What creatures are made from fire, yet have the ability to think and to reflect? They have existed before humans and are able to see you, yet you cannot see them. They may be harmful, destructive, and evil, or they may be loyal, kind, and helpful. These creatures are known as the jinn. Their are five types of jinn as described by Arabic scholars. They range from the jinnis or pure jinn themselves to the aamar, which live among humans to the shaitan or devils, which antagonize humans. Some jinn are able to change form so that they look like humans or animals. Their is evidence for their existence and their actions affect our lives in many interesting ways.
To begin with, evidence for the existence of jinn does exist. First of all, their is at least some form of mentioning about them in the Holy Books. The Bible, Qur'an, and Torah all recognize the existence of Satan. Even though all three of these books comment that Satan is an angel who had disobeyed God, numerous scholars have agreed him to be under the classification of Jinn. People still argue on that classification, but their is no doubt that the Qur'an clearly describes and supports the existence of jinn. Secondly, many scholars have written book on such creatures supporting the fact that they exist. Ibn Taimiya, for example has written many volumes of information about jinn. He has even encountered them on many occasions. Scholars basically use the information from the Holy Books and other primary sources, depending on their authenticity, to put together books. Lastly, the fact that people have encountered and identified jinn supports their existence. Many true stories about ghosts, which are actually jinn, are written every day. UFO encounters nowadays seem common, but some of them may be real. Although many people may disagree, those people who actually study the jinn or have capabilities of communicating with them support the fact that all these phenomenas are the result of jinn. Much evidence supports the existence of jinn.
One true story about a jinn was published in the Jung newspaper of Lahore, Pakistan and approved by the investigators of the case. Pervaiz Rashad had currently moved to a subdivision of Lahore for a job as a clerk. He was advised by his friends to use a longer path to his job rather than take a shortcut that passed through a cemetery. They told him that the shortcut was often inhabited by jinn at night. Upon going to work, Rashad rode his bike through the longer path, as suggested by his friend. But, on the way back he decided to take the shortcut thinking that his friends were just playing a joke. So he was riding his bike late at night when he found a watermelon by the side of the road. Rashad thought that it must have been dropped by a truck and he place it behind his bike so he could eat it at home. Soon the bike got heavier and it became harder for him to move. He turned around to take a look and their sat a child laughing crazily at him. Out of fear, Rashad began to paddle faster and started to recite prayers to God. This was all he could remember. The next day people found him in a coma next to an old grave and his bike was torn to pieces. The jinn had apparently led him to a trap and it was a miracle that he had survived. This story suggests that jinn can be of an evil nature.
Another true story concerning jinn actually occurred in the town of my grandmother's sister, named Khurshada. A couple in her town had a servant that helped in the farming. The servant was very holy and told people to ask for forgiveness or give sacrifice before something bad were to happen to them. My grandmother had seen him when she visited her sister. One time, at night, it began to rain fast and the couple's adobe house started to leak water. Their children began to argue who was to go on the roof and stop the leak with some clay. The fight continued and soon the leak was stopped. The servant had extended his arm while lying down and had repaired the roof without even having to go outside. How had his arm grew longer to do that? Everyone was amazed and stayed quiet, knowing that he was not human. The next day, the whole town knew that the servant was a jinn and the jinn left early in the morning before anyone could see him again. This story shows that jinn can also be of a good nature.
To sum it up, their is much evidence for the existence of jinn and their actions effect human lives. The Holy Books contain information about them. Scholars have studied and written books about jinn. Encounters with the jinn such as the two described also support their existence and how they can effect humans. So now that you know what jinn are, where do you remember hearing of one and what will you do if you actually encountered one?