Jinn are shape-shifters, a fact illustrated by the shape-shifting battle in "The Second Dervish's Tale" from the Arabian Knights collection (unless noted otherwise, all tales will be from that collection). Very commonly jinn travel about as whirlwinds. They are wont to cause great confusion in human society with this ability, and in lands they dwell in it is often difficult to know when one is dealing with this breed.
The society of jinn is rather like human society. It has its own kings, courts and armies. A whole hierarchy exists among its nobility, with different courts often owing degrees of allegiance to the other. Their courts are as gorgeous and as intricate as anything amongst the humans, more-so really.
Since jinn often move about in the world of men and transact business with humans, a significant body of law has been elaborated by Saracen religious jurisconsults, dealing with such matters as property rights of jinn and cases of mixed marriages between jinn and women.
There are many sects of jinn (tara'if). While these distinctions often seem to be neither precise or consistent it seems that marid is a more powerful sort of jinn and that an ifrit is an even more powerful one yet. The rebellious jinn are often the marids and care considered particularly dangerous to man. The jinni usually described as marid though are often closer to infernal powers, if not indistinguishable.
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Last modified: Mon Dec 14, 1998