HE HUMAN RACE HAS BEEN entrusted with the care, upkeep, and overall balance of our planet. This stewardship is a delicate relationship; even small mistakes can have devastating longterm results on the environment. The Qur'an makes it clear that the djinn failed in this responsibility and were replaced by human beings. If the human race takes the time to study the mistakes the djinn made when they were stewards of this planet, then perhaps we can avoid the major environmental catastrophes that might take place in the near future.
The djinn are a beautiful creation of God, made from fire or a special smokeless flame. In modern terminology, it can be said that they are beings of plasma in its most energetic state. Just like humans, they have free will and the ability to choose between good and evil. Their exercising it means the djinn have (or had) the ability to take action and better the state of their environment, or upset its balance for selfish or misguided reasons. Iblis, the ascended djinni who earned the right to live among the angels, exercised his free will when God ordered him and the other djinn to bow down in honor of man. In defiance, he yelled out, "No! I am superior to he!" As the result of this, Iblis was thrown out of the company of angels, becoming the adversary of the human race forever.
The Qur'an makes it clear that not all djinn are evil: some walk the path to God and follow the teaching of not only the Prophet Muhammad, but also Jesus Christ, whose teachings were meant for all sentient beings, not just humanity. The Qur'an devotes an entire chapter to the djinn race, enabling us to learn and understand more about our predecessors, hopefully learning from their accomplishments and mistakes.
Did the Djinn Affect Human History?
The djinn were created before mankind and were entrusted with great knowledge and power. That knowledge gave the djinn the ability to manipulate the physical world around them. Many civilizations of ancient history attribute their growth and development to one or a group of mysterious benefactors who descended from the sky and glowed or burned like fire. Were they actually djinn?
When Moses received the Ten Commandments, he saw God as a burning bush. The flame that engulfed the bush didn't consume it, and it didn't give off any smoke. When the Israelites left Egypt, Pharaoh's soldiers were held at bay by a "pillar of fire." Both the burning bush and the pillar of fire resemble the Qur'an's description of the djinn. If they were perceived as gods from the sky, they may have steered humanity in unique directions. They may have even shaped humanity's ancient religious beliefs and been responsible for the multiple gods and goddesses worshipped in ancient cultures around the world.
A Lesson to Be Learned
The djinn failed in the trust God had given them, and as a result, lost dominion over the earth. Responsibility was passed to the human race and we are now entrusted with that same knowledge and control. However, God states in the Qur'an that if humanity fails in what has been entrusted to us, God will raise up another to take our place, just as we were created to take the djinn's place. Is it possible that we may soon see drastic changes on our planet?
The Djinn and the Qur'an
Al-Djinn ("The Djinn") is the surah (chapter or book within the Qur'an) dedicated to them and what makes this chapter especially interesting is that the djinn seem to be speaking in first-person. Since translations of the Qur'an into English differ slightly from scholar to scholar, we have consulted three different versions in our research, but primarily used the Asim reader version. We also have included our comments at the end of a number of chapters. Please note that Qur'an references to a "him," "his," or "he" usually mean Allah (God).
The djinn are also mentioned in a number of Islamic writings, and one must read passages carefully to fully understand their meaning. We have included passages from the Qur'an and a few passages from hadith (one of the most well known being the Sahih al-Bukhari), which are texts concerning the words and actions of the Prophet, considered as important to Islamic life as the Qur'an itself.
THE QUR'AN-AL-DJINN (THE DJINN) 72.I-28
[72.1] Say: It has been revealed to me that hundreds of djinn listened (to the Qur'an) and said, `We have really heard a wonderful recital!
[72.2] `It gives guidance to the right path, and we have believed therein: we shall not join (in worship) any (gods) but our Lord Allah.
[72.3] `And Exalted is the Majesty of our Lord: He has taken neither a wife nor a son.
[72.4] `There were some foolish ones among us, who used to utter extravagant lies against Allah;
[72.5] `But we do think that no man or djinn should say aught that untrue against Allah.
