Jinn according to the Imams of Ahl Al-Bayt

The stories of jinn are very famous amongst the generality of the Muslims. Many have tried to communicate with and to “use” jinn for various purposes.

The Hanbalis, and today the Salafis who follow Ibn Taymiyyah, have tried to make belief in jinn an article of faith and have given it a literal interpretation, very similar to humans, such that they could be seen.

Little do they realize that belief in jinn as physical entities who can give birth and get married is pre-Islamic and pagan.

Jinn, in the speech of the Arabs, means hidden; in the proper context, it means hidden from the eyes. This is why the womb is called janin, which comes from the same root word.

Sheikh Al-Busti (رح) quoted Amir Al-Mu’mineen (عليه السلام) as saying: Allah created the mala’ikah from nur (light), men from clay, and jinn from fire.

Imam Abul Fath Al-Daylami (ع) mentioned that Iblis is from the jinn who have sinned (Surah Al-Kahf: 50).

Imam Al-Murtadha bin Yahya (ع) said that the jinn do not inhabit the earth; they only wander around lands like the shayatin. They do not take one form or another unless decreed by Allah.

Imam Al-Nasir ibn Yahya (ع) was asked whether there are male and female jinn amongst them. The Imam replied that no, they are not like humans, i.e. male and female; neither do they give birth. They are creations of Allah like the mala’ikah.

Imam Qasim Al-Rassi, Najm Aale Muhammad (ع), explained that when the phrase “the offspring of jinn” is used in the Qur’an, it means something like them. The jinn reside in the air, occupying the space between the mala’ikah and men. The mala’ikah are called sama’wiyun, men are called ardhiyun, and jinn are called hawa’iyun.

Imam Al-Hadi ila Al-Haq (ع) said that jinn do not give birth nor marry; giving birth can only be done with a physical body like that of humans. Imam Al-Hadi (ع) also explained the Arabic terminology of jinn and that, since it has no physical body, it cannot be seen by men.

Imam Al-Nasir Al-Utrush (ع) said there is no proof for this in this madhab. The correct position is silence on this matter except for what has been taught by Allah. The later generation say that the mala’ikah are from the jinn who have believed, while the shayatin are from those who commit kufr and fisq.

The Imam quotes Surah Al-Saffat: 158 to support the claim that the mala’ikah are from the jinn. [Sharh Al-Asas Al-Kabir by Sayyed Al-Ulama Al-Sharfi]