jiin

jiin, also spelled jinn or djinn, refers to a class of supernatural beings in Islamic theology and Arabic folklore. They are described as beings created by God from smokeless flame, distinct from humans and angels. jiin inhabit the unseen world and have free will, allowing them to be benevolent, malevolent, or morally ambiguous. They live in deserts, ruins, mountains, and seas, and can take on various forms.

In Islamic belief, jiin are part of God’s creation and are accountable for their actions, just as humans are. Some choose to follow God and become Muslims; others do not. They are capable of intelligence, language, and social organization, and can interact with humans, though such interactions are not universal and are often shaped by cultural narratives. Folkloric traditions in the Middle East and North Africa have elaborated diverse subtypes and tales. Ifrits are often depicted as powerful and sometimes malicious beings; marids as strong and rebellious; ghuls as shape-shifters that prey on travelers.

In modern culture, jiin appear in literature, film, and folklore, frequently as magical or dangerous beings in stories, though these depictions blend religious texts with popular imagination. Scholars differentiate between scriptural accounts that describe jiin within an Islamic theological framework and folklore that expands on their powers and societies. The jiin are thus a hybrid of religious and folkloric traditions rather than a single fixed entity.