[72.6] `True, there were persons among mankind who took shelter with persons among the djinn, but they increased them in folly.
[72.7] `And djinn and men came to think as ye thought, that Allah would not raise up anyone (to Judgment).
[72.8] `And we sought to reach into the secrets of heaven; but we found it filled with stern guards and flaming fires.
[72.9] `We used, indeed, to sit there in (hidden) stations, to (steal) a hearing; but any who listen now will find a flaming fire watching him in ambush.
[72.10] `And we understand not whether ill is intended to those on earth, or whether their Lord (really) intends to guide them to right conduct.
[72.11] `There are among us some that are righteous, and some the contrary: we follow divergent paths. Many of us djinn worship Allah in their own way.
[72.12] `But we think that we can by no means frustrate Allah throughout the earth, nor can we frustrate him by flight.
[72.13]. And as for us, since we have listened to the Guidance, we have accepted it: and any who believes in his Lord has no fear, either of a short (account) or of any injustice.
[72.14] `Amongst us are some that submit their wills (to Allah), and some that swerve from justice. Now those who submit their wills-they have sought out the path of right conduct:
[72.15] `But those who swerve, they are (but) fuel for Hellfire.'-
[72.16] (And Allah's Message is): "If the non-believers had only remained on the (right) Way, we should certainly have bestowed on them Rain in abundance.
[72.17] "That we might try them by that (means). But if any turns away from the remembrance of his Lord, he will cause him to undergo a severe Penalty.
[72.18] "And the places of worship are for Allah (alone) so invoke not any one along with Allah;
[72.19] "Yet when the devotee of Allah stands forth to invoke him, they just make round him a dense crowd."
[72.20] Say: "I do no more than invoke my Lord, and I join not with him any false god."
[72.21] Say: "It is not in my power to cause you harm, or to bring you to right conduct."
[72.22] Say: "No one can deliver me from Allah (If I were to disobey Him), nor should I find refuge except in Him,
[72.23] "Unless I proclaim what I receive from Allah and his Messages: for any that disobey Allah and his messenger, for them is Hell: they shall dwell therein for ever."
[72.24] At length, when they see (with their own eyes) that which they are promised, then will they know who it is that is weakest in (his) helper and least important in point of numbers.
[72.25] Say: "I know not whether the (Punishment) which ye are promised is near, or whether my Lord will appoint for it a distant term.
[72.26] "He (alone) knows the Unseen, nor does he make any one acquainted with His Mysteries,-
[72.27] "Except a messenger whom He has chosen: and then He makes a band of watchers march before and behind him,
[72.28] "That He may know that they have (truly) brought and delivered the Messages of their Lord: and He surrounds (all the mysteries) that are with them, and takes account of every single thing."
Comments: This is a remarkable chapter, for the djinn seem to be the ones speaking. They make it clear that only the followers of Iblis are evil and there are many djinn who are Islamic, Christian, and followers of other religions. They also indicate that they have the ability to fly and in the past have often gone up to heaven to eavesdrop on the angels, b
ut then were blocked by "fire" or some type of energy barrier. In the Bible and other Judeo-Christian literature, angels are depicted as being, or being surrounded by, pillars of fire. The cherubim, a high order of angel, wield swords of fire to guard access to the Trees of Life and and Knowledge, and the gates of Eden-in other words, the secrets of heaven.
THE QUR'AN-AL-HIJR (STONE LAND, ROCK CITY) 15.26-40
[15.26] And indeed, we created man from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud.
[15.27] And the djinn race, we created aforetime from the smokeless flame of fire.
[15.28] And remember when your Lord said to the angels: "I am going to create a man (Adam) from sounding clay from mud moulded into shape;
[15.29] So, when I have fashioned him completely and breathed into him the soul which I created for him, then fall down prostrating yourselves unto him."
[15.30] So, the angels prostrated themselves, all of them together. Except Iblis (Satan),-he refused to be among the pros- trators.
