Peace all,
As you are aware, to determine/uncover the true meaning of word "jinn" in the quran, it's essential/crucial to check all the occurences of the word "jinn". To put it in another way, it's fundamental to identify every instance where the word "jinn" is used in the quran, in order to see how the word is used in different contexts. After cross-referencing and comparing the verses where the word "jinn" is used in the quran, one can get a better understanding of its meaning. Also, it is useful/helpful to examine the root meaning of the word "jinn", which conveys the core concept of its meaning. Furthermore, it's imperative to look at the grammatical structure and original language form (classical arabic) of the word "jinn". As a final point, it is also useful/helpful to check different translations of the quran, commentaries, lexicons, dictionaries and concordances pertaining to the word "jinn".
According to Arabian mythology and folklore, "jinn" were considered as invisible and supernatural beings and spirits with great powers, which inhabited the earth. Moreover, Arabian mythology and folklore holds that they had shape-shifting abilities and were able to take on various forms including animal forms and even human shapes. Is this explanation of the word "jinn" rational/logical and scientific? Is it necessary to use external sources such as Arabian mythology and folklore to explain and interpret the word "jinn" in the quran? Or is it more prudent to interpret the quran by its own light (namely "scripture interprets scripture")? If the quran is its own interpreter, isn't it paramount to interpret the meaning of the word "jinn" by using the quran itself, rather than relying on external sources such as Arabian mythology and folklore for interpreting the word "jinn"?
Some information about the word "jinn from the quran":
- Concerning the word "jinn", it appears to be mentioned/used about 32 times accross 31 verses in the quran.
- The word "jinn" is mentioned with humans about 10 times in the quran, using the phrase "al-ins wa-l-jinn" (humans and jinn).
- The root word of "jinn" (جِنّ) comes from the arabic root جَنَنَ (j-n-n), which means "to conceal" or "to hide."
- The word "jinn" seems to refer to something which is "concealed" or "hidden". Something which is concealed or hidden isn't necessarily (inherently) "invisible". Something which is concealed or hidden is deliberately concealed or kept out of sight, but if someone knows where to look for it, it can still be visible or be found.
- The word "jinn" appears to be left untranslated (kept in its arabic forms) in most translations of the quran.
- "Jinn" were created before humans from "from a smokeless fire" (15:27). The arabic words مِّن مَّارِجٍ مِّن نَّارٍ "min mārijin min nārin" are commonly/traditionally translated as "from a smokeless fire". Note that the arabic word مّارِجٍ (Mārij) is commonly/traditionally translated as "a flame" or a blazing fire". Also, note that the arabic word "nār" (نَارٍ) is commonly/traditionally translated as "fire". Alternative translations of the arabic word "marij", based on its root can be translated to "intensity", "purification", "light" or "wrath". Also, alternative translations of the arabic word "nar", based on its root can be translated as "a restless element", "a stirring force, "a mixture" (combination of elements), "a flicker" or "a flare".
- A group of "jinn" heard the recitation of the quran, then belived in it and became monotheists (72:1-5).
- A group of men among humankind sought help from men among the "jinn", but it increased them in wrongdoing (72:6).
- "Jinn" tried to touch the heavens/sky/universe (outer space), but were unable to do it, due to it being full of guards and projectiles (72 : 8 ).
- "Jinn" used to reside in the heavens/sky/universe (outer space), but can no longer do it, due to the powerful projectiles that are there (72:9).
- "Jinn" don't know what God intends for humankind on earth, whether humankind will be guided/fortunate or not in the future (72:10).
- Some "jinn" are righteous and some are not righteous, they follow various paths (72:11).
- "Jinn" live on earth and they acknowledge that they can't escape God on earth (72:12).
- "Jinn" have free will as stated by the quran (72:14). Humans and "jinn" are the only beings in the world which explicitly have been described as being capable of submitting to God (i.e. becoming "muslim" by submitting to God's will). Among the "jinn" there are muslim (submitters) and non-muslims (72:14-15).
- "Jinn" have been granted faculties to understand. The quran mentiones explicitly that they have eyes, ears and hearts, similar to humans. But among the "jinn", there are those who choose to not use their faculties and remain heedless (7:179).
- Hell will be filled with "humans" and "jinn" as stated by the quran, but not with other beings (11:119).
- Iblis was a "jinn" and disobeyed God by refusing to prostrate to adam, thus becoming a wrongdoer (18:50).
