And (remember) when We sent towards you (Muhammad) a group (three to ten persons) of the jinn, (quietly) listening to the Qur'an. Al-Qur’an 46:29
Say (0 Muhammad): It has been revealed to me that a group (from three to ten in number) of Jinn listened (to this Qur'an). They said: Verily, we have heard a wonderful Recitation (this Qur'an)! (Al-Jinn 72:1)
Details of What has been Narrated in the Qur'an and Sunnah concerning the Jinn
The Jinn were created from fire before man was created:
And indeed, We created man from dried (sounding) clay of altered mud. And the jinn, We created a foretime from the smokeless flame of fire. Al-Qur’an, 15:26-27
It was narrated that Ibn Mas'ood said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
Do not use dung or bones for Istinja', for they are the provision of your brothers among the jinn. Narrated by Sahih Muslim and At-Tirmidhi
Allah (SWT) tells us that the Jinn have Offspring
And (remember) when We said to the angels: "Prostrate yourselves unto Adam, "So they prostrated themselves except Iblees (Satan). He was one of the jinn; he disobeyed the Command of his Lord. Will you then take him (Iblees) and his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me while they are enemies to you? What an evil is the exchange for the Zaalimoon (polytheists, and wrongdoers)Al-Qur’an, 18:50)
The jinn are hidden creatures who can see us but we cannot see them
Verily, he and Qabeeluhu (his soldiers from the jinn or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them. Verily, We made the Shayaateen (devils) Awliyaa' (protectors and helpers) for those who believe not.Al-Qur’an, 7:27
The Jinn are Rational Beings who are Accountable
And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)Al-Qur’an, 51:56
O you assembly of jinn and Mankind! Did not there come to you Messengers from amongst you, reciting unto you My Verses and warning you of the Meeting of this Day of yours?' They will say: We bear witness against ourselves. It was the life of this world that deceived them. And they will bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.Al-Qur’an, 6:130
Among the Jinn there are Muslims, Non Muslims and various different groups
And of us some are Muslims (who have submitted to Allah, after listening to this Qur'an), and of us some are Al-Qaasitoon (disbelievers - those who have deviated from the Right Path). And whosoever has embraced Islam (i.e. has become a Muslim by submitting to Allah), then such have sought the Right Path. And as for the Qaasitoon (disbelievers who deviated from the Right Path), they shall be firewood for Hell. Al-Qur’an 72:14-15)
There are among us some that are righteous, and some the contrary; we are groups having different ways (religious sects).Al-Qur’an, 72:11)
The jinn have special abilities which Allah (SWT) has bestowed upon them, such as their ability to take on different forms and appear in the form of some animals such as snakes, cats and dogs. The jinn also have the ability to move from one place to another with amazing speed and to dive into the depths of the ocean, as well as skills in various kinds of crafts and building. Allah (SWT) says:
And also the Shayaateen (devils) from the jinn (including) every kind of builder and diver.Al-Qur’an, 38:37)
Allah describes a unique blessing that He bestowed upon one of His Prophets, which was a miracle: He subjugated the jinn to the command of the Prophet of Allah Sulayman (as) by His power and grace. This subjugation happened by the decree of Allah and Sulayman was not harmed by the jinn. In fact he used to put those who deviated and went against his command in chains, as Allah (SWT) says:
And also others bound in fetters." Al-Qur’an 38:38
Allah (SWT) tells us of the jinn's' ability to build for Sulayman as He (SWT) says:
They worked for him as he desired, (making) high rooms, images, basins as large as reservoirs, and (cooking) cauldrons fixed (in their places).Al-Qur’an 34:13
Concerning their ability to move with amazing speed from one place to another, Allah (SWT) says:
An Ifreef (strong one) from the jinn said: 'I will bring it to you before you rise from your place (council). And verily, I am indeed strong and trustworthy for such work.Al-Qur’an 27:39
Concerning their ability to change shape, we have the report reported by Muslim in his Sahih from a young Ansari man, according to which the Prophet (PBUH) said:
In Medina there are jinn who have become Muslim. So if you see any of them (the jinn) in the form of a snake, ask him to leave for three days, then if he appears to you again after that, kill him, for he is a devil.
The jinn have some powers over men, such as tampering with their houses by setting them on fire, throwing furniture and household contents about or appearing in human form and causing some kinds of physical harm, such as paralysis of a limb, tightness in the chest, a permanent headache or any other kind of sickness for which medical treatment does not bring about a cure but rather makes it worse, or insanity when the jinn focus their harm on the brain, but such cases and such powers over man are limited.
Madness and Epilepsy Caused by the Jinn
Those who eat Ribaa (interest) will not stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except like the standing of a person beaten by Shaytaan (Satan) leading him to insanity.Al-Qur’an 2:275)
Imam Al-Qurtubi said: This Verse shows that those who deny that epilepsy can be caused by the jinn and that it is caused only by physical factors and that the Shaytaan cannot affect man or cause insanity, are wrong. Tafseer Al-Qurtubi, 3/255)
Imam Al-Tabari said in his commentary on this Verse: They will not arise from their graves in the Hereafter except in the manner of one who has been beaten by the Shaytaan and driven to insanity. What is meant by that is that the Shaytaan beats him in this world, causing insanity. Tafseer Al-Tabari, 3/101
Al-Hafiz Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Those who eat Ribaa...” this means that they will not be raised except in the manner of one who is suffering an epileptic fit and has been beaten by the Shaytaan; that is because they will be raised in a bad way. Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 1/326
Imam Al-Aloosi said: Those who consume riba will be raised in a manner like that of the epileptic in this world. The word Takhabbut (translated here as "beating") implies hitting continuously in different areas of the body. The touch of the Shaytaan means insanity.Wiqaayah Al-lnsaan by Waheed Baali, 57)