Post by bluefedish on Jan 22, 2008 1:01:47 GMT -5
The English term for the Arabic (jinnie), a magickal fiery spirit.
The Arabic word "jinn" literally means anything which has the connotation of concealment, invisibility, seclusion, and remoteness. In pre-Islamic Asian-Mid Eastern folklore and in Islamic Culture, a jinni (also "djinni" or "djini") is a member of the jinn (or "djinn"), generally though to be a race of supernatural creatures.
The word genie in English has mixed meaning; although most often genie refers to a djinni, it can also refer to the Latin word genius, which has a separate but similar meaning.
Jinn in pre-Islamic Era
Amongst archaeologists dealing with ancient Middle Eastern cultures, any spirit lesser than God is often referred to as a "Djinn", especially when describing stone reliefs or other forms of art. This practice draws on the original meaning of the term genie for simply a spirit of any sort.
Epigraphic Evidence: Inscriptions found in Northwestern Arabia seem to indicate worship of Djinn, or at least their tributory status. For instance, an inscription from Beth Fasi'el near Palmyra pays tribute to the "Ginnaye", the "good and rewarding gods" providing a sharp resemblance to the Latin Genius and Juno: The Guardian Spirits.
Folklore: Types of Djinn include the ghul ("night shade", which can change shape), the sila (which can't change shape), the lfrit, and "Marid". From information in The Arabian Nights, Marid seem to be the strongest form of Djinn, followed by lfrit, and then the rest of the Djinn.
In the mid-east it is believed that the Djinn were spirits of smoke-less fire, although sometimes they associated them with succubi (demons in the forms of beautiful women). The feminine form of Djinn is "jinniya" or "jinneyeh".
Djinn in Islam
The Djinn are said to be creatures with free will, made from 'smokeless fire' by God (the literal translation being "subtle fire", i.e., a fire which doen't give itself away through smoke), much in the same way humans were made of earth. According to the Recitation, Djinn have free choice, and lblis used this freedom in front of God by refusing to bow to Adam when God told lblis to do so. By refusing to obey God's order he was thrown out of the Paradise and called "Shaitan". In the Qur'an, Djinn are frequently mentioned and Sura 72 of the Qur'an named Al-Jinn is entirely about them. Another Sura (Al-Naas) mentions the Djinn in the last verse. In fact, it's mentioned in the Qur'an that Muhammad was sent as a prophet to both "humanity and the Djinn".
The Djinn are believed to have communities much like human societies: they eat, marry, die, etc. They are believed to live in tribes with boundaries, to follow religions as humans do, and follow the same ranks in armies as humans do. Because they are massless and can be fin into any space, some believe Djinns can settle into any location, from a vast area (like a Universe), to a tiny hole, (like a lamp). It is believed that they are invisible to humans, but that they can see humans. Some believe that they occasionally, accidentally or deliberately, come into view or into contact with humans. Djinn are believed to live much longer than humans: some of whom are said to be still alive having seen Muhammad (who lived during the 7th century). Furthermore, many believe that Djinn have learned to assimilate into the human world when they desire to do so, and that in many cases they live unnoticed among people marked only by the rather unusual or somewhat secretive practises they keep. It's also thought that Djinn can take on the form of humans and other animals. They can also be summoned by humans, it is believed.
Considered haraam in Islam, humans attempting to perform black magick on other humans, would call a Djinn specializing in dirty deeds to perform the magick. Such black magick on humans, (such as to influence a marriage to end in divorce, etc.) can only be undertaken by dark Djinni. Thus, a person would pay a magician, who would then call upon a dark Djinn, who would then perform the magick.
Selected Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genie
The Arabic word "jinn" literally means anything which has the connotation of concealment, invisibility, seclusion, and remoteness. In pre-Islamic Asian-Mid Eastern folklore and in Islamic Culture, a jinni (also "djinni" or "djini") is a member of the jinn (or "djinn"), generally though to be a race of supernatural creatures.
The word genie in English has mixed meaning; although most often genie refers to a djinni, it can also refer to the Latin word genius, which has a separate but similar meaning.
Jinn in pre-Islamic Era
Amongst archaeologists dealing with ancient Middle Eastern cultures, any spirit lesser than God is often referred to as a "Djinn", especially when describing stone reliefs or other forms of art. This practice draws on the original meaning of the term genie for simply a spirit of any sort.
Epigraphic Evidence: Inscriptions found in Northwestern Arabia seem to indicate worship of Djinn, or at least their tributory status. For instance, an inscription from Beth Fasi'el near Palmyra pays tribute to the "Ginnaye", the "good and rewarding gods" providing a sharp resemblance to the Latin Genius and Juno: The Guardian Spirits.
Folklore: Types of Djinn include the ghul ("night shade", which can change shape), the sila (which can't change shape), the lfrit, and "Marid". From information in The Arabian Nights, Marid seem to be the strongest form of Djinn, followed by lfrit, and then the rest of the Djinn.
In the mid-east it is believed that the Djinn were spirits of smoke-less fire, although sometimes they associated them with succubi (demons in the forms of beautiful women). The feminine form of Djinn is "jinniya" or "jinneyeh".
Djinn in Islam
The Djinn are said to be creatures with free will, made from 'smokeless fire' by God (the literal translation being "subtle fire", i.e., a fire which doen't give itself away through smoke), much in the same way humans were made of earth. According to the Recitation, Djinn have free choice, and lblis used this freedom in front of God by refusing to bow to Adam when God told lblis to do so. By refusing to obey God's order he was thrown out of the Paradise and called "Shaitan". In the Qur'an, Djinn are frequently mentioned and Sura 72 of the Qur'an named Al-Jinn is entirely about them. Another Sura (Al-Naas) mentions the Djinn in the last verse. In fact, it's mentioned in the Qur'an that Muhammad was sent as a prophet to both "humanity and the Djinn".
The Djinn are believed to have communities much like human societies: they eat, marry, die, etc. They are believed to live in tribes with boundaries, to follow religions as humans do, and follow the same ranks in armies as humans do. Because they are massless and can be fin into any space, some believe Djinns can settle into any location, from a vast area (like a Universe), to a tiny hole, (like a lamp). It is believed that they are invisible to humans, but that they can see humans. Some believe that they occasionally, accidentally or deliberately, come into view or into contact with humans. Djinn are believed to live much longer than humans: some of whom are said to be still alive having seen Muhammad (who lived during the 7th century). Furthermore, many believe that Djinn have learned to assimilate into the human world when they desire to do so, and that in many cases they live unnoticed among people marked only by the rather unusual or somewhat secretive practises they keep. It's also thought that Djinn can take on the form of humans and other animals. They can also be summoned by humans, it is believed.
Considered haraam in Islam, humans attempting to perform black magick on other humans, would call a Djinn specializing in dirty deeds to perform the magick. Such black magick on humans, (such as to influence a marriage to end in divorce, etc.) can only be undertaken by dark Djinni. Thus, a person would pay a magician, who would then call upon a dark Djinn, who would then perform the magick.
Selected Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genie
