Q&A: Types of Jinn… Can They See Us?

Question:

Ustaz, may I ask, how many types of jinn are there and what are the differences? And if we can’t see the jinn, can they see us?

Answer:

Alhamdulillah… Infinite praise and thanks are due to the Almighty Allah. Complete blessings and salutations go to our beloved Prophet, Sayyidinā Muhammad, his household, his companions, and all those who follow his guided path till the end of time.

Habibi… I don’t know how many types of jinn are there.

However, what I know is that the jinn[kind] are creatures who have two genders (i.e., males and females, just like us humankind). They also have Muslims and non-Muslims (think of any religion, and they also have it). Also, they have good and pious ones as well as bad, wicked and evil ones. When we say they have Muslims, you can imagine practising Muslims, devoted Muslims, and not so practising Muslims. When we say they have non-Muslim, you can imagine those who have no issues to co-exist with Muslims and many others who hate anything Muslim.

Can they see us? Yes. In normal circumstance, every jinn, male or female, Muslim or non-Muslim has the natural ability to see any human being. This is unlike us human beings. We don’t have the natural ability to see jinn. Seeing jinn is not natural for us. Is there any exception to this. Yes, there are exceptions to almost everything.

The fact that they can see us, in addition to the fact that they share this earth with us, indicate that they can cause harm to us in many ways. But they can only cause harm to us, when Allah allows that to take effect. In other words, when we seek protection from Allah against their evil, they may not be able to see us; even if they do, they may not be able to harm us.

Circumstances, in which we seek protection against the jinn, include when you enter the washroom, when you take off your clothes, when you feel scared or simply when you seek protection against any sort of evil including sihr and whatnot.

The jinn, especially the evil ones, use toilets and restrooms as their hideouts. Thus, it’s important for the Muslim to remember his du’a before entering washrooms and toilets. They may also fall in love with you (of course without your knowledge nor consent). When they do, they may dislike you getting married, or if you’re married, they may try to cause instability in your marriage. How to prevent them falling in love with you to that extent, remember to recite your dhikr whenever unclothing yourself. And make it a point to read your morning The Morning and Evening Du’as every day.

Following are the relevant du’as the Muslim can read when necessary.

Du’a/Dhikr for Removing Our Clothes

Imam al-Tirmidhī reports from the narration of Sayyidunā ‘Ali raḍiya Allāhu ‘anahu, that Rasūlullāh ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam says:

سَتْرُ مَا بَيْنَ أَعْيُنِ الْجِنِّ وَعَوْرَاتِ بَنِي آدَمَ إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُهُمْ الْخَلَاءَ أَنْ يَقُولَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ

“The screen between the eyes of the jinns and nakedness of the children of Adam when one of you enters the area of relieving oneself is saying: ‘Bismillah.'”

So, always remember to say: Bismillah, before taking off your clothes. It’s that easy!

Du’a Before Entering the Restroom

Before entering the restroom, we are enjoined by the The Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam to recite the following:

بِسْمِ اللهِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْخُبُثِ وَالْخَبَائِثِ

“In the Name of Allah. O Allah, I seek protection in You from the male and female unclean spirits.”

So, from now onwards, if you haven’t been doing it, don’t forget to say that du’a.

And generally, when one feels unsafe from evil, or any sort of harm, he may read anything from the Qur’an as a form of ruqyah (spiritual healing), with more emphasis on Ayatul-Kursi and the 3 Quls. To find out more, check out the Simple Du’a for Protection.

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Allah knows best.
Allahu Hafiz 🙂