What is the reality of the life of the jinn, and do they marry and die, and do they have an influence on humans?
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The questioner : What is the reality of the life of the jinn? Is there lawful marriage among them? Do they live and die like us humans? Do they have an influence on humans?
The Shaykh : As for the reality of the life of the jinn, Allah knows it best, but we know that the jinn are bodies with a reality, that they were created from fire, that they eat and drink and also intermarry, and that they have offspring, as Allah the Exalted said regarding Satan:[Al-Kahf 18:50], and that they are obligated to perform acts of worship. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was sent to them, and they attended and listened to the Qur'an, as Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Jinn 72:1-2] and as He the Exalted said: [Al-Ahqaf 46:29] to the end of the verses. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said to the jinn who came to him and asked for provisions: Sahih Muslim 450a. They, meaning the jinn, share with the human if he eats and does not mention the name of Allah over his food. For this reason, mentioning the name of Allah over food is obligatory, and likewise over drinking, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded. Therefore, the jinn are a factual reality, and denying them is a denial of the Qur'an and disbelief in Allah (Mighty and Majestic). They are commanded and forbidden, and their disbelievers enter the Fire, as Allah the Exalted said: [Al-A'raf 7:38], and their believers also enter Paradise, due to His saying the Exalted: [Ar-Rahman 55:46-49], and the address is to the jinn and humans, and due to His saying the Exalted: [Al-An'am 6:130] and His saying: [Al-A'raf 7:35], and other verses and texts indicating that they are obligated, entering Paradise if they believe and entering the Fire if they do not believe.
The questioner : Their influence on humans?
The Shaykh : As for their influence on humans, it is also a reality. They influence humans either by entering the body of a person, causing him to be stricken and to suffer pain, or by influencing him through fear and terror, and the like of that.
The Shaykh : As for the reality of the life of the jinn, Allah knows it best, but we know that the jinn are bodies with a reality, that they were created from fire, that they eat and drink and also intermarry, and that they have offspring, as Allah the Exalted said regarding Satan:
Then will you take him and his descendants as allies other than Me while they are enemies to you?
أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِنْ دُونِي وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ(1) Say, [O Muhammad], "It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened and said, 'Indeed, we have heard an amazing Qur'an. (2) It guides to the right course, and we have believed in it. And we will never associate with our Lord anyone.
قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًا * يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ فَآمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًاAnd [mention, O Muhammad], when We directed to you a few of the jinn, listening to the Qur'an. And when they attended it, they said, "Listen quietly." And when it was concluded, they went back to their people as warners.
وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَا إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقُرْآنَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوا أَنْصِتُوا فَلَمَّا قُضِيَ وَلَّوْا إِلَى قَوْمِهِمْ مُنْذِرِينَEvery bone on which the name of Allah is recited is your provision. The time it will fall in your hand it would be covered with flesh
لكم كل عظم ذكر اسم الله عليه تجدونه أوفر ما يكون لحماً[Allah] will say, "Enter among nations which had passed on before you of jinn and mankind into the Fire." Every time a nation enters, it will curse its sister
قَالَ ادْخُلُوا فِي أُمَمٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالإِنسِ فِي النَّارِ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَتْ أُمَّةٌ لَعَنَتْ أُخْتَهَا(46) But for he who has feared the position of his Lord are two gardens - (47) So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? - (48) Having [spreading] branches. (49) So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
وَلِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ جَنَّتَانِ * فَبِأَيِّ آلاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ * ذَوَاتَا أَفْنَانٍ * فَبِأَيِّ آلاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِO company of jinn and mankind, did there not come to you messengers from among you, relating to you My verses and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say, "We bear witness against ourselves
يَا مَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ وَالإِنسِ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِنْكُمْ يَقُصُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِي وَيُنذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَاءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا قَالُوا شَهِدْنَا عَلَى أَنفُسِنَاO children of Adam, if there come to you messengers from among you relating to you My verses, then whoever fears Allah and reforms - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ إِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِنْكُمْ يَقُصُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِي فَمَنِ اتَّقَى وَأَصْلَحَ فَلا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَThe questioner : Their influence on humans?
The Shaykh : As for their influence on humans, it is also a reality. They influence humans either by entering the body of a person, causing him to be stricken and to suffer pain, or by influencing him through fear and terror, and the like of that.