Short answer: the jinn are beings created by Allah from smokeless fire, before humans were created. Like humans, they have free will, they are commanded to worship Allah, and they will be judged. Some jinn are Muslims and righteous, others are disbelievers, and the worst of them are the devils (shayatin), led by Iblis. We usually cannot see them, but they can see us. They cannot harm anyone except by Allah's permission, and the Quran and Sunnah give simple, reliable protection: Ayat al-Kursi, the last verses of Al-Baqarah, the four Quls and the daily adhkar.
What are jinn made of?
The word jinn comes from an Arabic root meaning hidden or covered, the same root as janin (an unborn child) and jannah (a garden thick with trees). They are named for being hidden from our sight.
خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِن صَلْصَٰلٍۢ كَٱلْفَخَّارِ ﴿١٤﴾ وَخَلَقَ ٱلْجَآنَّ مِن مَّارِجٍۢ مِّن نَّارٍۢ ﴿١٥﴾
Khalaqal insaana min salsaalin kalfakhkhaari Wa khalaqal jaaan mim maarijim min naar
(14) He created man from clay like [that of] pottery. (15) And He created the jinn from a smokeless flame of fire.
Quran 55:14-15 · Sahih International · Read Surah Ar-Rahman
خُلِقَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ نُورٍ، وَخُلِقَ الْجَانُّ مِنْ مَارِجٍ مِنْ نَارٍ، وَخُلِقَ آدَمُ مِمَّا وُصِفَ لَكُمْ
The angels were created from light, the jinn were created from a smokeless flame of fire, and Adam was created from what has been described to you.
Sahih Muslim 2996 · narrated by Aishah · sahih
The jinn were created before humans: "And the jinn We created before from scorching fire" (15:27). They are a different creation from angels, who are made of light and never disobey.
Why were jinn created?
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ﴿٥٦﴾
Wa maa khalaqtul jinna wal insa illaa liya'budoon
And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.
Quran 51:56 · Sahih International · Read Surah Adh-Dhariyat
Jinn have the same purpose as humans, and the same test. Prophets were sent to them as well, and the Quran addresses both together: "O company of jinn and mankind" (6:130). Surah Ar-Rahman repeats its question, "So which of the favours of your Lord would you deny?", to both. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was sent to jinn as well as to people.
Are jinn evil?
Not all of them. Like people, jinn choose. A group of jinn heard the Prophet ﷺ reciting the Quran and believed in it on the spot:
قُلْ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ أَنَّهُ ٱسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ فَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْءَانًا عَجَبًۭا ﴿١﴾ يَهْدِىٓ إِلَى ٱلرُّشْدِ فَـَٔامَنَّا بِهِۦ ۖ وَلَن نُّشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَآ أَحَدًۭا ﴿٢﴾
Qul oohiya ilaiya annna hustama'a nafarum minal jinnni faqaalooo innaa sami'naa quraanan 'ajabaa Yahdeee ilar rushdi fa aamannaa bihee wa lan nushrika bi rabbinaaa ahadaa
(1) Say, [O Muhammad], "It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened and said, 'Indeed, we have heard an amazing Qur'an. (2) It guides to the right course, and we have believed in it. And we will never associate with our Lord anyone.
Quran 72:1-2 · Sahih International · Read Surah Al-Jinn
The same surah, Surah Al-Jinn, quotes them saying: "And among us are the righteous, and among us are [others] not so; we were [of] divided ways" (72:11), and "among us are Muslims [in submission to Allah], and among us are the unjust" (72:14). The evil jinn are the devils. Their leader, Iblis, was a jinn, not a fallen angel:
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِءَادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِۦٓ ۗ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُۥ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِى وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّۢ ۚ بِئْسَ لِلظَّٰلِمِينَ بَدَلًۭا ﴿٥٠﴾
Wa iz qulnaa lilma laaa'ikatis judoo li Aadama fasajadooo illaaa Ibleesa kaana minal jinni fafasaqa 'an amri Rabbih; afatattakhizoonahoo wa zurriyatahooo awliyaaa'a min doonee wa hum lakum 'aduww; bi'sa lizzaalimeena badalaa
And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam," and they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was of the jinn and departed from the command of his Lord. Then will you take him and his descendants as allies other than Me while they are enemies to you? Wretched it is for the wrongdoers as an exchange.
