Legends of the Fire Spirits: Jinn and Genies from Arabia to Zanzibar'An energy, a pulse form of quantum physics perhaps, alive at the margins of sleep or madness, and more often in the whispering of a single unwelcome thought.' The Economist According to Islamic tradition, Allah created three types of beings: angels, made of light; humans, made of earth; and jinn, made of smokeless fire. Supernatural, shape-shifting, intelligent and blessed with free will and remarkable powers, jinn have over the ages been given many names - demon, spirit, ghoul, genie, ifrit and shaitan. Neither human nor immortal, they roam the earth inhabiting dark and empty places, luring humans to their deaths or demonically possessing them if harmed or offended. Despite the fact they cannot be seen, jinn are said to be strangely human-like - marrying, bearing children, forming communities and tribes, eating, sleeping, playing and facing judgement like any other human. They are ever-present partners in the human experience, causing endless mischief, providing amazing services and sometimes inducing sheer terror. Believed in by hundreds of millions of people throughout the world and from all faiths, jinn have played a particularly central role in the literature, culture and belief systems of the Middle East and the Islamic world. Legends of the Fire Spirits explores through time and across nations the enduring phenomenon of the jinn. From North Africa to Central Asia, from the Mediterranean to sub-Saharan Africa and beyond, this riveting, often chilling, yet reasoned book draws on long-forgotten ancient testimonies, medieval histories, colonial records, anthropologist's reports and traveller's tales to explore the different types of jinn, their behaviour, society, culture and long history of contact with humankind. It documents their links with famous figures in history such as King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba and illustrates the varied and vivid portrayals of jinn in world literature. In essence Legends of the Fire Spirits demonstrates the colourful diversity of human culture and the durability of faith and is a magnificent and indispensable portrayal of the rich folklore of the Islamic world. |
Other editions - View all
Legends of the Fire Spirits: Jinn and Genies from Arabia to Zanzibar Robert Lebling No preview available - 2020 |
Legends of the Fire Spirits: Jinn and Genies from Arabia to Zanzibar Robert Lebling,Tahir Shah No preview available - 2014 |
Common terms and phrases
Abdul According Adam African Aisha Aisha Qandisha al-Andalus Allah ancient angels animal appeared Arab Bedouins believed Berber Bilqis body called century Christian City of Brass created creatures cultural deities demons described desert devils earth Egypt Egyptian Emir Musa evil jinn exorcists eyes female jinn fire spirits folklore ghouls Greek hadiths haunted heaven holy human Iblees Iblis Ibn al-Nadim Ibn Arabi Ibn Taymiyyah ifrit inhabited invisible Iraq iskoki Islamic Jangare jann Jewish jinn jinn king jinn lore jinn possession Jinnee jnoun jnun killed King Solomon known legend Lilith live London lost city magic magicians Malay Mohammed Moroccan Morocco mosque mountain Muhammad Muslim mysterious Pazuzu Persian person pre-Islamic Prophet Qur'an religion rituals ruins scholars Semitic sheikh smokeless fire sometimes story Sufi tale talismans Thalaba told tradition trans translated treasure tribe Ubar Umayyad Westermarck woman women Yemen