Eòlas Fòram • Belief in Djinn in Islam

Belief in Djinn in Islam

Djinn are frequently mentioned in the Quran; an entire surah (Sure 72) is dedicated to them. The Prophet’s message is explicitly addressed not only to humans but equally to the Djinn. According to the Quranic account of creation, Djinn were created from "smokeless fire" (Sure 55:14f) Like humans, Djinn were created "to serve God" (Sure 51:56). Furthermore, there are both believing and unbelieving Djinn, with the latter destined for Hell (Sure 6:128; Sure 11:119; Sure 32:13; Sure 41:25). During the time of the Prophet, a group of Djinn realized at a gathering that they could no longer hear the angels speaking. They set out to discover the reason for this and encountered Muhammad while he was reciting the Quran. This occurred precisely because the Prophet was revealing the Quran to Djinn just as he was to humans. These Djinn converted to Islam, having learned everything they needed to know (Sure 72:1-19; Sure 46:29-32). Demonic Djinn (Schayāṭīn), on the other hand, are regarded as servants of the Devil, aiding him in his attempts to lead humans astray.