Djinn (Genie)
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Creatures that are half-human and half-demon from pre-Islamic times. Originally, they were spirits of nature that caused madness in humans. They differ not much from humans: they reproduce, they have the same bodily needs, and they die, although their life span is much longer. The Arabic word jinn, which means "spirit", is neutral--some of the jinni serve Allah, while others do not. The Arabs believed the jinni often took the form of ostriches, or rode them. Dalila, Samson's treacherous mistress, rode an ostrich. There are five orders of genies: the Marid (the most powerful), the Afrit, the Shaitan, the Jinn, and the Jann (the least powerful). Jinni can do good or evil, are mischievous and enjoy punishing humans for wrongs done them, even unintentionally. Thus accidents and diseases are considered to be their work. They are composed of fire or air and they can assume both animal and human form. They exist in air, in flame, under the earth and in inanimate objects, such as rocks, trees and ruins. In the stories of the "Thousand and One Nights" a jinn often inhabits an old, battered oil lamp. After rubbing the lamp three times, it will appear and grants the holder of the lamp three wishes. A forth wish will undo the previous three. Also singular Djinn or Jinnee, plural Djinni or Jineeyeh (Jin and Jinx are other variants). Arabian spirits, perhaps animistic, but more probably accurately mythological like the Persian divs. The word is usually translated as meaning approximately elementals although they are fearsome and frequently portrayed as monstrous demons. It is also likely that the word genii comes from Jinn. The Jinn were created out of fire, and populated the earth for many thousands of years before Adam and Eve. They were perverse and vicious, and would not reform, although prophets were sent to salvage them. Unrepentant, they were eventually driven from the earth, and took refuge in the outlying islands of the sea. One of them named Azazel (afterwards called Iblees or Eblis) was carried off as a prisoner by the angels. He then grew up amongst them, and eventually became their chief. But refusing, when commanded by God, to prostrate himself before Adam, he was degraded to the condition of a Sheytân or Shaitan, and becomes the father of the sheytâns, or devils. The Jinn are not immortal, but destined ultimately to die. They eat and drink and propagate their species, living in communities, and are ruled over by princes. Invariably, jinn are supernatural beings of flame or air capable of taking on human or animal form. They are said to dwell in any conceivable inanimate object (stones, trees, ruins), underneath the earth, in the air, and in fire. Although supernatural, jinn possess the physical needs of human beings and can be killed. Jinni are generally monstrous, evil demons, but some are beautiful and perform good deeds for humans. Jinni often serve a summoner who knows the correct magical words or gesture, as in the tale of Aladdin's lamp. However, those not in servitude delight in punishing humans for intentional or unintentional harm done to them. Jinni are said to be responsible for many diseases and all kinds of accidents. The ruler of the jinn is Suleiman, or Solomon, and the foremost of them is Iblis, the prince of darkness.
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