A Muslim perspective:Jinns and UFOs

[blow_fly]

This is an article that claims a connection between UFO sightings and the existence of shape-shifting spirits in Islamic mythology that are known collectively as the jinn. You might find it to be an interesting read.
 
http://www.thejinn.net/true_nature_of_the_ufo_entities.htm

Some of the other articles on the Net that I've read regarding this alleged link between UFO sightings and the the jinn, were written by Islamic clerics who claimed that UFOs were nothing more than  jinn manifesting in bizzare forms  with the intention of instilling terror in human minds as is their wont. This is a pretty obvious example of  religious figures co-opting a relatively recent paranoral phenomena into the well developed mythology of a major religion like Islam. Any thoughts  on this?

[Milanee]

Cool article!

[blow_fly]

Yeah, it's fascinating how the major organised religions like Islam and Christianity have managed to keep pace with recent developments like UFO sightings.  Of course, the reaction is typically one of suspicion and hostility with clerics from both religions seeing UFOS as the agents  of Satan, but nevertheless still demonstrates that both religions are rather dynamic and fluid when it comes to their abillity to incoporate new elements.

[MagnusCrane]

Wow... I find these concepts a bit extreme. Do any of you have some kind of experience with Islam or Christianity? I know about both of the religions. What I know for sure is that some of the so-called Islamic clerics that you speak of would actually say conferring Jinns is that they cannot be seen. And according to the Qur'an, is mentions that Jinns are unseen to human eyes. However the description of the Jinns are given by the angel Gabriel. So where are you getting this idea about some kind of UFO Jinn correlation from? So Jinns manifesting in other forms would be far fetched if you only knew what is in the Qur'an. They are described as being who are made of smokeless fire.

[Raziel]

It was just an article. chill. its not like he wrote it.

[Moloch]

Wow... I find these concepts a bit extreme. Do any of you have some kind of experience with Islam or Christianity? I know about both of the religions. What I know for sure is that some of the so-called Islamic clerics that you speak of would actually say conferring Jinns is that they cannot be seen. And according to the Qur'an, is mentions that Jinns are unseen to human eyes. However the description of the Jinns are given by the angel Gabriel. So where are you getting this idea about some kind of UFO Jinn correlation from? So Jinns manifesting in other forms would be far fetched if you only knew what is in the Qur'an. They are described as being who are made of smokeless fire.

Having known Blow_Fly a lot longer, Magnus, I would say that he probably knows a great deal more about the Qu'Ran than you. Also, it was not his assertion, merely an article he linked to. Finally, Mankind, such as it is, is fallible. Therefore, who is to say that translations of the Qu'Ran are correct, or if they are, that the correct ideas were recorded?

[Loki]

I think the beliefs in Djinnsn jinns, genies, or whatever name they are called predate Mohamed and the Islam.

http://www.monstropedia.org/index.php?title=Jinn

This article needs to be cleant and updated.

Well, in the XIIth century people said they were abducted by fairies, now its aliens or shadows .... whats the difference ? The names change according to time and places, but the beliefs remain similar.

[MagnusCrane]

It is slightly unfair to assume my skill level in the Qur'anic learning, especially because you do not know me at all. Hell, I may actually be a Muslim who grew up studying Islam and the Qur'an my whole life, or not. The same could be said about Christians. I don't know you or anyone one on this forum to make such an assumption. No sweat anyways because I do know where I stand on that matter, and that is enough for me. As for chilling, well I am chill. I took no offense by these comment, after all its nothing more than the exchanging of words. Right??? I am well aware that this wasn't an assertion but a mere link to another web page. I would agree that, who is to say that the translation of the Qur'an is accurate in its entirety. Because the obvious question after that would be "correct, according to who?" But you also mentioned that, "Therefore, who is to say that translations of the Qur'an is correct, and if they are, are the ideas correctly recorded??" Now as far as correct idea of the Qur'an, well, you may want to rethink that one. Because anyone who truly knows the Qur'an would know that it's not based off of ideas, but based more off of principles. In other words, the Qur'an explains the possible situations that humans may encounter, and if and when they encounter them, the Qur'an provides solutions and the best manner in handling these situation. So the Qur'an uses examples of other people, prophets, messiahs, messengers & situations from the past to better explain the manner in handling life problems. In addition, the Qur'an explain some of things humans can do to become more connected with the Creator, and how to spiritually develop. So just wanted to clear up the whole Qur'an part.

But I do not want to stray from the original issue at hand. Here are some of the things I heard about Jinns. The Jinns exist on a dimension which runs parallel to our own. This gives the Jinns the ability to see us, without us seeing them. Also, what I heard was that not all Jinns are bad. In fact it is believed that King Solomon knew how to summon the Jinns, subjugated and enslaved them to help Solomon build his Temple. Furthermore, it is said that the Jinns live a similar life as humans do. They grow up, have kids, and simply live out life as we do. So the overall difference in the Islamic and Christian belief of Satan, is Muslims believe Satan is a Jinn or that Satan was originally created as a Jinn, where the Christians believe Satan was once Lucifer, an angel of the Lord. And at that, the most beautiful, powerful, and closest angel of the Lord. In fact, according to the The Book of Enoch, Lucifer was the first Arch Angel and a Vice Generent, one of the few angels who had the ability to see God's Brilliance and Magnificence. So that is one of the things I am seeking information on, whether Satan is a Jinn or once an Arch Angel named Lucifer, or possibly both.

[blow_fly]

There are certain Islamic texts that seem to suggest that the jinn are capable of taking physical forms which are visible to humans. One of the Hadiths specifically mentions that jinn are capable of assuming the from of snakes, while another states that hey live in holes. It was based on passages of this nature that I assumed that jinn were capable of assuming physical forms that humans could perceive.

[MagnusCrane]

Now for the sake on semantics, the Hadith is not entirely accurate, since it is an interpretation on the life of Muhammad. Most Muslims would agree that if the source of the information isn't directly from the Qur'an, then one should take caution in believing something from the Hadith. For that reason you won't anything in the Qur'an which mention that Jinn can take on different forms, such as snake.... I would be quicker to trust the Qur'an then the Hadith.

[Moloch]

How about we try a different tactic with this discussion.


If we strip away the mythology surrounding the Djinn, and list only the capabilities and behavior associated with them; what do we get? A list of other mythological creatures with similar and even the exact same abilities and behaviors. The Fae, Leprechauns, demons, devils, and such of pagan lore fit the bill. Also, Pan and Bacchus; who may be different sides of the same coin, seem likely to be precursors to the Djinn.

I believe if we follow this line of thought all the way through, we will see that the Arabs of old simply absorbed local folklore of areas they traveled through before any of them settled down, and have been passing it off as their own ever since having forgotten how they truly came by it. For example, the way christians like to say that devils, demons, Santa Clause, and the Easter Bunny are all theirs.

[blow_fly]

Magnus Crane, I'm afraid you err in stating that the Koran explicitly asserts that jinn are incapable of assuming any physical from. Some verses in the Koran seem to imply that the jinn are capable of sexual intercourse with women which strongly suggests that they have the ability to interact with humans on a physical level. Moreover, the Koran also mentions that the jinn are capable of communicating with fortune tellers, another piece of evidence that supports the belief that mortals are not entirely oblivious to the presence of  jinn.

Moloch, I am inclined to agree with you on this subject. The Koran actually describes how a certain jinn of  a  city captured by Mohammad's followers, was  actually a local divinity that allegedly resided in a tree. Some of the jiin described in the Koran were probably pre-Islamic deities. 

[Raziel]

I thank monstrous and its members for stripping away all the layers of religious gunk that has accumulated through out the years.