❀ The Prophetic Mission of the Messenger ﷺ to the Jinn ❀
✦ Written by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amaanpuri
Was the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ sent to the jinn as well?
It is the unanimous and agreed-upon belief of the Muslims that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was sent to both mankind and the jinn, and the jinn are also bound by the laws of the Shari'ah of Muhammad ﷺ.
◈ Hafiz Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr (368–463 AH) wrote:
“There is no disagreement that Muhammad ﷺ was sent as a Messenger to mankind and jinn as a bringer of glad tidings and a warner. This is one of the distinctions by which he ﷺ was given superiority over other Prophets — he was sent to all of creation, both jinn and mankind. Others were only sent in the language of their own people. This is evidenced by the many verses in the Qur'an where Allah calls to faith, saying:
‘يَا مَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ’ (O assembly of jinn and mankind).”
[Al-Tamhid: 11/117]
◈ Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (661–728 AH) said:
“It is agreed upon by the Muslims that Muhammad ﷺ was sent to both the jinn and mankind.”
[Al-Furqan bayna Awliya’ al-Rahman wa Awliya’ al-Shaytan: 192]
❖ Sūrat al-Aḥqāf [46:29–31]
“(O Prophet!) When We sent a group of jinn to you to listen to the Qur’an, they said (upon hearing it): Be silent and listen. When it was concluded, they returned to their people as warners.
They said: O our people! We have heard a Book revealed after Moses, confirming that which was before it. It guides to the truth and to a straight path.
O our people! Respond to the caller of Allah and believe in him, and Allah will forgive your sins and protect you from a painful punishment.”
This verse makes it evident that the jinn understood the Prophet ﷺ was sent to them as a warner and a bringer of glad tidings.
◈ Imam al-Bayhaqi (384–458 AH) explained:
“From their words ‘O our people, respond to the Caller of Allah’, it is clear they knew the Prophet ﷺ had been sent to them as well. Those who were present and those who were absent all heard the call of the Prophet ﷺ. That is why they said: Respond and believe in him. Then they said: We have believed.”
[Shu‘ab al-Iman: 3/67]
◈ Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH) stated:
“This verse is proof that Allah sent Muhammad ﷺ to both mankind and the jinn, as he called them to Allah and recited to them a chapter (Surah al-Rahman) which contains an address to both groups. It includes promises and warnings for both. Therefore, they said: ‘Respond to the Caller of Allah.’”
[Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 5/588]
❖ Sūrat al-Jinn [72:1–2]
“Say (O Prophet): It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened (to the Qur’an) and said: Verily, we have heard a wonderful Qur’an. It guides to righteousness, and we have believed in it and will never associate anyone with our Lord.”
❖ Sūrat al-An‘ām [6:19]
“This Qur’an has been revealed to me so that I may warn you and whoever it reaches.”
Since the Qur’an has reached the jinn, they are also its addressees and are bound to act upon it.
❖ Sūrat al-Raḥmān [55:31]
“Soon We shall attend to you, O two weighty beings (jinn and mankind).”
❖ Sūrat al-An‘ām [6:130]
“O assembly of jinn and mankind! Did there not come to you messengers from among yourselves?”
◈ Imam Ahmad al-Qastallani (851–923 AH) said:
“Even before the consensus, the Book and Sunnah provide proof. Allah said: ‘لِيَكُونَ لِلْعَالَمِينَ نَذِيرًا’ (So that he may be a warner to all the worlds) [Al-Furqan 25:1].
All Mufassirun agree that the jinn are included in this verse. Its wording clearly indicates that, and no one is excluded unless there is clear evidence.”
[Al-Mawahib al-Ladunniyyah: 2/353]
❖ Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
“I asked: O Messenger of Allah, what is the matter with bones and dung?
He replied: They are the food of the jinn. A delegation of the jinn from the town of Nasibin came to me — they were excellent jinn — and they asked me for provision. So I prayed to Allah for them that whenever they pass by bones or dung, they will find food upon it.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari: 3860]
The jinn are accountable to the Shari'ah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Therefore, the claim of the Mu‘tazilah that the Prophet ﷺ was not sent to the jinn contradicts the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and the unanimous agreement of the Muslims, and such denial constitutes clear disbelief.
✦ Written by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amaanpuri
❖ Question:
Was the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ sent to the jinn as well?
