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.
~
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
