3 Questions
What is the origin of the belief in jinn according to scholars of the Middle East?
Scholars of the Middle East hold that jinn originated as malevolent spirits residing in deserts and unclean places, who often took the forms of animals; others hold that they were originally pagan nature deities who gradually became marginalized as other deities took greater importance.
What evidence suggests jinn were worshiped in pre-Islamic Arabia?
Emilie Savage-Smith, who asserted that jinn are malevolent in contrast to benevolent gods, doesn't hold this distinction to be absolute, admitting jinn-worship in pre-Islamic Arabia. In the regions north to the Hejaz, Palmyra and Baalbek, the terms jinni and ilah were often used interchangeably. Julius Wellhausen likewise states that in pre-Islamic Arabia it was assumed there are friendly and helpful beings among the jinn. Although their mortality ranks them lower than gods, it seems that the veneration of jinn had played more importance in the everyday life of pre-Islamic Arabs than the gods themselves.
How were jinn thought to interact with humans in pre-Islamic Arabian belief?
According to common Arabian belief, soothsayers, pre-Islamic philosophers, and poets were inspired by the jinn. Their culture and society were analogous to that pre-Islamic Arabian culture, having tribal leaders, protecting their allies and avenging murder for any member of their tribe or allies. Although the powers of jinn exceed those of humans, it is conceivable a man could kill a jinni in single combat. Jinn were thought to shift into different shapes, but were feared especially in their invisible form, since then they could attack without being seen. Jinn were also feared because they had been thought to be responsible for various diseases and mental illnesses. Despite that they were often feared or they inspired awe, the jinn were also pictured to have romantic feelings for humans.
Study Notes
- Belief in jinn is testified not only by the Quran, but also by pre-Islamic literature in the seventh century.
- Some scholars of the Middle East hold that they originated as malevolent spirits residing in deserts and unclean places, who often took the forms of animals; others hold that they were originally pagan nature deities who gradually became marginalized as other deities took greater importance.
- Since the term jinn seems not to be of Arabic, but Aramaic origin, denoting demonized pagan deities, the jinn probably entered the Arabian belief in the late pre-Islamic period.
- Still, jinn had been worshipped by many Arabs during the Pre-Islamic period, though, unlike gods, jinn were not regarded as immortal.
- Emilie Savage-Smith, who asserted that jinn are malevolent in contrast to benevolent gods, doesn't hold this distinction to be absolute, admitting jinn-worship in pre-Islamic Arabia.
- In the regions north to the Hejaz, Palmyra and Baalbek, the terms jinni and ilah were often used interchangeably.
- Julius Wellhausen likewise states that in pre-Islamic Arabia it was assumed there are friendly and helpful beings among the jinn.
- Although their mortality ranks them lower than gods, it seems that the veneration of jinn had played more importance in the everyday life of pre-Islamic Arabs than the gods themselves.
- According to common Arabian belief, soothsayers, pre-Islamic philosophers, and poets were inspired by the jinn.
- Their culture and society were analogous to that pre-Islamic Arabian culture, having tribal leaders, protecting their allies and avenging murder for any member of their tribe or allies.
- Although the powers of jinn exceed those of humans, it is conceivable a man could kill a jinni in single combat.
- Jinn were thought to shift into different shapes, but were feared especially in their invisible form, since then they could attack without being seen.
- Jinn were also feared because they had been thought to be responsible for various diseases and mental illnesses.
- Julius Wellhausen observed that such spirits were thought to inhabit desolate, dingy, and dark places and that they were feared.
- One had to protect oneself from them, but they were not the objects of a true cult.
- Al-Jahiz credits the pre-Islamic Arabs with believing that the society of jinn constitutes several tribes and groups and some natural events were attributed to them, such as storms.
- Despite that they were often feared or they inspired awe, the jinn were also pictured to have romantic feelings for humans.
Test your knowledge of the pre-Islamic beliefs surrounding jinn with this quiz. Learn about the origins, worship, and cultural significance of jinn in the Arabian Peninsula before the spread of Islam.
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