Ifrit

An ifrit, also spelled ifrit or afreet/afrit, is a creature from Islamic and broader Middle Eastern folklore. It is commonly described as a powerful, often malevolent type of jinn associated with fire and capable of great feats of strength and magical prowess. In many traditions the ifrit is among the strongest jinn and is regarded as dangerous or difficult to control. The word is of Arabic origin, with variants such as afreet/afrit appearing in medieval Arabic, Persian, and Turkish literature; the exact etymology is debated.

In Islamic theology, jinn are beings created from smokeless fire who possess free will and can be either good or evil. The ifrit is a subcategory typically linked with rebellion, cunning, and hazardous bargains. Some tales portray an ifrit as imprisoned within a lamp, bottle, or beneath the earth, released by a magician to perform tasks; others depict them as rulers of vast realms or masters of flame. Across sources, the ifrit is commonly framed as a formidable and sometimes capricious adversary or ally.

In modern culture, the ifrit appears in folklore-inspired fantasy and in various works of fiction. It is often depicted as a fire demon or elemental being. The concept has influenced English-language terms such as efreet or efreeti in role-playing games, and variants appear in video games and fantasy literature, including popular series where Ifrit is portrayed as a recurring fire-related summon or deity.