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ALADDIN
AND
THE MAGIC LAMP
v v v v
TRADITIONAL
THERE once lived a poor tailor, who had
a son called Aladdin, a careless, idle boy who would do
nothing but play all day long in the streets with little idle
boys like himself. This so grieved the father that he died;
yet, in spite of his mother’s tears and prayers, Aladdin did
not mend his ways. One day, when he was playing in the streets
as usual, a stranger asked him his age, and if he was not the
son of Mustapha the tailor. “I am, sir,” replied Aladdin; “but
he died a long while ago.” On this the stranger, who was a
famous African magician, fell on his neck and kissed him
saying: “I am your uncle, and knew you from your likeness to
my brother. Go to your mother and tell her I am coming.”
Aladdin ran home and told his mother of his newly found uncle.
“Indeed, child,” she said, “your father had a brother, but I
always thought he was dead.” However, she prepared supper, and
bade Aladdin seek his uncle, who came laden with wine and
fruit. He fell down and kissed the place where Mustapha used
to sit, bidding Aladdin’s mother not to be surprised at not
having seen him before, as he had been forty years out of the
country. He then turned to Aladdin, and asked him his trade,
at which the boy hung his head, while his mother burst into
tears. On learning that Aladdin was idle and would learn no
trade, he offered to take a shop for him and stock it with
merchandise. Next day he bought Aladdin a fine suit of clothes
and took him all over the city, showing him the sights, and
brought him home at nightfall to his mother, who was overjoyed
to see her son so fine.
Next day the magician led Aladdin into some beautiful
gardens a long way outside the city gates. They sat down by a
fountain and the magician pulled a cake from his girdle, which
he divided between them. Then they journeyed onwards till they
almost reached the mountains. Aladdin was so tired that he
begged to go back, but the magician beguiled him with pleasant
stories and lead him on in spite of himself. At last they came
to two mountains divided by a narrow valley. “We will go no
farther,” said his uncle. “I will show you something
wonderful; only do you gather up sticks while I kindle a
fire.” When it was lit, the magician threw on it a powder he
had about him, at the same time saying some magical words. The
earth trembled a little in front of them, disclosing a square
flat stone with a brass ring in the middle to raise it by.
Aladdin tried to run away, but the magician caught him and
gave him a blow that knocked him down. “What have I done,
uncle?” he said piteously; whereupon the magician said more
kindly: “Fear nothing, but obey me. Beneath this stone lies a
treasure which is to be yours, and no one else may touch it,
so you must do exactly as I tell you.” At the word treasure
Aladdin forgot his fears, and grasped the ring as he was told,
saying the names of his father and grandfather. The stone came
up quite easily, and some steps appeared. “Go down,” said the
magician; “at the foot of those steps you will find an open
door leading into three large halls. Tuck up your gown and go
through them without touching anything, or you will die
instantly. These halls lead into a garden of fine fruit trees.
Walk on till you come to a niche in a terrace where stands a
lighted lamp. Pour out the oil it contains, and bring it to
me.” He drew a ring from his finger and gave it to Aladdin,
bidding him prosper.
Aladdin found everything as the magician had said, gathered
some fruit off the trees, and, having got the lamp, arrived at
the mouth of the cave. The magician cried out in a great
hurry: “Make haste and give me the lamp.” This Aladdin refused
to do until he was out of the cave. The magician flew into a
terrible passion, and throwing some more powder on to the
fire, he said something, and the stone rolled back into its
place.
The man left the country, which plainly showed that he was
no uncle of Aladdin’s but a cunning magician, who had read in
his magic books of a wonderful lamp, which would make him the
most powerful man in the world. Though he alone knew where to
find it, he could only receive it from the hand of another. He
had picked out the foolish Aladdin for this purpose, intending
to get the lamp and kill him afterwards.
