Muslims, what's a "jinn" ?

[peruban]

And how does it fit in with other Abrahamic religions? Indulge me.

[Solon]

1. I'm not a Muslim, but a jinn(or djinn) is a Genie, a supernatural creature of fire...

they can be both good and evil, they have free will.

[peruban]

2. I have heard that jinn were created from "smokeless fire"

And that a captured jinn is called a genie, but I still don't understand how it fits in with the religion.

[moggie]

3. Barbara Eden, for example n/t

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. A being made of fire, possessing free will

They are a lower order of being than man, less intelligent but much stronger. Islamic legend holds that King Solomon used jinn slaves to build the Temple.

Jinn are mentioned in the Koran, and featured in Sura 72 (titled al-Jinn) in which a group of Jinn convert to Islam.

[peruban]

5. I knew they were a lesser being, but didn't know about the King Solomon legend.

I guess my question is how do they effect us and how do we know of their existence other than the Koran?

[TechBear_Seattle]

6. They are a part of the pre-Islamic folklore of the Arabian peninnsula

There is archaeological evidence that jinn were originally minor gods and tutelary spirits, similar to the concept of genii in Roman religion (the names are only coincidentally similar; the Arabic word JNN carries a meaning of "hidden" or "secret.") The term and a number of stories are also found in the writings of the Nabateans and other non-Arabic, pre-Islamic groups.

[peruban]

9. I looked it up on wikipedia already

I was just hoping for a Muslim DU'er's take on it, maybe an experience or something.

Oh, ad thanks for the Koran link, that'll give me something to mull over for a while.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. They're genies.

Magical spirits, which could be good or evil depending upon which story you're telling.

"And how does it fit in with other Abrahamic religions? Indulge me."

Pretty much the same way angels or demons do. Arabic translations of the Bible translates angels or demons as "jinn."

[peruban]

8. I already know the Wikipedia answer.

I was hoping a Muslim DU'er could give me more detail, maybe an experience, or even just their family perspective.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. As a westerner, what are your experiences with angels and demons?

[peruban]

11. Do you really want to know? I mean, seriously?

My answer may surprise you. I'll tell you if you want, I just don't tell that story very often because it makes me seem crazier than I really am.

[Azooz]

12. Jinn, and things that go bump in the night?

I really am not good at theology, but agree with the above, in English I see the word demons used most to describe Jinn but think the Arabic word is more specific.

The word "Jinn" is also shared by Arab Christians and Jews, but one major difference between Islam and other Abrahamic religions is that Satan is a Jinn and not an Angel. Black magic is related to Jinn, but they are not all evil.

I have never seen a Jinn myself, and hope never to see one, but those that feel the need to can travel in the desert with the Bedouins for a week or two. The Bedouins are not a very religious people but know exactly where to find them if only to avoid those places - the most famous place is a desert wadi called Abqar, that's where the Jinn poets gather - and is also the basis of the Arabic word "Abqariy" meaning "Genius" because it is one of the very high forms of Arabic poetry, crazy and un-human poetry but good.

However, the Koran makes the case that they exist by it's share eloquence in Arabic the same way it explains other things, in Arabic it is easier to believe in them for it's language use alone, but in English I can understand that they are harder to accept.

[Silent3]

13. Something that goes great with tonic...

...when you're visiting the decadent West. :party:

[rug]

14. A spirit mixed with juniper berries.