Jinn's Residences

Types of Jinn

Tha'labah al-Khashani said: "The prophet (S.A.W) said, 'Jinn are of three types:One type with wings that fly in the air; one type that are snakes and scorpions; and another that settles and moves"'

Jinn prefer places deserted by mankind, and some of them reside in refuse areas, but there are some who live with humans. The prophet (S.A.W) used to set out to the desert to call jinn to Allah, recite the Qur'an for them, and teach them about Islam. This was repeated  many times as reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim , quoting the Hadith of Ibn Mas'ud (S.A.W) The jinn reside in rubbish areas, because they eat the food left over by humans, as was stated in the Hadith of Ibn Mas'ud, mentioned earlier. They also reside in dirty premises (toilets, water closets). For it was narrated by Zayd bin Arqam that prophet (S.A.W) once said: "These privies are frequented by the jinn and devils. So when anyone amongst you goes there, he should say: "I seek refuge in Allah from male and female devils."

This Hadith came to my mind when  I had a conversation with a Muslim Jinni; I asked him: 'Do you live in refuse areas?' he replied: 'No." I then said to him: 'But it was narrated that you Jinn also reside in refuse areas and toilets.' He replied: 'Yes, but that is exclusively for the unbelieving jinn, because they prefer impure, filthy places. 'perhaps this is correct, because I have noticed that the unbelieving Jinn do not feel comfortable with pleasant scents and perfume, especially the scent of musk; whereas Muslim Jinn love it just as Muslim humans do. The Jinn also dwell in caves. It was narrated by al-Nasa'i, on the authority of Qatadah from Abdallah bin Sarjis that the prophet (S.A.W) prohibited is unpleasant about urinating in a cave?" He replied: 'It is said that they are the homes of jinn.'

Do Jinn eat and drink?

It was confirmed in many authentic Ahadith that the Jinn do eat and drink: Abu Hurayra (S.A.W) reported that he was once in the company of the prophet, carrying a water pot for his ablution and for cleaning his private parts. While he was following him carrying it (i.e the pot ), the prophet, Carrying a water pot for his ablution and for claening his private parts. While he was following him carrying it (i.e the pot), the prophet (S.A.W) said: 'Who is it?' He said: 'It is Abu Hurayra.' 

The prophet said: Bring me stones in order to clean my private parts, but do not bring any bones or animal dung.' Abu Hurayra continued narrating: So I brought some stones, carrying them in the corner of my robe, till i put them by his side and went away. When he had finished, I walked with him and asked: 'What about bones and animal dung ?' He said: 'They are food for the jinn . The delegate of jinn of (the city of ) Nusaybin came to me and how nice those jinn were and asked me for some remains of human food. I invoked Allah for them that they would never pass by a bone or animal dung without finding food in them Abdallah 'Umer (R.A) reported that the prophet (S.A.W) said: "When any one of you intends to eat, he should drink with his right hand; for Satan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left hand."

Hudhayfah (R.A) said : "When we attended a dinner with the Messenger of Allah we did not lay our hands on the food until he (S.A.W) had laid his hand and commenced eating (the food). Once we went with him to a dinner when a maid girl came rushing in as if someone had been pursuing her. She was about to lay her hand on the food, when Allah's Messenger (S.A.W) caught her had. Then a desert Arab entered (in a hurry) as if someone had been pursuing him. The prophet (S.A.W) also caught his hand; and then he (S.A.W) said: "Satan considers that food lawful on which Allah's name is not mentioned. He had brought this girl so that the food might be made lawful for him, but I caught her hand. And he had brought a desert Arab so that (the food) might be lawful for him. so I caught his hand . By Him, in Whose hand is my life, it was Satan's hand that was in my hand along with her." Muslim added: "Then  he said 'In the name of Allah' and ate."

Jabir bin Abdullah (R.A) reported that prophet (S.A.W) said: "When a person enters his house and mentions the Name of Allah, at the time of entering it and While eating the food, Satan says (addressing his demon brothers): "You have no place to spend the night and no evening meal" But when he enters without  mentioning the Name of Allah , Satan says, "You have found a place to spend the night." When he does not mention the Name of Allah while eating food,  he (satan) says: "You  have found a place to spend the night and evening meal"

Overall, there are three different opinions as to whether the jinn eat and drink or not: The first is that no Jinn eat or drink: this opinion is invalid, because it has no proof to support it . The second is that there is among them a category that eat and drink, and another one that neither eat nor drink Those who hold this opinion use as evidence the narration of Ibn Abdil-Barr from wahb bin Munabbih, who said: 'There are different types of jinn:

The pure kind who do not eat or drink or reproduce, and another kind who do all those things, and there are male and female demons. The third is that all of them eat and drink, and this is the most likely of all three opinions. Indeed. it is referred to and supported by the Ahadith previously mentioned.