For two days Aladdin remained in the dark, crying and
lamenting. At last he clasped his hands in prayer, and in so
doing rubbed the ring, which the magician had forgotten to
take from him. Immediately an enormous and frightful genie
rose out of the earth, saying: “What wouldst thou with me? I
am the Slave of the Ring, and will obey thee in all things.”
Aladdin fearlessly replied, “Deliver me from this place!”
whereupon the earth opened, and he found himself outside. As
soon as his eyes could bear the light he went home, but
fainted on the threshold. When he came to himself, he told his
mother what had passed, and showed her the lamp and the fruits
he had gathered in the garden, which were in reality precious
stones. He then asked for some food. “Alas! child,” she said,
“I have nothing in the house, but I have spun a little cotton
and will go sell it.” Aladdin bade her keep her cotton, for he
would sell the lamp instead. As it was very dirty, she began
to rub it, that it might fetch a higher price. Instantly a
hideous genie appeared, and asked what she would have. She
fainted away, but Aladdin, snatching the lamp, said boldly:
“Fetch me something to eat!” The genie returned with a silver
bowl, twelve silver plates containing rich meats, two silver
cups, and two bottles of wine. Aladdin’s mother, when she came
to herself, said: “Whence comes this splendid feast?” “Ask
not, but eat,” replied Aladdin. So they sat at breakfast till
it was dinner-time, and Aladdin told his mother about the
lamp. She begged him to sell it, and have nothing to do with
devils. “No,” said Aladdin, “since chance hath made us aware
of its virtues, we will use it, and the ring likewise, which I
shall always wear on my finger.” When they had eaten all the
genie had brought, Aladdin sold one of the silver plates, and
so on until none were left. He then had recourse to the genie,
who gave him another set of plates, and thus they lived many
years.
One day Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan proclaimed
that everyone was to stay at home and close his shutters while
the Princess his daughter went to and from the bath. Aladdin
was seized by a desire to see her face, which was very
difficult, as she always went veiled. He hid himself behind
the door of the bath, and peeped through a chink. The Princess
lifted her veil as she went in, and looked so beautiful that
Aladdin fell in love with her at first sight. He went home so
changed that his mother was frightened. He told her he loved
the Princess so deeply he could not live without her, and
meant to ask her in marriage of her father. His mother, on
hearing this, burst out laughing, but Aladdin at last
prevailed upon her to go before the Sultan and carry his
request. She fetched a napkin and laid in it the magic fruits
from the enchanted garden, which sparkled and shone like the
most beautiful jewels. She took these with her to please the
Sultan, and set out, trusting in the lamp. The Grand Vizier
and the lords of council had just gone in as she entered the
hall and placed herself in front of the Sultan. He, however,
took no notice of her. She went every day for a week, and
stood in the same place. When the council broke up on the
sixth day, the Sultan said to his Vizier: “I see a certain
woman in the audience-chamber every day carrying something in
a napkin. Call her next time, that I may find out what she
wants.” Next day, at a sign from the Vizier, she went up to
the foot of the throne and remained kneeling until the Sultan
said to her: “Rise, good woman, and tell me what you want.”
She hesitated, so the Sultan sent away all but the Vizier, and
bade her speak freely, promising to forgive her beforehand for
anything she might say. She then told him of her son’s violent
love for the Princess. “I prayed him to forget her,” she said,
“but in vain; he threatened to do some desperate deed if I
refused to go and ask your Majesty for the hand of the
Princess. Now I pray you to forgive not me alone, but my son
Aladdin.” The Sultan asked her kindly what she had in the
napkin, whereupon she unfolded the jewels and presented them.
He was thunderstruck, and turning to the Vizier, said: “What
sayest thou? Ought I not to bestow the Princess on one who
values her at such a price?” The Vizier, who wanted her for
his own son, begged the Sultan to withhold her for three
months, in the course of which he hoped his son could contrive
to make him a richer present. The Sultan granted this, and
told Aladdin’s mother that, though he consented to the
marriage, she must not appear before him again for three
months.
