The Relationship between the Jinns and Humans - I

08/05/2013| IslamWeb

The world of Jinns and devils and the world of humans are two different worlds. The world of the humans is visible to the Jinns, while the world of Jinns is a matter of the unseen for humans. The connection between the two worlds exists - in its worst form - in the form of subjection, sorcery, jugglery and mutual exploitation.

If we contemplated the relationship between the two worlds since the old times, we would find that it witnessed no change. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):

• {And there were men from mankind who sought refuge in men from the Jinns, so they [only] increased them in burden.} [Quran 72:6]
• {And [mention, O Muhammad], the Day when He will gather them together [and say], "O company of Jinns, you have [misled] many of mankind." And their allies among mankind will say,

"Our Lord, some of us made use of others, and we have [now] reached our term, which you appointed for us." He will say, "The Fire is your residence, wherein you will abide eternally, except for what Allah wills. Indeed, your Lord is Wise and Knowing."} [Quran 6:128]

This verse summarizes the basis of the relationship between the humans and the Jinns stating that it is based on the exchange of – what the two parties perceive as - interests, which are in fact no more than absolute harms. The benefits that the humans can get from the Jinns are represented in seeking refuge with them and the feeling that they are under their protection. That is why when the people of Jaahiliyyah would settle in a valley or any place in the wilderness, they used to say, `I seek refuge with the master of this valley…” As for the benefits that the Jinns get from the humans, it is the feeling of pride and arrogance. That is because when the humans seek refuge with them, they would then boast and say, "We have become masters of mankind and Jinns.''

This is the opinion of the scholars of Tafseer, but it is obvious that this is a mini picture of the relationship of the mutual utilization between the Jinns and the humans, because the relationship is wider than mere seeking refuge with the Jinn and the latter considering this as a source of pride. However, the relationship remains within this framework, as some humans obey and even worship the Jinn in return for getting services related to sorcery and jugglery. Hence, there is a real relationship between the humans and the Jinns but in the worst and meanest forms.

In this article, we will try to shed light on some aspects of this relationship between the two parties (the humans and the Jinns) depending on Quranic texts and authentic Hadeeths to form a correct perception about it:

1- Misleading humans and corrupting them:

This is the ultimate wish of the devils and their life mission. Satan only honors the devils who excel in misleading and corrupting people. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy. He only invites his party to be among the companions of the Blaze.} [Quran 35:6]

Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet said, “Satan erects his throne on water and sends his emissaries among the people. The closest to him is the one who causes the most Fitnah. One of them (a devil) would come to him and would say, ’I kept inciting so-and-so, until he said such and such words.' Satan says, ‘You have not done much.' Another devil would come to him and would say, ’I kept inciting so-and-so, until I separated between him and his wife.' Satan would draw him closer, saying, ’Yes, you are the (best) one.” [Muslim]

2- Humans worshipping Jinns:

This is the worst aspect of the relationship between the Jinns and the humans. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {But they have attributed to Allah partners - the Jinn...} [Quran 6:100]

Al-Qurtubi commented on this verse saying:

This refers to another ignorant belief of the Arab polytheists who used to attribute partners from the Jinns to Allah The Almighty. Attributing partners from the Jinns to Allah means obeying them just as they obey Allah The Almighty.

3- Devils teach people sorcery:

Some people believe that magic or sorcery confers a supernatural power that allows them to control the other humans. Others believe that the Jinns and devils possess the power of sorcery and the knowledge of teaching it; hence, they obey them in return for getting this power or learning its principles. The devils exploited this belief and made it contingent upon Disbelief in Allah The Almighty. Thus, this achieved two benefits for them; they deceived people into disbelief and they spread corruption among them. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And they followed [instead] what the devils had recited during the reign of Solomon. It was not Solomon, who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic and that which was revealed to the two angels at Babylon, Harut, and Marut. But the two angels do not teach anyone unless they say, "We are a trial, so do not disbelieve [by practicing magic]." And [yet] they learn from them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife. But they do not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allah. And the people learn what harms them and does not benefit them. But the Children of Israel certainly knew that whoever purchased the magic would not have in the Hereafter any share. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew.} [Quran 2:102]

There is no doubt that sorcery is the widest window through which the devils of the Jinns contact the devils of the humans, and because of it many people have been misled.