 Demons Have Horns

The prophet (S.A.W) said, in a long Hadith about the time of prayer: "The sun rises between the horns of the devil... and sets between its horns" Jinn take different shapes and forms. Abu Hurayra said: "The prophet (S.A.W) deputized me to look after the Sadaqah (al-Fitr) of Ramdan. Somebody came and started taking handfuls of the foodstuff of the Sadaqah stealthily. I took hold of him and said: 'By Allah, I will take you to Allah's Apostle .' He said: ' I am needy and have many dependants, and I am in great need .' I released him. 

The next day the prophet (S.A.W) asked me: 'What did your prisoner do yesterday?' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, the person complained of being needy and of having many dependants, so, I pitied him and left him go,' He (S.A.W) said: 'Indeed, he told you a lie and he will be coming again.' I believe that he would show up again as the prophet had told me that he would return, so I waited for him  watchfully. When he showed up and started stealing handfuls of foodstuff, I caught hold of him again and said:  ' i will definitely take you to the Messenger of Allah'. He said: 'Leave me, for I am very needy and have many dependants. 

In the morning the prophet (S.A.W) asked me: 'What did your prisoner do?' I replied: 'O Messenger of Allah, he complained of this great need and of having so many dependants So I took pity on him and set him free.' The prophet (S.A.W) said: 'Verily, he told you a lie and he will return . I waited for him attentively for the third time, and when he came and started stealing handfuls of the foodstuff, I caught hold of him and said: 'I will surely take you to the Messenger of Allah, for it is the third time you promise not to return, yet you have broken your promise and come.' 

He said: 'Forgive me and I will teach you some words with which Allah would benefit you.' I asked ; 'what are they ?' He replied: 'Whenever you go to bed, recite Ayatul-Kursi (Allahu la ilaha illa hua-l-Haiy-Ul Qaiyyum...) until you finish the whole verse. If you do so, Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you and no demon will come near you till morning.' So, I released him. In the morning, the prophet (S.A.W) asked : 'What did your prisoner do yesterday?' I replied: 'He claimed that he would teach me some words by which Allah would benefit me, so I let him go.' The prophet (S.A.W) asked: 'What are they?' I replied: 'He told me. 'Whenever you go to bed, recite Ayatul-Kursi from beginning to end ( Allah hu la ilaha illa huwa-lHaiy-ul-Qaiyyum...) He further said to me: 'If you do so, Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay you, and no demon will come near you till morning.

Abu Hurayrah or another sub-narrator added that they (the companions) were very keen  to do good deeds. The prophet said: 'He really spoke the truth, although he is a great liar. Do you know to whom you were talking for these three nights, O Abu Hurayrah? I replied: 'No' He (S.A.W) said: 'It was satan"" Al-Hadid used this Hadith as a proof that satan can take different forms and shapes, and it is possible to see him. He also said that the verse: (He and his tribe see you from where you do not see them) refers to when satan  is in his original state. Al-Hadid stated in another place: "Al-Bayhaqi reported, in Manaqib al-Shafi' i on the authority  of ar-Rabi' who heard al-Shafi'i  say : 'We reject the testimony of anyone who claims that he has actually seen a jinn, unless the person is a prophet ." Al-Hafid said: al-Shafi'i's statement concerns those who claim to see jinn in the shape in which they were created . But those who claim to have seen them after they have progressed and assumed a different from as animal should not be criticized, because there are many narrations that confirm this possibility." 

Who claim to have seen them after they have progressed and assumed a different from as animal should not be criticized, because there are many narrations that confirm this possibility."

The prophet  (S.A.W) said, "Jinn can change into snakes, the way the children of Israel were transformed into monkeys and pigs (as punishment from Allah (S.A.W) )" Abu Qulabah (S.A.W)  reported that prophet (S.A.W)  said: "Had dogs not been a nation, I would have ordered them all to be killed, but I dread to destroy a whole nation. Therefore, (you may) kill any black dog, for it is a demon a represents one."

Abu Dharr (R.A) reported that the prophet (S.A.W)  said, "When any one of you stands for prayer and there is a thing before him equal to the back of the saddle that covers him and unless he has before him (a thing) equal to the back of saddle his prayer would be cut off by (passing of an) ass, a woman, or a black dog." I asked : "O  Abu Dharr, what feature is there in a black dog which distinguishes it from a red dog or a yellow dog?' He said: 'Son of my brother, I asked the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W)  as you are asking me, and he said: The black dog is a devil'

Ibn Taimiyah has said: "The black dog is the devil of the dogs, and jinn transform themselves into its shape, and they do the same in the form of the black cat; for blackness gathers the forces of evil..."