Aladdin waited patiently for nearly three months, but after
two had elapsed, his mother, going into the city to buy oil,
found everyone rejoicing, and asked what was going on. “Do you
not know,” was the answer, “that the son of the Grand Vizier
is to marry the Sultan’s daughter tonight?” Breathless she ran
and told Aladdin, who was overwhelmed at first, but presently
bethought him of the lamp. He rubbed it and the genie
appeared, saying: “What is thy will?” Aladdin replied: “The
Sultan, as thou knowest, has broken his promise to me, and the
Vizier’s son is to have the Princess. My command is that
to-night you bring hither the bride and bridegroom.” “Master,
I obey,” said the genie. Aladdin then went to his chamber,
where, sure enough, at midnight the genie transported the bed
containing the Vizier’s son and the Princess. “Take this
new-married man,” he said, “and put him outside in the cold,
and return at daybreak.” Whereupon the genie took the Vizier’s
son out of bed, leaving Aladdin with the Princess. “Fear
nothing,” Aladdin said to her; “you are my wife, promised to
me by your unjust father, and no harm will come to you.” The
Princess was too frightened to speak, and passed the most
miserable night of her life, while Aladdin lay down beside her
and slept soundly. At the appointed hour the genie fetched in
the shivering bridegroom, laid him in his place, and
transported the bed back to the palace.
Presently the Sultan came to wish his daughter
good-morning. The unhappy Vizier’s son jumped up and hid
himself, while the Princess would not say a word and was very
sorrowful. The Sultan sent her mother to her, who said: “How
comes it, child, that you will not speak to your father? What
has happened?” The Princess sighed deeply, and at last told
her mother how, during the night, the bed had been carried
into some strange house, and what had passed there. Her mother
did not believe her in the least, but bade her rise and
consider it an idle dream.
The following night exactly the same thing happened, and
next morning, on the Princess’s refusing to speak, the Sultan
threatened to cut off her head. She then confessed all,
bidding him ask the Vizier’s son if it were not so. The Sultan
told the Vizier to ask his son, who owned the truth, adding
that, dearly as he loved the Princess, he had rather die than
go through another such fearful night, and wished to be
separated from her. His wish was granted, and there was an end
of feasting and rejoicing.
When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to
remind the Sultan of his promise. She stood in the same place
as before, and the Sultan, who had forgotten Aladdin, at once
remembered him, and sent for her. On seeing her poverty, the
Sultan felt less inclined than ever to keep his word, and
asked his Vizier’s advice, who counselled him to set so high a
value on the Princess that no man living would come up to it.
The Sultan then turned to Aladdin’s mother, saying: “Good
woman, a sultan must remember his promises, and I will
remember mine, but your son must first send me forty basins of
gold brimful of jewels, carried by forty black slaves, led by
as many white ones, splendidly dressed. Tell him that I await
his answer.” The mother of Aladdin bowed low and went home,
thinking all was lost. She gave Aladdin the message adding,
“He may wait long enough for your answer!” “Not so long,
mother, as you think,” her son replied. “I would do a great
deal more than that for the Princess.” He summoned the genie,
and in a few moments the eighty slaves arrived, and filled up
the small house and garden. Aladdin made them to set out to
the palace, two by two, followed by his mother. They were so
richly dressed, with such splendid jewels, that everyone
crowded to see them and the basins of gold they carried on
their heads. They entered the palace, and, after kneeling
before the Sultan, stood in a half-circle round the throne
with their arms crossed, while Aladdin’s mother presented them
to the Sultan. He hesitated no longer, but said: “Good woman,
return and tell your son that I wait for him with open arms.”
She lost no time in telling Aladdin, bidding him make haste.