- Solomon's forces were comprised of "jinn", "humans" and "birds" (27:17).
- Some "jinn" performed work for Solomon (34:12).
- A powerful being from among the "jinn" offered to bring Solomon's throne swiftly (with high speed).
- Just like humans, "jinn" can't know the unseen/future as illustrated by the story of Solomon (34:14).
- Earlier people of "jinn" and humans were destroyed for their wrongdoing, after they were warned (41:25).
- A group of "jinn" listened to the quran, returned to their people, and warned them (46:29).
- Humans are critisized for worshipping/serving "jinn" as deities (6:100).
- "Jinn" and humans are challenged to cross the heavens/sky/universe (outer space) and to cross the earth, and will not be able to do it without authority (55:33).
- There were "humans" and "jinn" that inspired falsehood, becoming enemies to prophets (6:112). It's not clear whether the "jinn" had their own prophets or the same prophets as humans.
- "Jinn" and humans are created solely to worship/serve God as stated by the quran (51:56).
- The verses in the last chapter of the quran provides instruction/guidance on seeking refuge from the whisperer who whispers into hearts, from among "jinn" and human (114:1-6.
From my research, and as mentioned earlier, "jinn" were considerded as invisible and supernatural beings and spirits with great powers, which inhabited the earth, according to Arabian folklore and mythology. Also, Arabian mythology and folklore holds that "jinn" had shape-shifting abilities and were able to take on various forms including animal forms and even human shapes. Furthermore, my research reveals that the islamic scholar Umar Sulaiman Al-Ashqar seemed to suggest that "jinn" are connected to UFOs. Also, the islamic scholar Ali Riza Demirkan, seem to suggest that UFOs are technologies related to "jinn". There is also an islamic scholar known as Imran Nazar Hosein, which seem to suggest that UFOs or aliens are manifestations of "jinn", which is consistent with Arabian mythology and folklore that "jinn" can take many forms. By contrast, several modernist muslims argue that "jinn" represents unseen forces (natural phenomena), psychological states or metaphors, rather than physical beings. They often emphasize a logical/rational approach to quran's view on "jinn", and they distance themselves from superstition and literalism. For instance, Ghulam A. Parwez seemed to relate "jinn" to qualities such as fiery temperament or nomads in a metaphorical sense, rather than distinct creatures. He seemed to suggest that "jinn" emphasize psychological tendencies and social phenomena, rather than physical entities.
Ghulam A. Parwez's explanation seems to be very rational/logical, IMHO. I think the other views regarding "jinn" are without clear evidence. By way of illustration, the view on "jinn" based on Arabian mythology and folklore appears to be superstitious, irrational/illogical and unscientific (without clear evidence). As regards to the crazy conspiracy theories regarding "jinn" being connected to UFOs (according to certain islamic scholars), these conspiracy theories have been debunked countless times online. In the past, I have examined some articles and videos about crazy UFO conspiracy theorists with regard to flying saucers. Because in order to refute/dismantle/debunk their claims, one have to be willing to read their articles and watch their videos. A recurring theme in conspiracy theories is that all of them are crazy, and most of them tend to be fictious and absurd, IMHO.
Also, all conspiracy theories can easily be debunked. Examples of UFO/UAP conspiracy theories concerning flying saucers that have been debunked are the Roswell Incident (1947), The Westall UFO incident (1966), Rendlesham forest incident (1980), the Bob Lazar case (1989), Ariel School UFO incident (1994), Turkey Kumburgaz UFO and alien sightings (2007-2009), and the Skinny bob case (2011).
Lastly, one of the the most crazy conspiracy theories I have read about in this forum and in other places is the flat earth theory. This theory has been debunked numerous times online. From what I have read, the flat earthers don't want to accept the scientific concept that the earth is a planet. They believe the absurd notion that there is a seperation between the earth and the universe through a dome, and that there are continents and lands hidden beyond or above an ice wall of their flat earth - which they identify as Antarctica. They have not been able prove their flat theory with science and with verses from the quran. Also, from what I have read, many of them seem to believe in cryptoterrestrials instead of (or in addition to) extraterrestrials that possess flying saucers. They probably believe that there are fictious beings/creatures living underground, underwater, in remote areas on earth, or hiding in fictious continents and lands beyond antarctica. Lol.
I think the only thing which is positive about conspiracy theories is that they provide entertainment value. Lol.
