Thread by @aaolomi

In Middle Eastern and Islamic folklore and belief the djinn/jinn are an invisible race that simultaneously are spirits and living entities. They interact with humans in a variety of eerie and fascinating ways

A thread on djinn possessions, marriages, and abductions

The djinn are said to interact with humankind in variety of ways. We can categorize them as:

Visitations
Influence
Possession
Marriage
Abduction

The most common experience is visitation. Curious djinn are said to walk among us and visit. They generally can take on animal or human form and show up.

It is said they will appear as a strange animal (cat, dog, snake) or as an unusual person.

They can be identified by something being off about them. Usually their eyes.

In this form they generally are just there to observe. One can ask them to leave if they appear inside the home. Forcefully but with respect

A more malicious encounter is through psychic influence. The djinn can “whisper.” This is called waswas, shaiytan djinn try to lead you into temptation and doubt.

The whispering is seen as a subtle but persistent influence stemming from the outside

In Islamic tradition, one guards against the whispering through prayer, cleansing, & recitation of the Quran. It said it was this type of influence that caused Adam and Eve err.

The djinn can also be far more direct by physically moving objects & hiding things to cause confusion

There is a folk practice that treats all missing objects as stolen by the djinn. To have them returned a short invocation is recited followed by “tying the tail” of the djinn until it returns the object

A more aggressive encounter is possession.

Though invisible, the djinn are not without a body. One story says, Al Ghazzali saw the djinn as shadow-like beings.

So as shadowy smoke like creatures they can enter into bodies through orifices and cracks

It is said possession is caused for three reasons; a djinn-binder has set the djinn to do it, the djinn has been offended, or the djinn is in love

Exorcism rites vary but always reflect a fusion of Quranic recitation combined with local practices

Some local variations include offerings as well, talismans, ablutions, etc.

Most involve a three step process: find out who the djinn is and what they want, try to negotiate and reason with the djinn, then failing force it out with spiritual pressure, finally cleansing

On the whole djinn possession is viewed as a traumatic experience in orthodox views but not all cultures view it the same way.

In Egyptian Zar practices, possession is intentionally invoked by having djinn like Sitt Safina and others take over the body for healing purposes

Similarly in Morocco djinn are invoked in possession rites. Jinniya like Lalla Mira are considered benevolent beings whose possession bring blessings, insight, and healing

Possession is also tied to djinn marriages. The djinn fall in love just like we do but take what they want. A djinn who is in love might possess a person. They must then be negotiated with.

But relationships in the other way are also possible

Muslim scholars had to rationalize the legality of such unions. In some mystic circles such marriages are sought after, but almost always with human male and female djinn based off the idea he could have a djinn wife and a human wife

Finally there are abductions. The djinn are easily offended esp Ifrits. Abuse an animal, show a flippant attitude to the natural world, all carry the risk of offending the djinn

One famous story stated a man offended a djinn by spitting out the seed he was chewing into a hole

In such instances the djinn could possess the person as punishment or could abduct them. The djinn hold courts where they determine the guilt or innocence of the person.

Djinn courts are said to be vast

There are also stories of djinn raids taking victims out in the wilderness.

One such captive was a Medinan who was gone for so long that when he returned his wife was already remarried.

Upon questioning he revealed how the djinn drink the foam of water

The djinn are also said to abduct children and infants. These stories share much with changelings legends

In return humans can take jinn to court. Among Sufis in Morocco a djinn who has possessed a person can be taken to court under the spiritual authority of a religious sheikh

Historians of since may find it productive to explore the intersection of mental health, the body, and gender in many of these discourses

Science*