The Difference Between the Terms Jinn and Shaytan in the Qur'an
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Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, is there a difference between the terms jinn and shaytan in the Noble Qur'an?
Answer:
Linguistically, the term jinn is applied to that which is hidden; a hidden thing is called jinn. It is derived from jannah, which means a screen or covering, and from the phrase "when the night had covered them" (fa-lamma jana-ha al-layl), meaning when the darkness of night set in. Jannah is a screen, and ijtinan is concealment. The jinn are called jinn because they are hidden from us; we do not see them. Iblis is among the jinn in the sense that we do not see him[Al-A'raf 7:27]. He is among the jinn, meaning among the created beings that we do not see.
As for whether he is of the lineage of the jinn, Allah knows best. He was with the angels in the heavens, and when they were commanded to prostrate, he refused to prostrate. So Allah expelled him from the highest assembly to the earth, casting him down to the earth and cursing him. And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says, "He was of the jinn." Was he of the jinn in the sense of being from the hidden realm that we do not see, or was he of the jinn by lineage? The apparent view is that he is of the jinn by lineage. The jinn are of two types: believing Muslim jinn and disbelieving jinn who are shayatin. The term shaytan is applied to a rebellious one, whether from the jinn or from the humans; the shayatin of humans and jinn. Even among the animals, some are shayatin; some of the animals are shayatin. Therefore, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Ibn Hibban 47:105 The term shaytan is applied to the rebellious, stubborn one, whether from the jinn, the humans, the animals, or the children of Adam. Yes.
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, is there a difference between the terms jinn and shaytan in the Noble Qur'an?
Answer:
Linguistically, the term jinn is applied to that which is hidden; a hidden thing is called jinn. It is derived from jannah, which means a screen or covering, and from the phrase "when the night had covered them" (fa-lamma jana-ha al-layl), meaning when the darkness of night set in. Jannah is a screen, and ijtinan is concealment. The jinn are called jinn because they are hidden from us; we do not see them. Iblis is among the jinn in the sense that we do not see him
Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them
إِنَّهُ يَرَاكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَهُمْAs for whether he is of the lineage of the jinn, Allah knows best. He was with the angels in the heavens, and when they were commanded to prostrate, he refused to prostrate. So Allah expelled him from the highest assembly to the earth, casting him down to the earth and cursing him. And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says, "He was of the jinn." Was he of the jinn in the sense of being from the hidden realm that we do not see, or was he of the jinn by lineage? The apparent view is that he is of the jinn by lineage. The jinn are of two types: believing Muslim jinn and disbelieving jinn who are shayatin. The term shaytan is applied to a rebellious one, whether from the jinn or from the humans; the shayatin of humans and jinn. Even among the animals, some are shayatin; some of the animals are shayatin. Therefore, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"The black dog, the wild one, for it is a shaytan."
في الْكَلْبَ الأَسْوَدَ الْبَهِيمَ فَإِنَّهُ شَيْطَانٌ،
Source
الفرق بين لفظ الجن والشيطان — alfawzan.live
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