4- Harming the humans:

The Jinns have the ability to harm the humans by the Permission of Allah The Almighty. The Prophet said, “The devil circulates in a person like blood (in the blood streams).” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said, “The Jinns may harm the humans either in ways that are prohibited for both humans and the Jinns or through coercion and oppression.”

The harm that the Jinns may inflict upon the humans has many forms such as:

A. Entering the human body and causing epilepsy:

Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands that is being beaten by Satan into insanity.} [Quran 2:275]

Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said:

The fact that jinn can enter human bodies is proven by the consensus of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa‘ah…

…. ‘Abdullaah son of Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal said; “I said to my father, ‘There are some people who say that the jinn do not enter the body of the epileptic.’ He said: ‘O my son, they are lying; the jinn could speak through this person’s tongue.’”

What he said is well-known, because a person may suffer an epileptic seizure and speak in a language that no one understands, and his body may be beaten with blows that would fell a camel, but the epileptic does not feel them at all, and he is also unaware of the words he is saying. The epileptic and others may be dragged about, or the carpet on which he is sitting may be pulled, and utensils may be moved about from place to place, and other things may happen. Anyone who witnesses such a thing will know for sure that the one who is speaking through the person and moving these things is not human.” And he said, may Allah have mercy on him: “There is no one among the Imaams of the Muslims who denies that jinn may enter the body of the epileptic and others. Anyone who denies that and claims that Islam denies it is lying about Islam. There is nothing in the proofs of Sharee’ah to show that it does not happen.

As regards the causes of entering the human body by the Jinns and causing epilepsy, Ibn Taymiyyah said:

When the jinn touches a person with epilepsy, it may be because of desire or love, just as happens between one human and another… or it may – as is usually the case – be because of hatred and punishment, such as when a person has harmed them or they think that he has harmed them deliberately, either by urinating on them or pouring hot water on them or killing them, even if the person did that unknowingly. There are ignorant and wrongdoing ones among the jinn who may punish a person more than he deserves, or they may be playing with him and mistreating him, like foolish people among mankind.

B. Striking humans by the evil eyes of the Jinns:

Umm Salamah reported that the Prophet saw in her house a young girl whose face had a discolored spot. He said: “Seek Ruqyah for her, because she is struck with an evil eye.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Al-Haafith commented on this Hadeeth saying:

The scholars held different opinions regarding what is meant by the “evil eye” in this Hadeeth. Some scholars said that this evil eye is from the Jinns, while others said that it is from the humans, and Abu ‘Ubayd Al-Harawi confirmed the latter opinion. However, it is more acceptable to consider that the indication here is general and that the girl was struck by an evil eye. Hence, the Prophet allowed her to seek Ruqyah. Of course, this Hadeeth proves the permissibility of seeking Ruqyah to treat those who are struck by the evil eye.

C. Sharing with the humans their food, drink, and all affairs:

Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet said, “The devil attends everything done by you; he attends even one's dinner. When a morsel falls from any of you, he should pick it up and remove any dirt on it, and then eat it. He should not leave it for the devil, and when he is done he should lick his fingers, for he does not know in what portion of the food the blessing lies.” [Muslim]

D. Harming the human newborns by the Jinn:

Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet said, “No child is born but the devil touches it when it is born whereupon it screams, except Mary and her son." Abu Hurayrah then said, "Recite, if you wish: {and I seek refuge for her in You and [for] her descendants from Satan, the expelled [from the mercy of Allah]."} [Quran 3:36] Al-Qurtubi said, “That poke from the devil is the beginning of empowerment; so Allah protected Maryam and her son by the blessing of the supplication of her mother, who had said: {I seek refuge for her in You and for her descendants from Satan, the expelled from the mercy of Allah}.”

To be continued…