Epigraph

“Show me your evidence then, if what you say is true?” (Al Quran 27:64 and 2:111)

Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times

Dr. Yasir Qadhi, born on January 30, 1975, in Houston, Texas, is a prominent American Muslim scholar and theologian. He serves as the Dean of The Islamic Seminary of America and is the Resident Scholar at the East Plano Islamic Center in Texas. Dr. Qadhi’s educational background includes a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston, followed by a B.A. in Hadith and Islamic Sciences and an M.A. in Islamic Theology from the Islamic University of Madinah. He further earned a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Yale University. Throughout his career, Dr. Qadhi has been recognized as one of the most influential Muslim scholars in the United States, contributing extensively to Islamic education and discourse.

You can hear his 23-minute audio on the topic of Jinns above. I am glad that he at least suggests an easy prevention from Jinns: reciting some Quranic verses or Surahs.

Pew research Center has collected extensive surveys to show us how the belief in Jinns varies in different Muslim countries. The countries that have come out of USSR and has seen non-Muslim influence have the least belief in Jinn, which I think is helpful for mental health.

According to the Quran, God created jinn as well as angels and humans. Belief in jinn is relatively widespread – in 13 of 23 countries where the question was asked, more than half of Muslims believe in these supernatural beings.

In the South Asian countries surveyed, at least seven-in-ten Muslims affirm that jinn exist, including 84% in Bangladesh. In Southeast Asia, a similar proportion of Malaysian Muslims (77%) believe in jinn, while fewer in Indonesia (53%) and Thailand (47%) share this belief.

Across the Middle Eastern and North African nations surveyed, belief in jinn ranges from 86% in Morocco to 55% in Iraq.

Overall, Muslims in Central Asia and across Southern and Eastern Europe (Russia and the Balkans) are least likely to say that jinn are real. In Central Asia, Turkey is the only country where a majority (63%) of Muslims believe in jinn. Elsewhere in Central Asia, about a fifth or fewer Muslims accept the existence of jinn. In Southern and Eastern Europe, fewer than four-in-ten in any country surveyed believe in these supernatural beings.

In general, Muslims who pray several times a day are more likely to believe in jinn. For example, in Russia, 62% of those who pray more than once a day say that jinn exist, compared with 24% of those who pray less often. A similar gap also appears in Lebanon (+25 percentage points), Malaysia (+24) and Afghanistan (+21).

The survey also asked if respondents had ever seen jinn. In 21 of the 23 countries where the question was asked, fewer than one-in-ten report having seen jinn, while the proportion is 12% in Bangladesh and 10% in Lebanon.

It is important to note that while belief in jinn is widespread, relatively few Muslims in the countries surveyed believe it is an acceptable part of Islamic tradition to make offerings to jinn. As discussed in Chapter 6, Bangladesh is the only country surveyed in which more than a fifth of Muslims (28%) say appeals to jinn are acceptable. In 18 of the countries, no more than one-in-ten say this is an acceptable practice.

Interpretations and understandings of jinn vary among scholars and believers, leading to discussions both supporting and questioning their existence.

Arguments Supporting the Existence of Jinn

1. Quranic References: The Quran explicitly mentions jinn in several verses, indicating their creation from smokeless fire and their purpose to worship Allah. For instance, Surah Al-Hijr states: “And the jinn We created before from scorching fire” (Quran 15:27). Such references are foundational for the belief in jinn among Muslims.
2. Hadith Literature: Numerous sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) discuss jinn, their behaviors, and interactions with humans. These narrations provide detailed insights into the nature of jinn, reinforcing their acknowledged existence in Islamic teachings.
3. Scholarly Consensus: The majority of Islamic scholars uphold the belief in jinn as an integral part of faith. Denying their existence is often viewed as contradicting clear Islamic texts. As noted by Islamic scholars, rejecting the existence of jinn constitutes disbelief, as it denies aspects mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah. Islam Q&A

Arguments Questioning the Existence of Jinn

1. Metaphorical Interpretations: Some modern scholars and thinkers propose that references to jinn in Islamic texts are metaphorical, representing unseen forces or psychological states rather than literal beings. This perspective suggests that jinn symbolize challenges or internal struggles faced by individuals.
2. Rationalist Perspectives: Influenced by rationalist thought, certain scholars argue that belief in jinn stems from pre-Islamic folklore and superstitions. They contend that such beliefs were integrated into Islamic tradition and advocate for a reinterpretation aligned with contemporary understanding. For example, Syed Ahmed Khan, a prominent rationalist, suggested that terms like ‘jinn’ referred to unknown or hidden phenomena rather than supernatural entities. islam.stackexchange.com
3. Lack of Empirical Evidence: Skeptics point to the absence of empirical evidence supporting the existence of jinn. They argue that beliefs in jinn are based on anecdotal accounts and cultural narratives, which lack scientific validation. These anecdotal accounts invariably come from the least educated and minimally enlightened segments of the society.

Conclusion

The belief in jinn within the Muslim tradition encompasses a spectrum of interpretations, from literal acceptance based on scriptural and scholarly affirmations to metaphorical and rationalist readings that question their existence. This diversity reflects the dynamic nature of Islamic thought, accommodating various perspectives while engaging with foundational texts and contemporary understandings.

I personally think that Jinns do not exist and over a life time it has saved me from many a trial and superstition. So, I strongly incline towards Arguments Questioning the Existence of Jinn, given above.