Musings (V10-I12)–Keeping the Jinn at Bay

By Imam Abdullah El-Amin, MMNS

“And the Jinn race, We had created before, from the fire of a scorching wind.”
Qur’an 15:27

I talked to a lady in my office recently that was very fearful over what she called jinns and devilish people controlling her life. These jinns were people she knew and the names she described were known to me as well. Whether they are actually jinns or not, I do not know. But that was not what was important anyway. It doesn’t matter who they are, how scholarly they are, how pretty or handsome or how glib they are. The important thing to know and understand is they do not have any power over you unless you submit yourself to them and give them that power. It was a very tense meeting, for I could see in her eyes and hear in her voice that this lady was truly fearful of those she said were controlling her life.

Now we all have knowledge from the Qur’an that the jinn do exist and can be quite dazzling if allowed to be. I also am aware that they can be in human form and can pretend to be the best human being or Muslim around while causing mischief all the time. So I could not belittle the woman’s plight or her fear of what was happening to her. I simply reminded her that when Almighty ALLAH created her, He put her (Adam) on top of everything in creation – so she only had Him to fear.

Too often we can get mesmerized by what we think are powerful people with special gifts that are superior to ours. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is NOTHING in creation more powerful or superior to us as human beings (Adam).

What is it that makes evil people try to exercise their strength on weaker human beings? It would seem that everyone would want to get along in peace. It’s certainly less stressful.

But these evil ones are not human. ALLAH tells us in Qur’an that Iblis said he would never prostrate to Adam whom ALLAH created from mud molded into shape. Iblis says he is made of fire and therefore superior to mere dirt. So ALLAH put him out and cursed him until the Day of Judgment. But he was given respite until the Day of Judgment to continue his dirty work.

And he promises ALLAH that he will use all kind of trickery to lead Adam astray. He says he will even have them thinking they are doing right while all the time they are being led astray. This is true for all men EXCEPT the chosen servants of ALLAH. ALLAH tells him he will have no power over those that choose to follow ALLAH.

This is very important because that sister had forgotten this. Most of us Muslims have read the Holy Qur’an many times and know what it says. ALLAH says Satan will not have power over anyone except those who let him overpower them. The sister only needs to follow the rules of shahada and put nothing between herself and ALLAH. In doing so, she has nothing whatsoever to fear of creation.

So remember, although evil spirits and jinns exist, they do not have the ability to harm you. They will call you, they will entice you with money, and they will even try to scare you. But as long as you put them behind you and don’t submit to them, they cannot win.

Prophet Muhammad (s) said that all men are accompanied by devils, and that he had turned his into a Muslim.

What does that mean? So as guidance to us this means for us to submit ourselves more to ALLAH, Lord of all the worlds, which automatically increases our power and decreases the ability of evil to become dominant in our life. And the Prophet (s) is our guide and example. Remember and trust ALLAH.

With ALLAH’S name, the Merciful Benefactor, Merciful Redeemer
As Salaam alaikum

(Al Hajj) Imam Abdullah Bey El-Amin