jinn

Jinn, also spelled djinn, are supernatural beings in Islamic theology and pre-Islamic Arab folklore. The term derives from the Arabic jinn, meaning hidden or concealed. In traditional belief, jinn are created by God from smokeless fire and exist alongside humans and angels. They possess free will and can choose between good and evil; they are morally responsible and subject to divine judgment. Jinn form communities with social structures, and, like humans, some may marry, have offspring, and live for varying lengths of time.

Jinn can assume different shapes, including animals or humans, and most are believed to be invisible to the untrained eye. They are said to inhabit desolate places—deserts, ruins, caves, and seas—and to accompany stories and legends across cultures. In folklore they include various types, notably ifrit (often malignant) and marid (powerful), as well as the ghoul.

Islamic texts state that jinn are a distinct intelligent creation mentioned in the Qur'an and Hadith. Some jinn are described as believers who worship God, while others are disbelievers. Human beings and jinn share the responsibility to live righteous lives, and both can be addressed in moral and spiritual matters. Today, belief in jinn persists in many Muslim-majority societies and in folklore, though popular depictions in literature and film often reinterpret them as Western-style genies with wishes.