Quran 18:50 · Sahih International · Read Surah Al-Kahf
What jinn can and cannot do
| They can | They cannot |
|---|---|
| See us while we usually do not see them (7:27). | Harm anyone except by Allah's permission (2:102). |
| Eat, drink, marry and have children (18:50 mentions Iblis' descendants). The Prophet ﷺ said bones are food for the believing jinn (Sahih Muslim 450). | Know the unseen. They did not even know when Sulaiman had died (34:14). |
| Move very fast and carry heavy things; some worked for the Prophet Sulaiman by Allah's command (34:12-13, 27:39). | Listen in on the heavens any more: they are driven off by shooting stars (72:8-9). |
| Whisper evil suggestions to people, which is the main way Shaytan works (114:4-6). | Force a person to sin. On the Day of Judgement Shaytan will say, "I had no authority over you except that I invited you" (14:22). |
| Die. Everything on earth perishes (55:26), and the Prophet ﷺ called on Allah as "the Ever-Living who does not die, while jinn and humans die" (Sahih al-Bukhari 7383). | Stand up to the remembrance of Allah, which drives the devils away. |
فَلَمَّا قَضَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ ٱلْمَوْتَ مَا دَلَّهُمْ عَلَىٰ مَوْتِهِۦٓ إِلَّا دَآبَّةُ ٱلْأَرْضِ تَأْكُلُ مِنسَأَتَهُۥ ۖ فَلَمَّا خَرَّ تَبَيَّنَتِ ٱلْجِنُّ أَن لَّوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ ٱلْغَيْبَ مَا لَبِثُوا۟ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْمُهِينِ ﴿١٤﴾
Falammaa qadainaa 'alaihil mawta ma dallahum 'alaa mawtiheee illaa daaabbatul ardi taakulu minsa atahoo falammaa kharra tabaiyanatil jinnu al law kaanoo ya'lamoonal ghaiba maa labisoo fil 'azaabil muheen
And when We decreed for Solomon death, nothing indicated to the jinn his death except a creature of the earth eating his staff. But when he fell, it became clear to the jinn that if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in humiliating punishment.
Quran 34:14 · Sahih International · Read Surah Saba
The qareen: the jinn companion
مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا وَقَدْ وُكِّلَ بِهِ قَرِينُهُ مِنَ الْجِنِّ
There is none of you except that his companion (qareen) from the jinn has been assigned to him. They said: Even you, O Messenger of Allah? He said: Even me, but Allah helped me against him and he submitted, so he only tells me to do good.
Sahih Muslim 2814 · narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud · sahih
The qareen whispers to every person, which is why the Quran teaches us to seek refuge "from the evil of the retreating whisperer, who whispers into the breasts of mankind, from among the jinn and mankind" (114:4-6). The Prophet ﷺ also said Shaytan flows through a person like blood (Sahih al-Bukhari 2035). The answer is remembrance of Allah: when Allah is remembered, the whisperer retreats.
Can jinn possess a person?
Most Sunni scholars across the four schools held that jinn can afflict or overpower a person by Allah's permission, citing the Quran's description of those who consume interest, who "cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity" (2:275). Some, mainly from the Mu'tazili school, denied it. Three cautions apply:
- See a doctor first. Many symptoms people blame on jinn, such as seizures, voices, deep sadness, panic or sudden changes in behaviour, are medical or psychological, and they are treatable. Medicine and ruqyah do not conflict.
- Ruqyah must be clean. "There is no harm in ruqyah as long as it contains no shirk" (Sahih Muslim 2200). Sound ruqyah is reciting the Quran and the duas of the Sunnah, by yourself or by a trustworthy person. Amulets with unknown writing, calling on jinn, animal sacrifices for them, or anything that asks you to do wrong is forbidden.
- Beware of people who profit from fear. Going to a fortune-teller or someone who claims to control jinn is forbidden: "Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and asks him about anything, his prayer will not be accepted for forty nights" (Sahih Muslim 2230). Never pay large sums to "remove a jinn".
Protection from the jinn and Shaytan
The protection the Prophet ﷺ taught is simple, free and enough. Make these daily habits:
- Ayat al-Kursi before sleeping: a guardian from Allah stays with you and Shaytan does not come near until morning (Sahih al-Bukhari 5010).
