The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 256
Seal of the Prophets - Volume I 256 of travel, and they returned to their people deeply impressed. 1 It is possible that this occurrence took place more than once, due to which there seems to be a contradiction in various narrations. However, at this place, we are not concerned with the apparent details of this occurrence. Rather, the purpose is to briefly expound the meaning of Jinn in this context, and to understand what primary purpose they came out for in search of the Holy Prophet sa , listened to the recitation of the Holy Qur’ān, and then set back. Therefore, it should be known that belief in the existence of Jinn is an issue which can be found in practically every nation of the world. It can be found in both religious and secular literature, but there is much disaccord in its details. In the literature of some nations, a sort of supernatural power has been attributed to Jinn , and they have been held worthy of worship. In other nations, without exception, it has been labeled an evil species, and has been thought of as Satan and Iblīs. However, Islām rejects both of these ideologies, and teaches that Jinn are a hidden species of Allāh the Exalted, which are composed of both good and evil beings. However, the realm of this species is completely separate from humans and they live in a world of their own. Albeit, by the will of Allāh the Exalted, at times, the existence of Jinn is shown to exclusive people in an allegorical form. However, physically, both of these species are completely separate, and they have no relation or connection to one another. In the Holy Qur’ān, Jinn have been mentioned at 26 different places. 2 The same implication is not meant by the word ‘Jinn’ at all of these places, because as we shall now elaborate, this word is used in the Arabic language to express different meanings. However, the knowledge that is derived by the collective study of these 26 places is that Jinn are a hidden species of God the Almighty, which like humans (although in its details are much different), possess the ability to progress and degenerate. Moreover, within its appointed limits, it has been endowed the freedom of choice to tread a path of good and evil in its deeds. However, as we have just mentioned, the word ‘Jinn’ has not been used to refer to this hidden species in every instance, rather, in certain places this word has been utilized in its conventional form. 1 For example refer to Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitābuṣ-Ṣalāt, Bābul-Jahri bil-Qirā’ati fiṣ-Ṣubḥi wal-Qirā’ati ‘alal-Jinn, Ḥadīth No. 1006 2 Sabā’ (34:13, 34:15, 34:42), Adh-Dhāriyāt (51:57), Al-An‘ām (6:101, 6:113, 6:129, 6:131), Ar-Raḥmān (55:34), Al-A‘rāf (7:39, 7:180), Al-Kahf (18:51), An-Naml (27:18, 27:40), Ḥā Mīm As-Sajdah (41:26, 41:30), Al-Aḥqāf (46: 19, 46:30), Al-Jinn (72:2, 72:6-7), Banī Isrā’īl (17:89), Hūd (11:120), As-Sajdah (32:14), An-Nās (114:7)