Source: Ahkam wa Masail – Beliefs, Vol. 1, p. 73
I wish to ask about jinn in the light of the Qur’an and Hadith. Are jinn used as muakkal (appointed agents), as is often claimed or heard? And do they still acquire religious knowledge from human scholars?
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba’d!
The Qur’an and Sunnah clearly affirm that jinn are among Allah’s created beings.
At times they may benefit or harm humans, but this occurs only under the will of Allah ﷻ, as He says:
﴿وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ﴾
(“…And you do not will except that Allah, Lord of the worlds, wills.”) — At-Takwir: 29
Some people claim that they have control over jinn or have appointed them as agents (muakkal), using them as they please.
Regarding such claims, the author states:
“I do not have knowledge of this matter. It is better to ask someone who claims familiarity with jinn.”
Since jinn are invisible to us, it is possible — though unseen — that they may secretly learn religious knowledge from a human scholar.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Question
I wish to ask about jinn in the light of the Qur’an and Hadith. Are jinn used as muakkal (appointed agents), as is often claimed or heard? And do they still acquire religious knowledge from human scholars?
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba’d!
① Jinn are a Creation of Allah
The Qur’an and Sunnah clearly affirm that jinn are among Allah’s created beings.
At times they may benefit or harm humans, but this occurs only under the will of Allah ﷻ, as He says:
﴿وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ﴾
(“…And you do not will except that Allah, Lord of the worlds, wills.”) — At-Takwir: 29
② The Claim of Controlling Jinn
Some people claim that they have control over jinn or have appointed them as agents (muakkal), using them as they please.
Regarding such claims, the author states:
“I do not have knowledge of this matter. It is better to ask someone who claims familiarity with jinn.”
③ Do Jinn Learn Religious Knowledge from Humans?
Since jinn are invisible to us, it is possible — though unseen — that they may secretly learn religious knowledge from a human scholar.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