- The last two verses of Al-Baqarah at night: "whoever recites them at night, they will be enough for him" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5009).
- Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas three times morning and evening: "they will suffice you against everything" (Sunan Abi Dawud 5082; Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3575, graded hasan sahih).
- Surah Al-Baqarah in your home: "Shaytan flees from the house in which Surah Al-Baqarah is recited" (Sahih Muslim 780).
- Say Bismillah when entering your home and before eating. Shaytan then says to his companions, "You have no place to stay and no dinner" (Sahih Muslim 2018).
- Before entering the bathroom, say allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-khubuthi wal-khaba'ith, "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the male and female devils" (Sahih al-Bukhari 142). See the bathroom dua.
- At night, close doors and cover containers saying Bismillah, "for Shaytan does not open a closed door" (Sahih al-Bukhari 3280).
- Keep the morning and evening adhkar and the duas for protection.
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿١﴾ مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَٰهِ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٣﴾ مِن شَرِّ ٱلْوَسْوَاسِ ٱلْخَنَّاسِ ﴿٤﴾ ٱلَّذِى يُوَسْوِسُ فِى صُدُورِ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٥﴾ مِنَ ٱلْجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٦﴾
Qul a'uzu birabbin naas Malikin naas Ilaahin naas Min sharril was waasil khannaas Al lazee yuwas wisu fee sudoorin naas Minal jinnati wan naas
(1) Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, (2) The Sovereign of mankind. (3) The God of mankind, (4) From the evil of the retreating whisperer - (5) Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind - (6) From among the jinn and mankind."
Quran 114:1-6 · Sahih International · Read Surah An-Nas
Common myths
- "Jinn grant wishes." The genie in a lamp comes from folk tales, not from Islam. Jinn have no power to give anyone anything except by Allah's will, and seeking their help is forbidden.
- "Every misfortune is caused by jinn." Most illness, bad luck and family trouble have ordinary causes. Blaming jinn can stop people from seeking real help.
- "Jinn are all-knowing." They do not know the unseen (34:14 and 72:10).
- "Muslims should live in fear of jinn." The opposite. "Indeed, there is for him no authority over those who have believed and rely upon their Lord" (16:99).
FAQ
Are jinn evil?
Not all of them. The Quran says some jinn are Muslims and righteous and others are not (72:11, 72:14). The evil jinn are the devils, led by Iblis, who was a jinn (18:50).
What are jinn made of?
Smokeless fire. The Quran says the jinn were created "from a smokeless flame of fire" (55:15), and the Prophet ﷺ said the angels were created from light and the jinn from smokeless fire (Sahih Muslim 2996).
Can jinn see us?
Yes. The Quran says Shaytan and his tribe see us from where we do not see them (7:27). People do not normally see jinn in their true form.
Can jinn harm you?
Only by Allah's permission (2:102). The adhkar the Prophet ﷺ taught, such as Ayat al-Kursi, the last two verses of Al-Baqarah and the three Quls, are a strong protection.
Do jinn die?
Yes. Everything on earth will perish (55:26), and the Prophet ﷺ called on Allah as the Ever-Living who does not die, while jinn and humans die (Sahih al-Bukhari 7383). They will also be judged on the Last Day.
What is a qareen?
A qareen is the jinn companion assigned to every person, who whispers to them (Sahih Muslim 2814). Remembering Allah and seeking refuge with Him keeps its whispering away.
The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.
Sources
- Quran 2:102, 2:275, 6:130, 7:27, 14:22, 15:27, 16:99, 18:50, 27:39, 34:12-14, 51:56, 55:14-15, 55:26, 72:1-2, 72:8-11, 72:14 and 114:1-6, translation by Sahih International.
- Sahih Muslim 450, 780, 2018, 2200, 2230, 2814 and 2996.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 142, 2035, 3280, 5009, 5010 and 7383.
- Sunan Abi Dawud 5082; Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3575, graded hasan sahih by at-Tirmidhi.
- On possession and the scholars' positions: al-Ash'ari, Maqalat al-Islamiyyin; Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, on the rulings of the afflicted. On ruqyah: an-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim, Kitab as-Salam.
Quran: Arabic from the Tanzil Uthmani text, English translation by Sahih International. Hadith gradings are those of the hadith scholars named; where a hadith number is not given, the collection and narrator are cited instead.