JINN - The Invisible Trap
JINN - THE INVISIBLE TRAP
Sir - Apropos the report 'Beaten to Death' available on your
website (Ref: Crime Watch, SG, 13 July 2005) was a lamentable
incident. I appreciate your publishing this report in Crime
Watch column, perceiving that such insane acts are to be
categorized as criminal and not religious. The sheikh claiming
to free the old woman from Jinn, not only killed her but also
made us realize that the whole mankind still has not been able
to rise up to a better level since dark ages. I am not aware
whether this crook was able to liberate the old woman from Jinn
or not, but he surely liberated the innocent soul from the
precious gift of God - Life.
Such an event is not new to Muslims. They have been always
haunted by sui-generic explained Jinn. Dichotomy exists
pertaining to this term within the rational and the rest. I am
gratified to bring to your kind notice the definition of the
term 'Jinn' mentioned in 'Lughatul Quran(Glossary of Quran)' by
Late Allama G.A.Parwez, which is as follows: Jinn -
(Jeem-Noon-Noon). Janna means hidden. According to Raghib, it
means not only hidden from the eyes but also from senses."
Jananun means grave, as it hides the dead body. Janeen is an
embryo (foetus) in mother's womb. Junnatun is the shield or any
weapon with which a person protects himself (58/16). Jinnatun
means madness (23/25). The Arabs thought that Majnoon was a
person who was afflicted by a Jinn. The earth in the beginning
was in the form of molten matter, and took billions of years to
cool down to a tolerable temperature, suitable for the
habitation of mankind. Prior to this, there existed a creation,
which originated from steaming fire (15/27). It is now extinct
and is therefore referred to as "Al-Jaann." The Quran has
referred to, and addressed "Jinn and Ins" together in many
verses. Ins, (as explained under heading "Ins") means tribes
which used to settle down at one place, and Jinn means those
bedouins, nomadic tribes or gypsies who kept on wandering and
remained in deserts or forests, away from cities. In Arabia such
people were in great numbers. Since the message of the Quran was
for both of them, it has pointedly addressed both of them. For
instance:- In verse (6/131), "Oh Ye, assembly of 'Jinn and Ins,'
don't you know that a Rasool came to you from amongst you."
There is no evidence in the Quran to show that at any time a
Jinn was also a Rasool; on the contrary, it is further clarified
in verse (7/35) that the Rusul were from Bani-Adam and were sent
towards them.(This makes clear that Jinn belongs to Bani-Adam)
...The above narration clearly explains that Jinn means nomadic
tribes which keep on wandering and Ins were those who were
social and remained settled. (For detailed study, kindly refer
Lughatul Quran) My experience in India amongst the Muslim
community regarding this concept has been very pathetic; few
religious-inspectors are misemploying this concept for their
bread and butter. Considering the current scenario, a
responsibility rests on the shoulders of the Islamic scholars
and fourth estate (especially Saudi Gazette) to enlighten
Muslims with the true etymology of the term 'Jinn' before this
invisible muddled approach swallows numerous lives of innocents.
(This letter to editor was published in Saudi Arabia's leading
daily SAUDI GAZETTE)
Majid Saleem Siddiqi Lucknow, India majidsaleem85@hotmail.com