MUSLIM VILLA - QURAN ONLY

Category 5 => Commentary / Tafsir of specific Quranic Verses or Quran topics with detailed discussions => Topic started by: Zainab_M on February 25, 2010, 03:58:03 am



Title: Can jinn "possess" humans?
Post by: Zainab_M on February 25, 2010, 03:58:03 am
Some say 'yes' while others say 'no.'  But as believers, we got to take the Glorious Quran as our Criterion (Furqan).  Does the Quran say that jinn can possess humans?  The answer is no. 
 
From the information in the Quran, jinn, like humans can be believing or disbelieving.  Therefore, they can be obedient or disobedient like humans. 
 
In the Quran there is no such concept as jinn 'possessing' humans.  But they can mislead humans with temptations, similar to Shaitaan who is also a jin and tempts humans to disobey Allah.  The disbelieving or disobedient jinn are followers of Shaitaan. 
 
Shaitaan is invisible to human eyes.  “Lo! He seeth you, he and his tribe, from whence ye see him not.” (Al-Araf: 27)  From this it must be concluded that jinn are also invisible to humans despite those stories from people who claim to have seen jinn.  There are stories from the Hadith about the jinn, mentioning that they can change their form and make themselves seen by humans.  But these must be taken as unreliable stories because the Quran does not confirm such notions.
 
Some readers have misunderstood and misinterpreted the following Verse of the Glorious Quran as the devil or jin possessing humans.   
 
"And make mention (O Muhammad) of Our bondman Job, when he cried unto his Lord (saying): Lo! the devil does afflict me with distress and torment."   Saad  (38:41)
 
But this verse does not imply that the devil had 'possessed' Job.  Prophet Job is crying out to Allah for help because of the misfortunes in his life.  What exactly those misfortunes might have been is not possible for us to assert.  That's only known to Allah.  It's very likely that the misfortunes in his life came as a result of his own mistakes, inadvertently, by falling into some undesirable temptation (caused by the devil) and then repenting to Allah.  Allah accepted his repentence.  Thus, "distress and torment" would refer to the hardships caused by the misfortunes and the anxiety of remorse.

To conclude, the idea of being "possessed" by jinn can originate because of the following reasons:
 
1) Lack of knowledge of the Glorious Quran
2) Lack of common education
3) Lack of understanding of the human mind, misinterpreting psychological disorders such as schizophrenia, hysteria, manic depression etc. as being "possessed by jinn."   
 
We are certain that the Glorious Quran does not state nor infer the idea of jinn nor Satan having the ability to 'possess' humans against their wishes nor perceptibly. But the Quran does confirm that they tempt by whisphering invisibly to humans. Subsequently, those humans who have a weak iman, get trapped into the devils' temptations while those who are firmly grounded in Faith are unhurt by the devils' mischief.

"O Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you as he caused your (first) parents to go forth from the Garden and tore off from them their robe (of innocence) that he might manifest their shame to them. Lo! he seeth you, he and his tribe, from whence ye see him not. Lo! We have made the devils protecting friends for those who believe not."  Al-Araf  (7:16-17)


Also check the talkback on this topic at Zainab's Lounge. (http://zainabslounge.blogspot.ca/2010/06/can-jinn-possess-humans.html)


Title: Re: Can jinn "possess" humans?
Post by: Ruhi_Rose on June 28, 2010, 05:28:46 am
I too don't agree with jinn possessing people.  But I want to know how would one explain or adjust one's paranormal experiences with this?  Sometimes people feel they are being harassed by some evil in their house, and they recite the Quran which helps them.  Then, sometimes when people see apparitions ....


Title: Re: Can jinn "possess" humans?
Post by: Zainab_M on June 28, 2010, 07:37:52 am
Well, these paranormal occurences might be the activities of jinn.  Such things are what people see, observe or sense and thus feel uneasy.  It's not at all the same as the stories of being "possessed" by jinn.  When people experience paranormal activities in a particular house or outdoor location, that experience can end if they leave that house or location.  But the usual idea of being "possessed" is something which is supposed to continue indefinitely no matter where one goes or lives.  That's because these stories about being "possessed" are misinterpretations of mental health problems. 


Title: Re: Can jinn "possess" humans?
Post by: Ruhi_Rose on June 29, 2010, 02:50:43 am
Right, so this means the experiences of the paranormal can be interpreted as happening because of the presence or involvement of jinns.  To consider this possibility wouldn't be against the Quran, right?


Title: Re: Can jinn "possess" humans?
Post by: N. Truth Seeker on June 29, 2010, 03:01:46 am
 ;D  why sister?  r the jinnos bothering u or anyone u know?


Title: Re: Can jinn "possess" humans?
Post by: Zainab_M on June 29, 2010, 11:29:45 pm
yes, I would say one can consider that.  After all, jinn do hang around people and sometimes cause harassment or uneasiness.  What I meant in the original post was that they cannot just take over your life so that you cannot have power to desist them.  This interpretation is quite common which eventually connects with the idea of "being possessed" by jinn.

and .. lol , br. PT's comment is amusing  :D


Title: Re: Can jinn "possess" humans?
Post by: Heba E. Husseyn on April 27, 2011, 07:09:41 am
ALSO PLEASE REFER TO   "Hadith views on the concept of Jinn, not compatible with Quran."   (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=3250.0)