She says: I always hear from people that the jinn take the form of birds, cats, and sheep, and I deny that and do not believe it, because the jinn are created beings like us, and no one can change creation except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
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The questioner : And she says: I always hear from people that the jinn take the form of birds, cats, and sheep, and I deny that and will not believe it, because the jinn are created beings like us, and no one can change creation except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Is this true or not?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah. What you mentioned is a well-known matter among people: that the jinn may take the form of something visible and observable. Perhaps the authentic hadith in the Sahih supports this, in which a young man from the Ansar, who had recently married, came one day or night and found his family at the door. He asked them the reason, and they told him what was in the bed. He went to his bed and found a snake in it. He took a spear and stabbed it, and the snake died. Then the man died immediately, and it is not known which died faster, the man or the snake.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade killing the jinn that are in houses, except the one that bites and the one with two humps. This indicates that this was a jinn that had taken the form of a snake. There are many famous stories about this, but this authentic hadith may support their truth. Just as the angels (peace be upon them) take forms that are not their original created forms, Jibril (peace be upon him) used to come to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sometimes in the form of Dha'bah al-Kalbi, and once in the form of a man with very white clothes and very black hair, with no sign of travel on him, and none of the Companions recognized him. He sat with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), resting his knees on the Prophet's knees and his hands on his thighs, in the manner of a well-mannered person.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then he asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) the famous questions about Islam, faith, excellence in worship, the Hour, and its signs. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Ibn Hibban 4:48.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And it is known that their ability to take these forms is from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), for He is the One who enabled them to do so. It is not far-fetched that the jinn are thus able to take or form themselves into various shapes for people. This is what appears to me in this matter.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Is there more to the question?
The questioner : No, she says: I do not believe that the jinn take forms, because the One who changes creation is Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah. What you mentioned is a well-known matter among people: that the jinn may take the form of something visible and observable. Perhaps the authentic hadith in the Sahih supports this, in which a young man from the Ansar, who had recently married, came one day or night and found his family at the door. He asked them the reason, and they told him what was in the bed. He went to his bed and found a snake in it. He took a spear and stabbed it, and the snake died. Then the man died immediately, and it is not known which died faster, the man or the snake.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade killing the jinn that are in houses, except the one that bites and the one with two humps. This indicates that this was a jinn that had taken the form of a snake. There are many famous stories about this, but this authentic hadith may support their truth. Just as the angels (peace be upon them) take forms that are not their original created forms, Jibril (peace be upon him) used to come to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sometimes in the form of Dha'bah al-Kalbi, and once in the form of a man with very white clothes and very black hair, with no sign of travel on him, and none of the Companions recognized him. He sat with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), resting his knees on the Prophet's knees and his hands on his thighs, in the manner of a well-mannered person.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then he asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) the famous questions about Islam, faith, excellence in worship, the Hour, and its signs. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
This is Jibril who has come to you to teach you your religion.
هذا جبريل أتاكم ليعلمكم دينكمThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And it is known that their ability to take these forms is from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), for He is the One who enabled them to do so. It is not far-fetched that the jinn are thus able to take or form themselves into various shapes for people. This is what appears to me in this matter.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Is there more to the question?
The questioner : No, she says: I do not believe that the jinn take forms, because the One who changes creation is Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).