Sunday, December 3, 2017

What is the difference between Satan and Jinn? - Fatwas of Ibn Baz


Q: What is the difference between Satan and Jinn? Does the Satan reproduce  males and females? Why does not Iblis (Satan), who was expelled  from Jannah (Paradise) because of his disobedience, advise his offspring to escape the punishment of the Hellfire? Is it true that the Devils interact with humans to  whom they pay service in return for the latter’s showing disobedience to Allah? Is it also true  that there is a type of Muslim jinn who offer services to Muslims like some used to serve Prophet Sulayman ( Solomon, peace be upon him)? If the Devils or jinn are able to serve humans, then why do the Muslim jinn not help the Muslim humans in their wars against the Kaffirs (disbelievers), and disclose their secrets and support Islam? Why do the Kafir jinn not help the kafir humans in some way? If I intend to do a good deed, will the Satan know it and try distract me from it? If all this is true, please cite the relevant evidence of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Did any examples  of such things happen at the time of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)? If there any books about such matter, please tell me about them so that I can be safe from the evil of the devils. May Allah keep me and you safe from their evil.

A: The devils naturally belong to the jinn creatures; they are the rebellious and fallen Jinn, just as the devils  among mankind  are the rebellious ones and the most evil among them. There are among the jinn and mankind as well devils who are the rebellious and wicked, Kafirs, and evildoers. There are also Muslims  among them  who are righteous and good. Allah  (Exalted be He) says: (( And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies – Shayātīn (devils) among mankind and jinn, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception). If your Lord had so willed, they would not have done it; so leave them alone  with their fabrications. (Tafsir Qurtubi) According to the view held by some scholars, Satan is the father of the jinn. Disobeying his Lord and being too proud to prostrate himself to Adam, Allah (Exalted be He) expelled and banished him away from Jannah. Other scholars are of the view that the Satan originally belonged to a group of angels who were called Al-jinn. When he arrogantly refused to prostrate himself to Adam, Allah (Exalted be He) expelled and banished him. He became the leader of every evildoer and wicked person, every Kafir and wrongdoer. Every person has a Shaytan (devil) and an angel accompanying him.

(Part No. 9; Page No. 371)

The Prophet (may Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him) says: (( There is no one among you but he has with him a constant companion (qareen) from among the jinn and a constant companion from among the angels.” They said, “You too, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Me too, but Allah has helped me against him (the devil-companion) and he has become Muslim.)) The Prophet (peace be upon him) informed  Muslims that the Shaytan inspires and incites man to do devil. There are times when he has control over man’s heart and can find out, by Allah’s decree, what a person intends to do of good or evil. There are also times when the angel has control over a person’s  heart. He makes him incline towards good. These are things that Allah (Exalted be He) has enabled them to do  i.e. He has enabled the two companions, the jinni-companion and the angel-companion to do these things. Even the Prophet (peace be upon him) had a devil accompanying him; this constant companion from among the jinn, as stated above, in the Hadith in which the Prophet  (peace be upon him) is reported to have said: (( “There is no among you but he has with him a constant companion (qareen) from among the jinn and a constant companion from among the angels.”They said, “You too, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Me too, but Allah has helped me against him (the devil-companion) and he has become Muslim.”)) The point is that every man has with him a companion from among the angels and a companion from among the devils. The believer suppresses his devil companion by obeying Allah (Exalted be He) and adhering steadfastly to His religion, so he humiliates his companion  until he becomes weak  and unable to stop the believer from doing good or make him fall into evil, except what Allah wills. The sinner, by his disobedience and evil actions, gives his devil the strength to make him do evil, encourages  him to commit sin, and discourages  him from doing good. The believer  has to fear Allah (Exalted be He) and strive against his devil by obeying Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger  (peace be upon him), and seeking refuge with Allah (Exalted be He) from him. He should also strive to help his angel by obeying Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him) and heeding the commands of Allah (Exalted be He).

(Part No. 9; Page No. 372)

The Muslims help their brothers among the jinn to obey Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) just as they help their human brothers. Humans may also be a source of help to  them in some matters without their realizing it. They may help them to obey Allah  (Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him) by teaching and reminding  other humans, for the jinn may attend and benefit from the lessons given by humans in the Masjids (mosques) and elsewhere. Humans may also hear some things from the jinn which benefit them; they may wake them up to pray or draw their attention  to things which may benefit or harm them. All of this happens even though the jinn do not  make themselves visible to humans. A jinn may make himself visible to some people when pointing them towards something good or something evil. This may happen, although it is rare. Usually  they do not appear to humans, although their voices may be heard on some occasions when they wake a person for prayer or tell him of some things. In conclusion, the believing jinn help the believers even though the believers may not realize it, and they love everything good for them. Similarly, believing humans love everything good for their believing brethren among  the jinn. They ask Allah (Exalted be He) to give them everything good. They may attend lessons where they love to listen to the Qur’an and knowledge, as stated above. The believers among the jinn benefit from the lessons given by humans, at some times and in some lands. All of this happens and is well known. This has been clearly stated by many scholars whom the jinn contacted and asked about some issues; they told them that they had attended their lessons. All of this is well-known and Allah (Exalted be He) is the One Whose help we seek. Allah (Exalted be He) has told us that the jinn listened to the Qur’an from the Prophet  (peace be upon him). At the end of Surah Al-Ahqaf,  He related the account of the jinn who listened to the Qur’an when recited by the Prophet (may Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him). Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says: (( And (remember) when We sent towards you  (Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) a group (three to ten persons) of the jinn, (quietly) listening to the Qur’ân. When they stood  in the presence thereof, they said: “Listen in silence!” And when it was finished, they returned to their people, as warners.)) (( They said: “O our people! Verily, we have heard  a Book (this Qur’ân) sent down after Mûsâ  (Moses), confirming what came  before it: it guides to the truth and to the Straight Path (i.e. Islâm).))

(Part No. 9; Page No. 373)

Allah (Exalted be He) revealed other Ayahs in a separate Surah which was named after them. The opening Ayahs of the Surah read: (( Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم): “ It has  been revealed to me that a group (from three to ten in number) of jinn listened (to this Qur’ân). They said: “Verily, we have heard a wonderful Recitation (this Qur’ân)!

Many books have been written on this matter. In many of his books, Ibn Al-Qayyim  (may Allah be merciful to him) gave elaborate discussions about this topic. There is also a useful book entitled  Al-Marjan Fi Bayan Ahkam Al-Jan by Al-Shibly. There are other books  written  on this topic as well. You can  look for at any commercial bookstore. You could also refer to the books of Tafsir (exegesis of the Qur’an) which explain Surah Al-Jinn or those  Ayahs speaking of them in Surah Al-Ahqaf or any other Ayahs speaking of them. You can also refer to the statements of the Qur’an exegetes regarding this topic.

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Source: Fatwas of Ibn Baz, volume 9, Part No. 9; Page No. 370-373| http://www.alifta.net/fatawa/fatawaDetails.aspx?languagename=en&BookID=14&View=Page&PageNo=1&PageID=1308