Why are jinn categorized as paranormal?

[Ruhi_Rose]

 


This is an interesting discussion we had last week at our Islamic community centre.  It's not about confirming anything.  That is only up to Allah and none else.   This discussion was simply about reflecting on possibilities. 

Starting with Verse 55:14 and 15.

"He created man of clay like the potter's,  And He created the jinn from a smokeless flame of fire. "  (55:14-15)  Ar-Rehman.

The original Arabic words in the Noble Quran are:  "mārijin min narin" (a smokeless flame of fire) may allude to fire of a special kind, and not exactly the fire we get from burning wood or coal.   The interpretation would be that as the first step in creation, every man is created of earth (or clay), then passes through various stages of creation involving the sperm, and the clay adopts the shape of a living human of flesh and blood.  Similarly the first step for the creation of jinn is pure flame of fire, or a fire free of smoke.

Thus, jinn are not precisely spirit.  Their composition being that of pure fire of a special kind actually makes them material beings.  However, the material aspect of jinn (smokeless fire) is certainly much different from that of humans which is clay or earth.   While only Allah knows best, one may presume that similar to regular fire, smokeless fire would be less physical and less concrete than clay or earth.   This may be the reason (or a reason) why jinn are able to make themselves invisible.   Thus Allah states in Verse 7:27 of Surah Al-Araf  "Satan and his party see you from where you cannot see them."  This may also be the reason for jinn (unlike humans) to have the ability to penetrate into places imperceptibly and to move or travel incredibly fast from the human view point (this aspect too is confirmed in the Quran).  Perhaps (Allah knows best) they can change their outward appearances to some extent.  All of this maybe possible with the jinn because they are essentially made of fire and therefore more pliable than clay.

Allah-o-Alim.

Your feedback / opinion would be appreciated.

 

[Zainab_M]

...... However, the material aspect of jinn (smokeless fire) is certainly much different from that of humans which is clay or earth.   While only Allah knows best, one may presume that similar to regular fire, smokeless fire would be less physical and less concrete than clay or earth.   This may be the reason (or a reason) why jinn are able to make themselves invisible.   ............. All of this maybe possible with the jinn because they are essentially made of fire and therefore more pliable than clay.

Allah-o-Alim.

Alhumdulilah.  This makes a lot of sense as your angle of perception appears logical and consistent from the Quranic perspective.   It must have been a very interesting discussion. 

[N. Truth Seeker]

A very thought-provoking study.  While only Allah knows best, your assessment seems to have a bearing on the paranormal aspect of jinn.

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Indeed interesting, Subhan'Allah.   Everything that Allah has created and ordained has so much to perceive and study. 

By the way, there are some traditional concepts that humans are born humble because they're made of dust.   Jinn are  intrinsically fiery in temper and wicked who can also be called 'devils' because they're made of fire.  Sounds wrong to me.  There are no such references on such lines in the Noble Quran at all.

[Zainab_M]

O yes, that is a wrong notion, thoroughly un-Quranic.  Creation of humans by clay and jinn by smokeless fire has no bearing on ethical or moral characteristics.   As ordained by Allah Almighty, both humans and jinn can choose their path of conduct and among both humans and jinn, there are some who are righteous while most are unrighteous.

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Right Sis, I think the same.

[N. Truth Seeker]

Yeah, there are people who think this way but it's a wrong idea.  It's probably because some folks misunderstand the Quranic Verse 18:50 where Allah says  “And (remember) when We said to the angels: “Prostrate yourselves unto Adam.” So they prostrated themselves except Iblis (Satan). He was one of the jinn; he disobeyed the command of his Rab. .... "  (18:50).   So, some folks think that Satan's disobedience was because he was of the jinn.  But the Verse does not mean that.  The reference of The Almighty in this Verse is that Satan was of the jinn, so had the ability to make decisions and he made the wrong decision by choosing disobedience over obedience and preferring misguidance over guidance. 

[Zainab_M]

Exactly brother.  Very well summarized.  Allah has made it very clear in the Quran that the jinn are part of His creation, and like all other creatures, jinn too are the slaves of Allah who are accountable for their deeds.  Some jinn are believers with good conduct while some are disbelievers with evil conduct. 

“And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).” (51:56) Ad-Dhariyat.

Allah created jinn and humankind to worship Him only.  Therefore, jinn like humans, are also obligated to follow the commandments of Allah Almighty  which makes them accountable for their deeds.

Furthermore, Surah 72 (Al-Jinn) confirms the variation within the Jinn community where Allah Almighty quotes the temperamental diversity of the jinn, that they are of various kinds, which is spoken by a group of jinn themselves.

"Say (O Muhammad): It is revealed unto me that a company of the Jinn gave ear, and they said: Indeed! we have heard a marvellous Qur'an, Which guides unto righteousness, so we believe in it and we ascribe no partner unto our Rab."  (72:1-2).

“' And among us there are righteous folk and among us there are far from that. We are sects having different rules. .'” [72:11]

“ And there are among us some who have surrendered (to Allah) and there are among us some who are unjust. And whoso has surrendered to Allah, such have taken the right path purposefully.   And as for those who are unjust, they are firewood for hell. ” [72:14, 15]

The first 15 Verses of this Surah convey a very articulate clarification on the community of jinn.

[N. Truth Seeker]

Thank you sister.  Excellent references directly from the Noble Quran.

[Ruhi_Rose]

Thanks sisters and brother for addressing this very informative point with references from Surah Al-Jinn.