But Aladdin first called the genie. “I want a scented bath,”
he said, “a richly embroidered habit, a horse surpassing the
Sultan’s, and twenty slaves to attend me. Besides this, six
slaves, beautifully dressed, to wait on my mother; and lastly,
ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses.” No sooner said
than done. Aladdin mounted his horse and passed through the
streets, the slaves strewing gold as they went. Those who had
played with him in his childhood knew him not, he had grown so
handsome. When the sultan saw him, he came down from his
throne, embraced him, and led him into a hall where a feast
was spread, intending to marry him to the Princess that very
day. But Aladdin refused, saying, “I must build a palace fit
for her,” and took his leave. Once home, he said to the genie:
“Build me a palace of the finest marble, set with jasper,
agate, and other precious stones. In the middle you shall
build me a large hall with a dome, its four walls of massy
gold and silver, each side having six windows, whose lattices,
all except one which is to be left unfinished, must be set
with diamonds and rubies. There must be stables and horses and
grooms and slaves; go and see about it”
The palace was finished the next day, and the genie carried
him there and showed him all his orders faithfully carried
out, even to the laying of a velvet carpet from Aladdin’s
palace to the Sultan’s. Aladdin’s mother then dressed herself
carefully, and walked to the palace with her slaves, while he
followed her on horseback. The Sultan sent musicians with
trumpets and cymbals to meet them, so that the air resounded
with music and cheers. She was taken to the Princess, who
saluted her and treated her with great honour. At night the
princess said good-bye to her father, and set out on the
carpet for Aladdin’s palace, with his mother at her side, and
followed by the hundred slaves. She was charmed at the sight
of Aladdin, who ran to receive her. “Princess,” he said,
“blame your beauty for my boldness if I have displeased you.”
She told him that, having seen him, she willingly obeyed her
father in this matter. After the wedding had taken place,
Aladdin led her into the hall, where a feast was spread, and
she supped with him, after which they danced till midnight.
Next day Aladdin invited the Sultan to see the palace. On
entering the hall with the four-and-twenty windows with their
rubies, diamonds and emeralds, he cried, “It is a world’s
wonder! There is only one thing that surprises me. Was it by
accident that one window was left unfinished?” “No, sir, by
design,” returned Aladdin. “I wished your Majesty to have the
glory of finishing this palace.” The Sultan was pleased, and
sent for the best jewellers in the city. He showed them the
unfinished window, and bade them fit it up like the others.
“Sir,” replied their spokesman, “we cannot find jewels
enough.” The Sultan had his own fetched, which they soon used,
but to no purpose, for in a month’s time the work was not half
done. Aladdin knowing that their task was vain, bade them undo
their work and carry the jewels back, and the genie finished
the window at his command. The Sultan was surprised to receive
his jewels again, and visited Aladdin, who showed him the
window finished. The Sultan embraced him, the envious Vizier
meanwhile hinting that it was the work of enchantment.
Aladdin had won the hearts of the people by his gentle
bearing. He was made captain of the Sultan’s armies, and won
several battles for him, but remained as courteous as before,
and lived thus in peace and contentment for several years.
But far away in Africa the magician remembered Aladdin, and
by his magic arts discovered that Aladdin, instead of
perishing miserably in the cave, had escaped, and had married
a princess, with whom he was living in great honour and
wealth. He knew that the poor tailor’s son could only have
accomplished this by means of the lamp, and travelled night
and day till he reached the capital of China, bent on
Aladdin’s ruin. As he passed through the town he heard people
talking everywhere about a marvellous palace. “Forgive my
ignorance,” he asked, “what is the palace you speak of?” “Have
you not heard of Prince Aladdin’s palace,” was the reply, “the
greatest wonder in the world? I will direct you if you have a
mind to see it.” The magician thanked him who spoke, and
having seen the palace knew that it had been raised by the
Genie of the Lamp, and became half mad with rage. He
determined to get hold of the lamp, and again plunge Aladdin
into the deepest poverty.
