(something hidden or which cannot be seen)
The above is the root meaning of the word Jinn. The existence of the Jinn is firmly established by the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah and the consensus of the Scholars (Ijma’) It suffices to say that the word Jinn and its derivatives occur more than 29 times in the Qur’an. A related word "shaytan" and its plural "shaytana" together occur more than 80 times. In fact, there is an entire Surah called Surah Al-Jinn, which speaks in clear explicit terms about the Jinn.
The reality, which we have to affirm, is that the Jinn live in an established world unseen to us. They eat and drink, and procreate. Similar to Humans, some are righteous while others are not.
The Jinn were created before the creation of mankind. Their origin is from fire. The Qur’an verified these facts in Surah Al-Hijr:
"And verily, We created mankind from sounding clay of altered smooth mud and the jinn We created from smokeless fire."
(Qur’an 15:26-27)
The creation was also reported by Ibn Abbas (R.A):
"Two thousand years before (mankind) was created, there were Jinn on (the Earth), and they caused corruption on it and shed blood. Then Allah sent against them a troop of Angels who beat them and cast them away to islands in the seas. So, when Allah said: ‘I am placing (mankind) generations after generations on Earth,’ They (the Angels) said, ‘Will You place therein one who will cause corruption and shed blood’ (Al Baqarah, 2:30), That is: Just as those Jinn did?? Then Allah said: ‘I know that which you do not know.’"
Al-Hakim
We can not ordinarily see the Jinn, unless they take a material form, which is usually in an unpleasant or ugly form such as a snake or a black dog, as opposed to angels who take pleasant and handsome forms. They can also take a human form. For example: In the battle of Badr, a kind of Jinn known as Iblis, assumed the form of a man named Suraqah Ibn Malik, and urged the disbelievers to move forward to the battle, saying:
"There is none who can overcome you today"
(Qur’an 8:48)
Then Allah sent the Angel Jibreel against him and when Iblis saw him, he cried out to the disbelievers: "I have nothing to do with you ! I see that which you do not see! I fear Allah, and Allah is severe in retribution," and then he fled.
There are 3 types of Jinn as described in the following authentic Hadith:
The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) said:
"There are 3 types of Jinn; One type flies through the air, another type consists of snakes and dogs. A third is based in one place but travels about."
Tabarani and Buhaqi
Jinni:Is a term used by the Arabs to refer to one Jinn.
The 3 types of Jinn are as follows:
1 Amir: (Resident Jinn) used to mean that he is one of those who lives with people.
2 Shaytan: Used for a Jinni who is malicious and has become wicked.
3 Ifrit: Used for a Jinni who is stronger and more powerful than a Shaytan.
The way of life for the Jinn is just like Human Beings. For Example: they are accountable for their actions, just as Human Beings are.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
"I created Jinn and Mankind only in order that they might worship Me."
(Qur’an 51:56)
There are believers amongst them, who will be rewarded, and disbelievers, who will be punished, as they admit in the following verse from the Qur’an:
"And indeed there are amongst us, Muslims and amongst us, wrongdoers. As for those who accept Islam, they have sought out the right path. And, as for the wrongdoers, they will be firewood for Jahannam."
(Qur’an 72:14-15)
Whenever Allah sent a Prophet to mankind, the Jinn of that time could also receive his message. Thus, some Jinn came to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) one night and he recited Qur’an to them, and taught them about Islam.
Muslim
They eat and drink, and have Fiqh regulations similar to ours. Just as we eat meat of animals slaughtered in the name of Allah, so do the believers among the Jinn . In addition, the Jinn are allowed to eat the bones of such animals.
With regard to this, the Prophet (S.A.W) has instructed us not to use animal bones for istinja (i.e. to clean the private parts after relieving one’s self).
The Jinn also have conjugal relations; as evident from this verse:
"Therein (in heaven) are (women) of modest gaze, whom neither human being nor Jinn have touched before."
(Qur’an 55:56)
Another verse establishes that they beget children:
"Will you then take (Iblis) and his offspring as protectors in preference to Me, although they are an enemy to you?"
(Qur’an 18:50)
The Jinn, as any other living creature, will also die. This is mentioned in the Qur’an:
"Allah will say, ‘Enter you in the company of nations who passed away before you, of men and Jinn, into the Fire."
(Qur’an 7:38)
Iblis, however, has been given respite up to the Day of Resurrection.
"Allah said, you are, then, among those given respite up to the day of the time known (and appointed)."
(Qur’an 38:81-82)
Iblis is the Jinn who disobeyed Allah’s command to prostrate to Adam (A.S), and was consequently expelled from Heaven. Allah had promised him eternal Hell, but he had asked Allah to give him time before going to Hell to win over Adam’s descendants as their followers. Allah had granted him time, and Iblis has worked towards the destruction of mankind ever since. Shaytan is the term used to refer to Iblis and other disbelieving Jinn.
Iblis has his throne in the sea, and he sends out his dispatchments of shaytan to aggravate people. The dearest of them to him is the one who causes the most fitna (tribulation).
One of his workers comes and tells him "I did not leave (my victim) until I brought about separation between him and his wife." Iblis draws him near and says to him, "Yes, You (are the best)."
Muslim
Because of this evil nature of the shaytan, the term "shayatan" is also used for those disbelieving human beings that are active in corrupting and fighting righteousness. Allah has said:
Thus, have We made, for every Prophet, an enemy, the shaytan of mankind and Jinn, inspiring one another with, adorned speech by way of deception."
source: sachaa
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