There is no such thing as 'this world' and the 'spirit world'. Both worlds are all part of one existence - one World. The difference is in what can be seen and what remains unseen. Some beings in this universe ('spirits') cannot normally be seen, while others (like humans) can be seen. We all exist within the same universe and interactions take place. Human actions affect both the physical and the unseen aspects of this universe. Just as human beings live their lives in this universe, so do other unseen beings live their lives within this same universe (and/or world) and beyond.
The seen and the unseen aspects of the universe are not distinct from one another. Actions in the everyday world impact the unseen world and things done in the 'spirit world' impact this world. There are many types of 'spirit' beings. Just as we are created from clay, the unseen beings are also created. Some are created from light. Every human has been assigned such beings to protect him/her: "He (God) is the irresistible, (watching) from above over His worshippers, and He sets guardians over you"
(The Holy Quran 6:61) .
"But, verily, over you (are appointed angels) to protect you,- Kind and honourable,- Writing down (your deeds): They know (and understand) all that you do."
(The Holy Quran 82:10-12)
Others are constant companions of humans and they record every action that a human being does:
"Behold, two (guardian angels) appointed to learn (his doings) learn (and noted them), one sitting on the right and one on the left. Not a word does he utter but there is a sentinel by him, ready (to note it)." (The Holy Quran 50:17-18).
Sometimes God sends some of these beings to assist His servants when they are being oppressed and are faced with overwhelming odds:
"Remember you implored the assistance of your Lord, and He answered you: 'I will assist you with a thousand of the angels, ranks on ranks'" (The Holy Quran 89:13).
There are some unseen beings whose only purpose is to seek forgiveness from God for the mistakes of His servants, and they do this at all times. They ask God to forgive His slaves and to have mercy on them:
"The heavens are almost rent asunder from above them (by His Glory): and the angels celebrate the Praises of their Lord, and pray for forgiveness for (all) beings on earth: Behold! Verily God is He, the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful" (The Holy Quran 42:5).
There are other beings whose only purpose is to worship God at all times, and who do not tire from doing that:
"Surely, those who are with your Lord (angels) are never too proud to perform acts of worship to Him, but they glorify His Praise and prostrate before Him" (The Holy Quran 7:206).
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There are also other type of unseen ('spirit') beings that are called Jinn. Just as God created us, He also created them:
"He created man (Adam) from sounding clay like the clay of pottery. And the jinns did He create from a smokeless flame of fire." (The Holy Quran 55:14-15).
They have free will just like human beings. They have a choice to submit to God. Some choose to submit to Him, becoming Muslim (an Arabic word that means "those that submit their will to God"), while others choose to reject Him. It is possible for the Jinn to harm human beings by 'possessing' them, but human beings can easily protect themselves from such harm. They can also suggest evil thoughts to a person. The person has a choice to act or reject these evil ideas. Usually the person recognizes that the suggestion is wrong, irrational and should not logically be done. But the person may still do the action. If a person chooses to act according to the evil ideas, then it pleases the jinn and the jinn suggests further evil ideas. Other jinn also join together to suggest evil ideas to the person:
"Shall I inform you, (O people!), on whom it is that the evil ones descend? They descend on every lying, wicked person, (Into whose ears) they pour hearsay vanities, and most of them are liars" (The Holy Quran 26:221-223).
A person can protect himself/herself from these whisperings of the jinn by seeking refuge in God. When a person asks God for protection, He grants it. People who do this are able to resist the evil suggestions of the bad jinn and are easily able to do actions which please their Creator:
"Repel evil with that which is best: We are well acquainted with the things they say. And say 'O my Lord! I seek refuge with You from the suggestions of the Evil Ones. And I seek refuge with You O my Lord! lest they should come near me.'" (The Holy Quran 23:96-98).
"The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better, then verily! he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend. And no one will be granted it (the above quality) except those who exercise patience and self-restraint,- none but persons of the greatest good fortune. And if an evil whisper from Shaitân (Satan) tries to turn you away (from doing good, etc.), then seek refuge in God. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower" (The Holy Quran 41:34-36).
The jinn generally possess greater physical strength than human beings and can cover great distances in an extremely short time. But a person who has knowledge and is firm in his/her correct understanding of God can defeat a jinn even in a physical scuffle. Some people try to harness the powers of a jinn by befriending the bad jinn (the Non-Muslim Jinn). They then try to convince other people that they possess special powers or magic. In fact they do not possess any special powers or magic. It is only through the help of a Jinn that they deceive people. Some people may not even be aware that the special power that they possess is actually the actions of a Jinn. So they continue to perform acts that would maintain their power, not knowing that they are only doing actions to please the Jinn, who then helps the person do magical acts. Some acts that appease evil Jinns include those things that are forbidden by God, such as worshipping other objects or doing religious actions for the sake of other things besides God. These acts include sacrificing animals, such as chickens, to beings other than God. Such acts are found in Voodoo, and God has forbidden them and has clearly commanded that we should worship only Him and sacrifice in His Name and only for Him. Such forbidden acts are also done by many Shamans who don't realize that they are not really worshipping God, but that they are pleasing created beings who then help them with special powers and effects. It should be remembered that some people who do get help from Jinns cannot harm a person who has firm knowledge and belief about God. Such a person realizes that Jinn are also created beings and nothing can harm a person or benefit a person except by the permission of God. This person would also recognize that all power belongs to God and that the words of God (the Quran) counteract the effects of the Jinn and magic. A person can seek Gods protection, and be protected from the Jinn and magic, by asking God through reciting the following:
"Say: 'I seek refuge with (God) the Lord of the daybreak,
'From the evil of what He has created;
'And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or goes away).
'And from the evil of the witchcrafts when they blow in the knots,
'And from the evil of the envier when he envies'"
(The Holy Quran 113:1-5)
"Say: 'I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind,
'The King of mankind,
'The God of mankind,
'From the evil of the Whisperer (of Evil), who withdraws (after his whisper),-
'(The same) who whispers into the hearts of mankind,-
'Among Jinns and among men.'"
(The Holy Quran 114:1-6)
There are some people who are able to do magical acts but who are not helped by the evil Jinn. These people are helped by God. The way to know the difference between a person helped by an evil Jinn and a person that is helped by God is to observe the actions of the person. If the actions of the person are immoral, and their behavior is against what God has willed for human beings, then the special powers of that person are from a Jinn (i.e. the person is getting the Jinn's help). A person who is being helped by a Jinn would use the power for evil purposes, for self-promotion and to harm people. On the other hand, if there is a person who is noted for devotion in worshipping God and does his/her actions in accordance to the Will of God, such as recognizing His reality, feeding the poor, etc., then that person is being helped by God. The special power that the good person possesses may be a sign of the Pleasure of God. A person who is being helped by God would not use the power for self-promotion and to assert his/her superiority over people. They would use the power only to help people and they would not consider themselves special, instead they would feel even more humble in front of God.
Besides Angels and Jinns, God's creation includes many other creatures and beings some of which are among the unseen, and some of which we can see (such as plants, animals, etc.). |
