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