Literature islam last assignments

The Jinn and Pre- Islamic Arabia

Islamic Accounts of Pre-Islamic Arabia

Sira - biography literature of the Prophet.

Kitab Al- ’Asnam (Eng: The Book of Idols) - Written in the 9th century, it is a polemical work that gives an Islamic account of the religion of pre-Islamic Arabia.

These works were written to posit Islam above that of its preceding religion and therefore need to be understood within its context. Outside sources should also be used to understand the full picture of Pre-Islamic Arabia.

Religions of Pre-Islamic Arabia

Polytheism

Judaism

Christianity

Religion of Abraham

Gods of Polytheistic Arabia

Al-lat

Ba’al

Rudaw

Sham (sun god)

The Word “Jinn”

“Jinn” is plural in Arabic.

“Jinni” is singular.

The word “jinn” comes the root j-n-na which means to conceal.

Three Types of Rational Beings in Islam

Humans - Made from clay or earth.

Angels - Made from light.

Jinn - Made from fire.

Types of Jinn

Jann - The most general term for all jinn. They can be both good and evil.

Jinn - Also very general but specific to tribes and families of jinn. They also can be either good or evil.

Shaytan - Deemed to be the children or servants of Satan. They are always evil and similar to demons in the Christian tradition.

Ifrit - Especially powerful jinn. They are mostly evil. They haunt ancient ruins and have the power to shape shift.

Marid - Very large and very powerful jinn. This is the type of jinn found in Aladdin’s Lamp from the 1,001 nights.