[15.31] Allah said: "0 Iblis! What is your reason for not being among the prostrators?
[15.32] Iblis said: I am not the one to prostrate myself to a human being, whom you created from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud.
[15.33] Allah said: Then, get out from here, for verily, you are rajim.'
[15.34] And verily, the curse shall be upon you till the Day of Resurrection.
[15.35] Iblis said: 0 my Lord! Give me then respite till the day the dead will be resurrected.
[15.36] Allah said: Then, verily, you are of those reprieved, Till the Day of the time appointed.
[15.37] Iblis (Satan) said: 0 my Lord! because you misled me, I shall indeed adorn the path of error for mankind on the earth, and I shall mislead them all.
[15.38] Accept you are chosen among them.
[15.39] Allah said: This is the Way which will lead straight to me.
[15.40] Certainly, you shall have no authority over my chosen ones, except those who follow you of the ghawin.2
Additional References to Djinn in the Qur'an
THE QUR'AN-AL-ANAAM (CATTLE AND LIVESTOCK) 6.ioo, 112, 128, 130
[6.100] And they make the djinn associates with Allah, while He created them, and they falsely attribute to Him sons and daughters without knowledge; glory be to Him, and highly exalted is He above what they ascribe.
[6.112] And thus did we make for every prophet an enemy, the shaitans3 from among men and djinn, some of them suggesting to others varnished falsehood to deceive, and had your Lord pleased they would not have done it, therefore leave them and that which they forge.
[6.128] And on the day when he shall gather them all together: 0 assembly of djinn! You took away a great part of mankind. And their friends from among the men shall say: Our Lord! Some of us profited by others and we have reached our appointed term which Thou didst appoint for us. He shall say: The fire is your abode, to abide in it, except as Allah is pleased; surely your Lord is wise, knowing.
[6.130] "0 ye assembly of Jinns and men! came there not unto you messengers from amongst you, setting forth unto you My signs, and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say: "We bear witness against ourselves." It was the life of this world that deceived them. So against themselves will they bear witness that they rejected Faith."
Yet, they join the djinn as partners in worship with Allah, though He has created them (the djinn), and they attribute falsely without knowledge sons and daughters to Him. Be He glorified and exalted above all that they attribute to him. He is the originator of the heavens and the earth. How can he have children when He has no wife? He created all things and he is the all-knower of everything. Such is Allah, your Lord! So worship Him Alone, and he is the wakil4 over all things.
Comments: This chapter centers on the fall of Iblis from the grace of God. He is allowed to influence men who have strayed away from the right path, but not allowed to touch those who are chosen. Here we see that some djinn did not teach the worship of God to their children, and that some djinn have corrupted human beings. The evil djinn have assigned devils, evil men, or djinn to attack the prophets.
THE QUR'AN-AL-ARAF (THE HEIGHTS) 7.38, P79
[7.38] He will say: Enter into fire among the nations that have passed away before you from among djinn and men; whenever a nation shall enter, it shall curse its sister, until when they have all come up with one another into it; the last of them shall say with regard to the foremost of them: Our Lord! These led us astray therefore give them a double chastisement of the fire. He will say: Every one shall have double but you do not know.
[7.179] And surely, we have created many of the djinn and mankind for Hell. They have hearts wherewith they understand not, they have eyes wherewith they see not, and they have ears wherewith they hear not the truth. They are like cattle, nay even more astray; those! They are the heedless ones. Some people asked Allah's Apostle about the foretellers [fortune tellers]. He said, "They are nothing." They said, "0 Allahs Apostle! Sometimes they tell us of a thing which turns out to be true." Allah's Apostle said, "A djinn snatches that true word and pours it into the ear of his friend the foreteller as one puts something into a bottle. The foreteller then mixes with that word one hundred lies. And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaitan (Satan) then seek refuge with Allah. Verily, he is all-hearer, all-knower. And they have invented a kinship between Him and the djinn, but the djinn know well that they have indeed to appear before. And on the Day when He will gather them together and say: 0 you assembly of djinn! Many did you mislead of men 0 you assembly of djinn and mankind! Did not there come to you Messengers from amongst you, reciting unto you my verses and warning you of the meeting of this day of yours? They will say: "We bear witness against ourselves. It was the life of this world that deceived them. And they will bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.