Unluckily, Aladdin had gone a-hunting for eight days, which
gave the magician plenty of time. He bought a dozen lamps, put
them into a basket, and went to the palace, crying: “New lamps
for old!” followed by a jeering crowd. The Princess, sitting
in the hall of four-and-twenty windows, sent a slave to find
out what the noise was about, who came back laughing, so that
the Princess scolded her. “Madam,” replied the slave, “who can
help laughing to see an old fool offering to exchange fine new
lamps for old ones?” Another slave, hearing this, said, “There
is an old one on the cornice there which he can have.” Now
this was the magic lamp, which Aladdin had left there, as he
could not take it out hunting with him. The Princess, not
knowing its value, laughingly bade the slave take it and make
the exchange. She went and said to the magician: “Give me a
new lamp for this.” He snatched it and bade the slave take her
choice, amid the jeers of the crowd. Little he cared, but left
off crying his lamps, and went out of the city gates to a
lonely place, where he remained till nightfall, when he pulled
out the lamp and rubbed it. The genie appeared, and at the
magician’s command carried him, together with the palace and
the Princess in it, to a lonely place in Africa.
Next morning the Sultan looked out of the window towards
Aladdin’s palace and rubbed his eyes, for it was gone. He sent
for the Vizier and asked what had become of the palace. The
Vizier looked out too, and was lost in astonishment. He again
put it down to enchantment, and this time the Sultan believed
him, and sent thirty men on horseback to fetch Aladdin back in
chains. They met him riding home, bound him, and forced him to
go with them on foot. The people, however, who loved him,
followed, armed, to see that he came to no harm. He was
carried before the Sultan, who ordered the executioner to cut
off his head. The executioner made Aladdin kneel down,
bandaged his eyes, and raised his scimitar to strike. At that
instant the Vizier, who saw that the crowd had forced their
way into the courtyard and were scaling the walls to rescue
Aladdin, called to the executioner to stay his hand. The
people, indeed, looked so threatening that the Sultan gave way
and ordered Aladdin to be unbound, and pardoned him in the
sight of the crowd. Aladdin now begged to know what he had
done. “False wretch!” said the Sultan, “come hither,” and
showed him from the window the place where his palace had
stood. Aladdin was so amazed he could not say a word. “Where
is your palace and my daughter?” demanded the Sultan. “For the
first I am not so deeply concerned, but my daughter I must
have, and you must find her or lose your head.” Aladdin begged
for forty days in which to find her, promising if he failed to
return to suffer death at the Sultan’s pleasure. His prayer
was granted, and he went forth sadly from the Sultan’s
presence.
For three days he wandered about like a madman, asking
everyone what had become of his palace, but they only laughed
and pitied him. He came to the banks of a river, and knelt
down to say his prayers before throwing himself in. In doing
so he rubbed the ring he still wore. The genie he had seen in
the cave appeared, and asked his will. “Save my life, genie,”
said Aladdin, “and bring my palace back.” “That is not in my
power,” said the genie; “I am only the Slave of the Ring; you
must ask him of the lamp.” “Even so,” said Aladdin, “but thou
canst take me to the palace, and set me down under my dear
wife’s window.” He at once found himself in Africa, under the
window of the Princess, and fell asleep out of sheer
weariness.
He was awakened by the singing of the birds, and his heart
was lighter. He saw plainly that all his misfortunes were
owing to the loss of the lamp, and vainly wondered who had
robbed him of it.
That morning the Princess rose earlier than she had done
since she had been carried into Africa by the magician, whose
company she was forced to endure once a day. She, however,
treated him so harshly that he dared not live there
altogether. As she was dressing, one of her women looked out
and saw Aladdin. The Princess ran and opened the window, and
at the noise she made, Aladdin looked up. She called to him to
come to her, and great was the joy of these lovers at seeing
each other again. After he had kissed her, Aladdin said: “I
beg of you, Princess, in God’s name, before we speak of
anything else, for your own sake and mine, tell me what has
become of an old lamp I left on the cornice in the hall of
four-and-twenty windows when I went a-hunting.” “Alas,” she
said, “I am the innocent cause of our sorrows,” and told him
of the exchange of the lamp. “Now I know,” cried Aladdin,
“that we have to thank the African magician for this! Where is
the lamp?” “He carries it about with him,” said the Princess.
