shayatin

Shayatin is the plural form of shaytan, an Arabic term commonly translated as devil, demon, or adversary. In Islamic theology, shayatin refers to malevolent beings associated with the jinn, creatures created from smokeless fire who possess free will. The word can denote Satan as a specific figure (Iblis) as well as other rebellious jinn that roam the world and tempt humans and other beings.

Origin and role: The Qur’an and hadith portray Iblis as a shaytan who refused to bow to Adam and was expelled from God’s mercy, subsequently taking up the role of the chief shaytan or Satan. He vowed to mislead humanity until the Day of Judgment. His followers—the shayatin—are described as those who whisper and incite people toward sin. Their power is not unlimited; it operates under God’s permission and can be countered by faith, obedience, and remembrance of God.

Relation to humans: Muslims seek protection from shayatin through practices such as recitation of the Qur’an, remembrance of God, and supplications like seeking refuge in God from the accursed shaytan. Shayatin are commonly understood to tempt individuals, influence behavior, and challenge moral and spiritual discipline.

In broader cultural and religious contexts, the concept of shayatin appears in doctrinal exegesis as well as folk beliefs, often linked to temptation, moral testing, and the presence of evil in the world. Overall, shayatin denote the group of malevolent beings within Islamic cosmology that oppose God and strive to lead people astray, with Iblis as their most prominent exemplar.