What are jinn?
Jinn are invisible spiritual beings that have appeared in the folklore of the Arabian Peninsula since ancient times. They also appear in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, which says that while humans were created from clay, jinn were created from “smokeless fire.” Like humans, they have minds of their own, and there are believed to be both good and evil jinn.
Shape-shifting beings
Jinn are normally invisible to the human eye but are said to be able to take many forms, such as animals or humans. They have been feared as lurking in deserts, ruins and the darkness of night, leading people astray and sometimes possessing them. On the other hand, many stories tell of jinn who listen to human wishes and lend their power.
The genie of the lamp
Jinn became world-famous through the Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights). In “Aladdin and the Magic Lamp,” a genie appears when the lamp is rubbed and grants its master’s wishes. In English, jinn are called “genies,” and the image of the “genie of the lamp” became widely known through films and animation. They are sometimes discussed together with the Persian peri.