On the day of badr, Iblis assumed the shape of Suraqah  bin malik the leader of Mudlij tribe; he supported the polytheists with his army saying: "Today you are undefeated and Iam your support" But when people lined in ranks, the prophet (S.A.W)  took a handful of dust and threw it towards the faces of the unbelievers who retreated immediately. Jibril (A.S) came to Iblis, whose hand was helping one of the polytheists; he immediately pulled out and left the scene with his followers. The man he was helping said: "Suraqah, you claim that you are supporting us." Iblis replied: "I see what you do not see; I fear Allah and His punishment (as he said when he saw the Angels).'

According to Ibn Taymiyah : "Jinn take the form of humans and animals; they may change into snakes, scorpions, camels, cows, sheep, horses, mares, asses; and also into the form of birds and humans"

How are JInn transformed?

The Qaid (Judge) Abu Ya'la Muhammad bin al-Husayn bin al-Fara' said: "Demons are not able to change their creation and be transformed into other shapes. However, it is possible that Allah (S.A.W)  may teach them some words and acts that once they perform or utter them, Allah transforms them into other forms. So we say a Jinn is able to transform and deceive-- i. e he knows some words and acts that enable him, by the will of Allah, to adopt different forms.

In my view, this statement is good, however it needs a proof; it is possible to support it with a narration from from Ibn Abi Shayba, that demons were mentioned to 'Umar bin Al-Khattab, who said; 'No one is able to change from the from the form that Allah has created him in, but, they have sorcerers just as in the world of humans. So if you see them, make Adhan (i.e mention the name Allah)'. Al-Hafid has stated that this narration is authentic.

As for Ibn Abi Dunya's narration from Jabir, that the prophet (S.A.W)  was asked about  ghouls and replied 'They are the sorcerers of Jinn.' its chain of authority is weak. Nevertheless, it does not conflict with the narration of Jabir that the prophet (S.A.W)  said: "There is no transmitted disease, no ill omen, no ghoul" he (S.A.W)  did not deny the existence of ghouls, but he refuted the belief of the Arabs (before Islam) that ghouls had the ability to misguide people. 

An-Nawawi said: "According to the majority of scholars, the Arabs claimed that ghuols dwell in waterless desert. They are one type of demons, who appear to people in different colours; they mislead people and harm or destroy them. So the prophet (S.A.W)  disproved this statement."

Are there male and female Jinn?

Annas bin malik (R.A) said that whenever the prophet (S.A.W)  was about to enter the toilet, he would say: "O Allah, I seek refuge with you against male and female devils"

Concerning a Hadith from Abu Hurayra (R.A) about the merit of Ayat al-Kursi, al-Kursi, al-Hafid commented on the last part of the Hadith  "if You do so, Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you, and no demon will come near you till morning ." He stated that another narration by Abu al-Mutawakkil includes the words "If you do so, ... no male or female demon will come near you." and another one by Ibn al-Daris.." there will come near you on male or female demon neither younger nor elder." In the present writer's view, it is understood that there are both male and female demons, and Allah knows best.

Do Jinn have religious obligations?

yes, they have religious obligations just as humans. Abd al-Barr said: According to the overall opinion of all the scholars, Jinn have religious obligations, and are addressed in the verse: (Company of Jinn and men, did not Messenger come to you from among yourselves relating My signs to you and warning you of the encounter of this Day of yours?) and Allah (S.A.W)  also said: (so which of your Lord's blessings do you both [ jinn and me] deny?) Fakher al-Din al-Razi said: "All the scholars agree that the jinn have religious obligations."

Qadi Abd al-Jabbar said: "We do not know of any difference of opinion among the schlors that jinn  have religious obligations."According to al-Subki, in his fatwa book: " If  you say that they are bound by the shari'ah of the prophet (S.A.W) in the aspect of Islam (belief) and everything else indeed if it is confirmed that the prophet (S.A.W) sent to them as well as to mankind then they are compelled to perform the religious obligations as long as they have the means to, except when there is a proof that specify certain obligations upon some but not on the others.

So I say : Therefore, they have to perform salat, Zakat (if they possess any amount of property liable to payment), Siyam, Hajj and other duties; and anything that is Haram in shari'ah is prohibited for them.

The Jinn's beliefes and religions

In this context, Jinn are like humans; they include Muslims, Christians, Jewish. The Muslims among them are like the Muslim Humans; they consist of Ahl al-Sunna, Qadariyyah, Rawafid, and many sects of bid'ah (innovation in religion). They also include obedient, disobedient, pious and corrupt ones. Allah (S.A.W) has informed us about them: (Among us are some who are pious and some who are other than that. We follow many different paths)

Ibn 'Abbas (R.A) said that (we follow many different paths) means some of us are believers and some disbelievers.

Ibn Taymiyya said: "It means that they follow many schools: Muslims, polytheists, Ahl-al-Sunna and followers of bid'a (innovations)"