“I know, for he pulled it out of his breast to show me. He
wishes me to break my faith with you and marry him, saying
that you were beheaded by my father’s command. He is forever
speaking ill of you, but I only reply by my tears. If I
persist, I doubt not but he will use violence.” Aladdin
comforted her, and left her for a while. He changed clothes
with the first person he met in the town, and having bought a
certain powder, returned to the Princess, who let him in by a
little side door. “Put on your most beautiful dress,” he said
to her, “and receive the magician with smiles, leading him to
believe that you have forgotten me. Invite him to sup with
you, and say you wish to taste the wine of his country. He
will go for some, and while he is gone, I will tell you what
to do.” She listened carefully to Aladdin and when he left
her, arrayed herself gaily for the first time since she left
China. She put on a girdle and head-dress of diamonds, and
seeing in a glass that she was more beautiful than ever,
received the magician, saying, to his great amazement: “I have
made up my mind that Aladdin is dead, and that all my tears
will not bring him back to me, so I am resolved to mourn no
more, and have therefore invited you to sup with me; but I am
tired of the wines of China, and would fain taste those of
Africa.” The magician flew to his cellar, and the Princess put
the powder Aladdin had given her in her cup. When he returned,
she asked him to drink her health in the wine of Africa,
handing him her cup in exchange for his, as a sign she was
reconciled to him. Before drinking the magician made her a
speech in praise of her beauty, but the Princess cut him
short, saying: “Let us drink first, and you shall say what you
will afterwards.” She set her cup to her lips and kept it
there, while the magician drained his to the dregs and fell
back lifeless. The Princess then opened the door to Aladdin,
and flung her arms around his neck; but Aladdin went to the
dead magician, took the lamp out of his vest, and bade the
genie carry the palace and all in it back to China. This was
done, and the Princess in her chamber felt only two little
shocks, and little thought she was home again.
The Sultan, who was sitting in his closet, mourning for his
lost daughter, happened to look up, and rubbed his eyes, for
there stood the palace as before! He hastened thither, and
Aladdin received him in the hall of the four-and-twenty
windows, with the Princess at his side. Aladdin told him what
had happened, and showed him the dead body of the magician,
that he might believe. A ten days’ feast was proclaimed, and
it seemed as if Aladdin might now live the rest of his life in
peace; but it was not meant to be.
The African magician had a younger brother, who was, if
possible, more wicked and more cunning than himself. He
travelled to China to avenge his brother’s death, and went to
visit a pious woman called Fatima, thinking she might be of
use to him. He entered her cell and clapped a dagger to her
breast, telling her to rise and do his bidding on pain of
death. He changed clothes with her, coloured his face like
hers, put on her veil, and murdered her, that she might tell
no tales. Then he went towards the palace of Aladdin, and all
the people, thinking he was the holy woman, gathered round
him, kissing his hands and begging his blessing. When he got
to the palace, there was such a noise going on round him that
the Princess bade her slave look out the window and ask what
was the matter. The slave said it was the holy woman, curing
people by her touch of their ailments, whereupon the Princess,
who had long desired to see Fatima, sent for her. On coming to
the Princess, the magician offered up a prayer for her health
and prosperity. When he had done, the Princess made him sit by
her, and begged him to stay with her always. The false Fatima,
who wished for nothing better, consented, but kept his veil
down for fear of discovery. The princess showed him the hall,
and asked him what he thought of it. “It is truly beautiful,”
said the false Fatima. “In my mind it wants but one thing.”
