Jinn (pl.)
Jinn (pl.)
AKA Djinn (pl.), Jinnī, Genie
Titles:
One Concealed from the Senses, Ethereal Mortal
Culture:
Arabian / Islamic
Appearance:
Jinn (anglicized as genies) are ethereal, spirit-like creatures. They are imperceptible to humans unless they wish to deliberately present themselves.
Purpose/Role:
- Not inherently good or evil
- Born with fitra (natural purity or innocence present at birth) and thus must choose whether or not to accept God as their superior
- Those who choose acceptance are portrayed as benevolent
- Those who reject God are therefore believed to be malevolent
- Hence their perception as demonic forces
- Not originally Islamic per se
- Existed in pre-Islamic Arabian folklore and were perhaps brought into the cultural dialogue after encounters with other pagans
- Much more powerful than humans, but unlike most demons, jinn are not immortal
- Will be judged upon death and sent to either heaven or hell according to their deeds
- The collective term jinn is used to refer to any sort of supernatural creature, but also to a specific type