❖ Answer:
It is the unanimous and agreed-upon belief of the Muslims that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was sent to both mankind and the jinn, and the jinn are also bound by the laws of the Shari'ah of Muhammad ﷺ.
✔ Consensus of the Ummah:
◈ Hafiz Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr (368–463 AH) wrote:
“There is no disagreement that Muhammad ﷺ was sent as a Messenger to mankind and jinn as a bringer of glad tidings and a warner. This is one of the distinctions by which he ﷺ was given superiority over other Prophets — he was sent to all of creation, both jinn and mankind. Others were only sent in the language of their own people. This is evidenced by the many verses in the Qur'an where Allah calls to faith, saying:
‘يَا مَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ’ (O assembly of jinn and mankind).”
[Al-Tamhid: 11/117]
◈ Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (661–728 AH) said:
“It is agreed upon by the Muslims that Muhammad ﷺ was sent to both the jinn and mankind.”
[Al-Furqan bayna Awliya’ al-Rahman wa Awliya’ al-Shaytan: 192]
✿ Qur’anic Proof:
❖ Sūrat al-Aḥqāf [46:29–31]
“(O Prophet!) When We sent a group of jinn to you to listen to the Qur’an, they said (upon hearing it): Be silent and listen. When it was concluded, they returned to their people as warners.
They said: O our people! We have heard a Book revealed after Moses, confirming that which was before it. It guides to the truth and to a straight path.
O our people! Respond to the caller of Allah and believe in him, and Allah will forgive your sins and protect you from a painful punishment.”
This verse makes it evident that the jinn understood the Prophet ﷺ was sent to them as a warner and a bringer of glad tidings.
◈ Imam al-Bayhaqi (384–458 AH) explained:
“From their words ‘O our people, respond to the Caller of Allah’, it is clear they knew the Prophet ﷺ had been sent to them as well. Those who were present and those who were absent all heard the call of the Prophet ﷺ. That is why they said: Respond and believe in him. Then they said: We have believed.”
[Shu‘ab al-Iman: 3/67]
◈ Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH) stated:
“This verse is proof that Allah sent Muhammad ﷺ to both mankind and the jinn, as he called them to Allah and recited to them a chapter (Surah al-Rahman) which contains an address to both groups. It includes promises and warnings for both. Therefore, they said: ‘Respond to the Caller of Allah.’”
[Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 5/588]
❖ Sūrat al-Jinn [72:1–2]
“Say (O Prophet): It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened (to the Qur’an) and said: Verily, we have heard a wonderful Qur’an. It guides to righteousness, and we have believed in it and will never associate anyone with our Lord.”
❖ Sūrat al-An‘ām [6:19]
“This Qur’an has been revealed to me so that I may warn you and whoever it reaches.”
Since the Qur’an has reached the jinn, they are also its addressees and are bound to act upon it.
❖ Sūrat al-Raḥmān [55:31]
“Soon We shall attend to you, O two weighty beings (jinn and mankind).”
❖ Sūrat al-An‘ām [6:130]
“O assembly of jinn and mankind! Did there not come to you messengers from among yourselves?”
◈ Additional Scholarly Affirmation:
◈ Imam Ahmad al-Qastallani (851–923 AH) said:
“Even before the consensus, the Book and Sunnah provide proof. Allah said: ‘لِيَكُونَ لِلْعَالَمِينَ نَذِيرًا’ (So that he may be a warner to all the worlds) [Al-Furqan 25:1].
All Mufassirun agree that the jinn are included in this verse. Its wording clearly indicates that, and no one is excluded unless there is clear evidence.”
[Al-Mawahib al-Ladunniyyah: 2/353]
✿ From the Sunnah:
❖ Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
“I asked: O Messenger of Allah, what is the matter with bones and dung?
He replied: They are the food of the jinn. A delegation of the jinn from the town of Nasibin came to me — they were excellent jinn — and they asked me for provision. So I prayed to Allah for them that whenever they pass by bones or dung, they will find food upon it.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari: 3860]
❖ Conclusion:
The jinn are accountable to the Shari'ah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Therefore, the claim of the Mu‘tazilah that the Prophet ﷺ was not sent to the jinn contradicts the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and the unanimous agreement of the Muslims, and such denial constitutes clear disbelief.