Comments: The Qur'an is against fortune-telling and the readings of today's psychics and mediums. Christianity also takes a similar stance on this topic.
THE QUR'AN-HUD (THE HOLY PROPHET) 11.119
Except him on whom your Lord has bestowed his mercy and for that did he create them. And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled. Surely, I shall fill Hell with djinn and men all together. This is because your Lord would not destroy the populations of towns for their wrongdoing while their people were unaware.
THE QUR'AN-IBRAHIM (ABRAHAM) 14.22
And Shaitan (Iblis/Satan) will say when the matter has been decided: Verily, Allah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, so you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Satan) as a partner with Allah. Verily, there is a painful torment for those who do not believe or worship other gods.
THE QUR'AN-AL-ISRA (IsRA, THE NIGHT JOURNEY, CHILDREN OF ISRAEL) 17.61-64, 88
[17.61] And when we said to the angels: "Prostrate unto Adam." They prostrated except Iblis. He said: "Shall I prostrate to one whom you created from clay?"
[17.62] Iblis said: "See? This one whom You have honored above me, if You give me respite and keep me alive to the Day of Resurrection, I will surely seize and mislead his offspring, all but a few!"
[17.63] (Allah) said: "Go thy way; if any of them follow thee, verily Hell will be the recompense of you (all)-an ample recompense."
[17.64] "Lead to destruction those whom thou canst among them, with thy (seductive) voice; make assaults on them with thy cavalry and thy infantry; mutually share with them wealth and children; and make promises to them." But Satan promises them nothing but deceit.
[17.88] Say: "If the whole of mankind and djinn were to gather together to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help and support."
THE QUR'AN-AL-KAHF (THE CAVE) 18,50
And when We said to the angels: make obeisance to Adam; they mad
e obeisance, but Iblis did it not. He was of the djinn, so he transgressed the commandment of his Lord. What! would you then take him and his offspring for friends rather than me, and they are your enemies? Evil is change for the unjust.
THE QUR'AN-AN-NAML (THE ANT) 27.I7, 39
[27.17] And his hosts of the djinn and the men and the birds were gathered to him, and they were formed into groups.
[27.39] One audacious among the djinn said: I will bring it to you before you rise up from your place.
Comment: The above passages indicate the djinn formed groups or clans.
THE QUR'AN-AS-SAJDA (THE ADORATION) 32.13
And if We had pleased we would certainly have given to every soul its guidance, but the word from me was just: I will certainly fill hell with the djinn and men together.
Comment: This is another reference that Hell was not made for only evil human beings, but for the djinn as well.
THE QUR'AN-SABA (SHEBA) 34.12, 14, 41
[34.12] And we (the djinn) made the wind subservient to Sulayman (Solomon), which made a month's journey in the morning and a months journey in the evening, and we made a fountain of molten copper to flow out for him, and of the djinn there were those who worked before him by the command of his Lord; and whoever turned aside from Our command from among them, We made him taste of the punishment of burning.
[34.14] But when We decreed death for him, naught showed them his death but a creature of the earth that ate away his staff; and when it fell down, the djinn came to know plainly that if they had known the unseen, they would not have tarried in abasing torment.
[34.41] They shall say: Glory be to Thee! Thou art our Guardian, not they; nay! they worshipped the djinn; most of them were believers in them.
Comments: This points to the ability of the djinn to turn one substance into another. During the time of King Solomon copper was highly sought after to make bronze. This passage also tells us of the djinn servitude to Solomon as punishment and that other powerful djinn enforced this action.
The Vengeful Djinn: Unveiling the Hidden Agenda of Genies Page 6