■ What Are Jinn?
My dear readers, let’s have a heart-to-heart about something most people only whisper about—Jinn! Yes, those unseen beings who live among us, yet remain hidden from our eyes. You’ve probably heard all sorts of wild tales—mysterious encounters, eerie whispers in the night, and shadows that move when no one’s there. But let’s push the spooky stories aside for a moment and talk about the real deal: Who are the Jinn, and what’s their place in this grand design of creation?
Now, don’t worry—I’m not here to scare you! In fact, by the time we’re done, you’ll realize there’s nothing to fear. If anything, you’ll be sipping your chai a little slower, thinking about how vast and mysterious Allah’s ﷻ creation truly is.
First things first—where does the word Jinn even come from? The great scholar Ibn Duraid (ر) (d. 321H) tells us that Jinn comes from the Arabic root “Janna”, which means to cover, hide, or be concealed.
You know Jannah (Paradise), right? It comes from the same root—because Paradise is hidden from us in this world. Ever noticed how Junnat al-Layl (the darkness of night) covers everything, hiding the world in its cloak? That’s exactly what the Jinn are—hidden from human sight. You can’t see them, but they’re there, living their lives just as we do.
Most people think Jinn are all the same, but just like humans, they come in all sorts of personalities, ranks, and, well… attitudes. Some are harmless wanderers, some are mischief-makers, and some—well, let’s just say they enjoy causing trouble.
Jinn – The broad term for these unseen beings, just like ‘humans’ refers to all of us.
Shayatin (Devils) – The bad apples! These are the rebellious Jinn who follow Iblis and cause harm. But remember, not all Jinn are Shayatin—just like not all humans are evil.
Ifrit – The troublemakers! These Jinn are strong, mischievous, and cunning. They love to stir things up. You’ve probably heard about them in folktales, but yes, they’re real.
According to Abu al-Zahid ibn al-Wahid al-Baghdadi (ر) (d. 325H), these are a type of Jinn that resemble dogs and are considered the lowest-ranking among them. Just like humans have different social levels, Jinn also have their own hierarchy!
Ok Now, let me tell you something that’ll blow your mind…
Did you know that Jinn, just like humans, have a single ancestor? Yes! While we all trace back to Prophet Adam (علیہ السلام), the Jinn trace back to Jan—their very first forefather. This is something the great scholar Abu Ishaq al-Baghdadi (ر) (d. 347H) mentioned.
Imagine that! Just as we have our lineages and family trees, the Jinn have theirs too. Somewhere in their world, there are grandfathers telling stories about how things were in the old days, and younger Jinn rolling their eyes, thinking, “Here we go again!”
Now, I know what you’re thinking.
“This all sounds fascinating, but what does it mean for us?”
Simple. Jinn are as real as the wind that touches your skin, as the light that enters your eyes. You don’t see them, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
They have their own lives, their own struggles, their own families. Some are believers, some are disbelievers. Some pray and remember Allah ﷻ, while others rebel and cause harm.
But here’s what you need to know—we should neither fear them nor seek them out.
Our greatest protection lies in Dhikr and Salawat/Durood. Reciting 11x Ayat al-Kursi, 11x Surah Al-Falaq, and 11x Surah An-Nas is enough to keep them at bay.
What If You Hear Whispers in the Night?
Ah, now here’s where it gets really interesting. Ever had that eerie feeling of someone watching you? Or heard whispers but found no one there? Maybe you’ve even seen a shadow move when you know you were alone?
Relax. Breathe. And remember one thing: Fear only Allah ﷻ, not His creation.
If you ever feel something strange, just say:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.”
Trust me, nothing runs faster than a mischievous Jinn when it hears the name of Allah ﷻ!
My dear readers, the world is far greater than what our eyes can see. The physical realm is just one layer of existence—there’s so much more beyond it.
The real lesson in all of this is that Don’t get lost in fear. Get lost in the love of Allah ﷻ.
Whether it’s the Jinn, the unseen forces, or even the worries of this life—everything is in His hands.
Don’t waste time worrying about things you can’t control. Instead, strengthen your bond with Allah ﷻ, and everything else will fall into place.
One day, when this life is over, we’ll see the world as it truly is. Until then, let’s make Dhikr, Salawat and smile—because in the end, only Allah’s ﷻ love matters.
And if a Jinn happens to be eavesdropping on our conversation right now… well, let them listen. Maybe they’ll learn something too.
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلَىٰ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
● FJ 20.3.25
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 