Despite Allah demanding they show fealty to Adam, a jinni (the singular for jinn) named Iblis viewed himself as superior to the human made of dirt. However, jinn have also earned their reputation for manipulation, mischief, and malevolence. Though possessing magical abilities, when they die they’ll face judgment for their sins. Within Islam, they are not inherently good nor evil, and can live a life of free will that involves eating for sustenance, getting married, having children, and observing social customs. “According to Middle Eastern lore, they are something in between, a third race of beings created by Allah.” “The jinn are neither angels nor demons,” said paranormal author and researcher David Weatherly, who writes about jinn in his book Strange Intruders. The word (meaning “to hide”) may be rooted in an Aramaic label for pagan deities that were downgraded to demon status, but Muhammad’s teachings said the jinn were created of smokeless fire.Īs opposed to angels, and existing long before Allah created Adam, the jinn were entirely separate entities. Although their precise beginnings are unclear, they are mentioned multiple times in the Quran. What we see in Aladdin doesn’t reflect the pre-Islamic Arabian origins of genies, or “jinn,” and “djinn,” which date back to at least 2400 BCE. But that’s not at all how things started for genies… Jafar’s fate in the animated film also suggests a human can be transformed into a genie. In modern entertainment, such as Disney’s new live-action Aladdin based on the 1992 animated film, genies are powerful beings trapped within a lamp, and relegated to granting wishes to masters. Like the song says, you ain’t never had a friend like a genie, but millennia of folklore suggest you probably will wish you didn’t. If you’re hoping to find a magic lamp containing an all-powerful genie, be careful what you wish for.ĭespite what Aladdin, I Dream of Jeannie or modern paranormal pop culture promise, tapping into phenomenal cosmic powers – contained in an itty-bitty living space – can lead to a world of hurt.
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