We established that they were created by God, before the creation of
humankind, from smokeless fire. We also established that the jinn are both
male and female, good and bad, believers and non believers.
Jinn exist in our world yet they are separate from it.
Shaytaan is from the jinn and his followers are from both the jinn and
humankind. Now that we understand that we are not alone, it becomes necessary
to recognise signs indicating the presence of the jinn and know how to protect
ourselves from their mischief and evil doing.
“And indeed, We created man from clay of altered mud. And the
jinn, We created aforetime from the smokeless flame of fire.” (Quran 15:26-27)
“I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”
(Quran 51:56)
Because the jinn share this world with us we should know
their dwelling places. Jinn tend to gather together, sometimes in great
numbers, in ruins and deserted places. They tend to gather in places of filth,
garbage dumps and graveyards. Jinn at times congregate in places where it is
easy for them to cause mischief and mayhem, such as market places.
In the traditions of Prophet Muhammad, may God praise
him, we find that some of the companions advised people not to be the first to
enter or the last to leave market places because they were the battle grounds
for the devils and mischief makers.
If a Shaytaan chooses a human dwelling as its own place
of stay, we are given the “weapons” through which we can expel them from the
homes. These include saying Bismillah (I begin with the name of God),
remembering God frequently and reciting any words from the Quran but especially
Chapters two and three. The jinn also flee whenever they hear the call to
prayer.
Prophet Muhammad explained that jinn congregate in great
numbers and spread out as darkness falls. He commanded us to keep our
children inside at dusk for this reason.
He also told us that the jinn have animals and that the food for their animals
is the dung of our animals.
Sometimes, animals that belong to humankind are
associated with the jinn. For instance, many of the jinn are able to take on
the form of snakes and Prophet Muhammad referred to black dogs as devils. He
also said, “Do not pray in camels’ pens for devils dwell therein.” He associated camels
with jinn due to their aggressive nature.
There are many ways that we can protect ourselves and
our families from the mischief caused by the jinn. The most important is to
turn to God and seek his protection; we do this by adhering to the words of
Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad. Seeking refuge in God will
protect us from the jinn and devils. We should seek His protection when we
enter the bathroom,
when we become angry,
before sexual intercourse,
and resting on a journey or travelling into a valley.
It is also important to seek refuge with God when reading Quran.
“So when you want to recite the Quran, seek refuge with God
from Shaytaan (Satan), the outcast (the cursed one). Verily! He has no power
over those who believe and put their trust only in their Lord.” (Quran
16:98-99)
Understanding the nature of the jinn makes it possible
to understand some of the strange phenomena that occur in our world today. People
turn to fortune tellers and psychics to see into the future or the unknown. Men
and women on the television and internet claim to speak to dead people and
relay secrets and mysterious information. Islam teaches us that this is not
possible. Soothsayers and astrologists allege that they can predict the future
and read personalities by the alignment of the stars and other heavenly
bodies. Islam teaches us that this too is not possible.
However, in the ancient past the jinn were able to
ascend into the heavens. At that time they were able to eavesdrop and find out
about events before they happened. During the time of Prophet Muhammad
heavenly protection was increased and remains so still. The jinn are no long able
to eavesdrop on conversations in the heavenly realm.
“And we have sought to reach the heaven; but found it filled
with stern guards and flaming fires. And verily, we used to sit there in
stations, to (steal) a hearing, but any who listens now will find a flaming
fire watching him in ambush. And we know not whether evil is intended for
those on earth, or whether their Lord intends for them a Right Path.” (Quran
72:8-10)
Prophet Muhammad explained the meaning of these
verses. “When God has ordained some affair in the Heaven, the angels beat
with their wings in obedience to His statement, which sounds like a chain
dragged over a rock. They (angels) say, ‘What was it that your Lord said? Some
answer, ‘The truth, And He is the Most High, the Most Great.’ (Quran
34.23) Then those who gain a hearing by stealing (i.e. devils or jinn)
stand one over the other. A flame may overtake and burn the eavesdropper before
he conveys the news to the one below him, or it may not overtake him till he
has conveyed it to the one below him, who in his turn, conveys it to the one
below him, and so on till they convey the news to the earth.
The jinn are able to take a grain of truth and mix it
with lies to confuse and confound people. Strange phenomena though
disconcerting and sometimes scary are nothing more than evil mischief making
designed to tear people away from God. Sometimes the jinn and human devils
will team up to trick the believers into committing the sin of shirk
–associating partners with God.
Sometimes in this strange and wonderful world we are
confronted with trials and tribulations that often seem to weigh us down. Dealing
with the mischief making and evil intentions of the jinn seems to be an even
bigger test. However it is comforting to know that God is the source of all
strength and power and that nothing happens without his permission.
Prophet Muhammad told us that the best words with which
to seek God’s protection from the evil of mankind and jinn are the last three
chapters of the Quran. We may at times have to face the evil doing of the jinn
but God is our safe haven, turning to Him is our rescue. There is no
protection except the protection of God, it is Him alone that we worship and it
is to Him alone that we turn to for help.
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