Alam al-Jinn wa al-Shayatin

Alam al-Jinn wa al-Shayatin (The World of the Jinn and Devils) is a contemporary theological monograph written by Umar Sulayman al-Ashqar (d. 1433 AH / 2012 CE) al-Nazariyat al-Ilmiyya a…+1. The book examines Islamic creedal teachings regarding the unseen realm of the jinn and devils, detailing their nature, characteristics, interaction with humans, and the scriptural means of protection against them Alam al-Jinn wa al-Shayat…+1.

Scope and Content

The author arranges the treatise into thematic sections and chapters addressing the reality of the jinn, their origins, and their relationship with humanity:

• Creation and Physical Nature: The work establishes that the jinn are an independent creation distinct from angels and humans, created from fire prior to the creation of Adam Alam al-Jinn wa al-Shayat…+1. It outlines their physical faculties, noting textual evidence that they possess hearts, eyes, ears, and tongues, as well as biological needs such as food, drink, and procreation Alam al-Jinn wa al-Shayat…+1.
• Categories and Linguistic Designations: Relying on classical classifications from Ibn Abd al-Barr, the work enumerates their linguistic categories according to their behavior and malice—such as jinni, ‘amir (resident jinn), arwah, shaytan, marid, and ‘Ifrit—and cites prophetic narrations dividing them into three species: those that fly in the air, those that appear as snakes and dogs, and those that dwell and wander Alam al-Jinn wa al-Shayat….
• The Origin of Iblis: The book examines the nature of Iblis (Satan), affirming through Quranic passages and reports cited by Ibn Kathir, al-Hasan al-Basri, and Ibn Taymiyyah that Iblis is from the race of the jinn rather than an angel, describing his ugliness, horns, and enmity toward mankind Alam al-Jinn wa al-Shayat…+1.
• Human–Jinn Interaction and Spiritual Deception: The treatise covers issues such as demonic whispering (waswasah), possession, sorcery, and modern spiritualist séances (tahdir al-arwah) al-Mawsuaa al-Aqadiyya+1. Al-Ashqar argues that alleged communication with departed human souls is in reality manipulation by the companion devils (qarin) or other jinn mimicking the deceased Fatawa al-Shabaka al-Isla….
• Spiritual Protection and Treatment: The work details scriptural invocations, supplications, and Quranic recitations—such as Ayat al-Kursi—used for expelling devils and safeguarding homes, emphasizing that a practitioner of lawful incantation (ruqyah) must rely on steadfast faith and complete trust in God al-Mawsuaa al-Aqadiyya+1.

Methodological Approach

Al-Ashqar grounds his discussion in the Quran, authenticated prophetic hadiths, and consensus (ijma) Alam al-Jinn wa al-Shayat…+1. He critiques both classical and modern rationalist re-interpretations that deny the literal existence of the jinn:

• He refutes the philosophical view that reduces jinn to abstract psychological impulses toward evil Alam al-Jinn wa al-Shayat…+1.
• He rejects modern rationalist interpretations claiming that jinn are merely microbes or bacteria discovered by modern science Alam al-Jinn wa al-Shayat….
• He opposes the opinion of modern writers such as Muhammad al-Bahi, who conflated jinn with angels, demonstrating from explicit hadith texts that angels were created from light whereas jinn were created from fire Alam al-Jinn wa al-Shayat…+1.

The author argues that human sensory limitations do not constitute evidence of non-existence, citing scientific parallels such as animals perceiving frequencies and spectra (e.g., ultraviolet light seen by bees) invisible to the human eye Alam al-Jinn wa al-Shayat…+1.

Publication and Reception

Alam al-Jinn wa al-Shayatin has been issued in multiple editions across the Arab world, including early printings by Maktabat al-Falah in Kuwait (4th edition, 1404 AH / 1984 CE) and later printings by Dar al-Nafa'is in Amman, Jordan (13th edition, 1425 AH / 2005 CE) al-Nazariyat al-Ilmiyya a…+1. It forms a component of the author's broader creedal series alongside works such as Alam al-Mala'ikah al-Abrar (The World of the Noble Angels) al-Nazariyat al-Ilmiyya a…+1. Contemporary scholars and legal fatwa institutions frequently cite the book as a standard reference on issues related to the jinn, spiritualism, and lawful remedies against sorcery and possession Fatawa al-Shabaka al-Isla…+1.