“And what is that?” said the Princess. “If only a roc’s egg,”
replied he, “were hung up from the middle of this dome, it
would be the wonder of the world.”
After this the Princess could think of nothing but the
roc’s egg, and when Aladdin returned from hunting he found her
in a very ill humour. He begged to know what was amiss, and
she told him that all her pleasure in the hall was spoilt for
want of a roc’s egg hanging from the dome. “If that is all,”
replied Aladdin, “you shall soon be happy.” He left her and
rubbed the lamp, and when the genie appeared, commanded him to
bring a roc’s egg. The genie gave such a loud and terrible
shriek that the hall shook.
“Wretch!” he cried, “is it not enough that I have done
everything for you, but you must command me to bring my master
and hang him up in the midst of this dome? You and your wife
and your palace deserve to be burnt to ashes, but that this
request does not come from you, but from the brother of the
African magician, whom you destroyed. He is now in your palace
disguised as the holy woman, whom he murdered. He it was who
put that wish into your wife’s head. Take care of yourself,
for he means to kill you.” So saying, the genie disappeared.
Aladdin went back to the Princess, saying his head ached,
and requesting that the holy Fatima should be fetched to lay
her hands on it. But when the magician came near, Aladdin,
seizing his dagger, pierced him to the heart. “What have you
done?” cried the Princess. “You have killed the holy woman!”
“Not so,” replied Aladdin, “but a wicked magician,” and told
her of how she had been deceived.
After this Aladdin and his wife lived in peace. He
succeeded the Sultan when he died, and reigned for many years,
leaving behind him a long line of kings.
Djinn in Islam

The Djinn are said to be creatures with free will, made
from 'smokeless fire' by God (the literal translation being
“subtle fire”, i.e., a fire which does not give itself away
through smoke), much in the same way humans were made of
earth. According to the Qur'an, Djinn have free choice, and
Iblis used this freedom in front of God by refusing to bow to
Adam when God told Iblis to do so. By refusing to obey God’s
order he was thrown out of the Paradise and called “Shaitan”
(Satan?). In the Qur'an, Djinn are frequently
mentioned and Sura 72 of the Qur'an named Al-Jinn is entirely
about them. Another Sura (Al-Naas) mentions the Djinn in the
last verse. In fact, it is mentioned in the Qur'an that
Muhammad was sent as a prophet to both “humanity and the Djinn”.
The Djinn are believed to have communities much like human
societies: they eat, marry, die, etc. They are believed to
live in tribes have boundaries, to follow religions as humans
do, and follow the same ranks in armies as humans do. Because
they are massless and can be fit into any space, some believe
Djinns can settle into any location, from a vast area (like a
Universe), to a tiny hole, (like a lamp). It is believed that
they are invisible to humans, but that they can see humans.
Some believe that they occasionally, accidentally or
deliberately, come into view or into contact with humans.
Djinn are believed to live much longer than humans: some of
whom are said to be still alive having seen Muhammad (who
lived during the 7th century). Furthermore, many believe that
Djinn have learned to assimilate into the human world when
they desire to do so, and that in many cases they live
unnoticed among people marked only by the rather unusual or
somewhat secretive practises they keep. It is also thought
that Djinn can take on the form of humans and other animals
but they can not take on the form of prophets and 12 Imams of
Islam. They can also be summoned by humans, it is believed.
Considered haraam in Islam, humans attempting to perform
black magic on other humans, would call a Djinn specializing
in dirty deeds to perform the magic. Such black magic on
humans, (such as to influence a marriage to end in divorce,
etc) can only be undertaken by dark Djinni. Thus, a person
would pay a magician, who would then calls upon a dark Djinn,
who would then perform the magic.
Genie as a Thief
In Muslim beliefs, the genie can also act as a supernatural
thief. By some traditions, Prophet Mohammed warned
against thieving jinn.
To be continued....
© 2007-2010 Denise Alvarado. All rights reserved
www.mysticvoodoo.com
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