- "Once, in a time before time, God breathed life into the universe. And the light gave birth to Angels. And the earth gave birth to Man. And the fire gave birth to the Djinn, creatures condemned to dwell in the void between the worlds. One who wakes a Djinn will be given three wishes. Upon the granting of the third, the unholy legions of the Djinn shall be freed upon the earth. Fear one thing only in all that is...fear the Djinn."
Djinn or genies are powerful demons from Arabic mythology and legend, created by God from smokeless fire. The term djinn is where the term genie comes from. These spirits wer created before humans, so it's really no wonder that the Djinn feel resentful of the earth's usurpation by humans. Usually invisible, the Djinn are powerful shapeshifters that are able to manifest themselves in a multitude of forms, and vary greatly in terms of both power and temperament.
The Djinn are spirits of darkness, and are primarily nocturnal (sleeping during the day), haunting cemeteries, ancient ruins, and crossroads. However, some may be found in slaughterhouses, as blood is both appealing and tempting to them. The Djinn is also known to inhabit the threshold of a house, and may strike out at those who awaken them by causing disease, stroke, or paralysis. These sicknesses resist medical treatment, healing only after magic or shamanic healing has been applied. The Djinn love and crave heat, preferring to live in the desert for that same reason. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Djinn despise the cold.
Also Called[]
- (m.) Ajnan
- Dgen/Dschin
- Djinnee/Djinni/(f) Djinniya/Djinny/Dzin/Dzsinn
- (bound) Genie
- (descendants of Iblis) Ghaddar
- Ghawwas]
- Ghūl
- Ginn/Jann/Jin/(f.) Jiniri/Jinn/(sing.) Jinnee/(sing.) Jinni/(f) Jinniya/Jnun/جني
- Hofafa
- Ifrit
- ("faithful", pl) Jin Aslam
- ("infidel", pl) Jin Khafir
- Marid
- (attendant) Qarin
- Shiqq
- (cannibal) So'la
- (proper title of the Djinn King) Soleiman/Suleiman/Suleyman/ (pl) Soleimani/Suleimani/Suleymani
- Xhind
Origins[]
The Djinn is a creature with origins in Middle Eastern Mythology, and the Quran of the Islamic religious faith. It is said that the Djinni were created by Allah from smokeless fire. Some even believe the Djinni were created on a Thursday.
Names of specific Djinn include:
-Aicha Kandida (female): cannibal water Djinn
-Al-Malik Al-Aswad (former Djinn king):
- Chaarmarouch (former Djinn king): enormous tosser of stones
- Dalham: causes shipwrecks and eats marooned sailors
- Danhasch (Danash, Danasch): Prince of Djinni, son of Chaarmarouch.
- Hamou Ukaiou (Ifrit): flying pursuer of women
- Jan Ibn Jan:
- Jin Gendang:
- Jin Karaja'an:
- Jin Naubat:
- Jin Nemfiri/Lempiri:
- Jin Sembuana:
- Khadem Quemquoma (female):
- Lalla Mira (Lalla Mirra) (former Djinn king)
- Maezt-Dar L'Oudou:
- Mis (evil):
- Moulay Abdelkader Djilani:
- Sa-Gempar'Alam (former Djinn prince):
- Sa-Gertak Rang Bumi (former Djinn prince):
- Sa-Gunchange Rang Bumi (former Djinn prince):
- Sa-Halilintar (former Djinn prince):
- Sa-Lakun Darah (former Djinn prince):
- Sa-Rukup Rang Bumi (former Djinn prince):
- Sa-Tumbok Rang Bumi (former Djinn prince):
- Sang Gadin (former Djinn queen):
- Sang Gala Raja (Sa-Raja Jin; former Djinn king):
- Sidi Hamou:
- Taranushi:
Appearance[]
By nature, Djinni are capable of altering their appearance and assuming numerous different forms. Aside from even these various shapes, Djinni commonly look humanoid; their size ranges from fitting in the palm of a hand, to human sizes, to dwarfing even Giants and Titans. Their faces may be similar to humans, or monstrous, resembling Goblins, Ogres or Demons.
The physical frame of a Djinn is almost always physically impressive and appealing. This may range from lithe and sleek, to thick curvature, to buff and brawny. The face of a Djinn often has high cheek bones and a handsome square jaw. Ears may or may not point. Some Djinni have even been seen with facial features, or entire heads like those of animals.
Skin color of a Djinni can be literally any color across the color spectrum. Their hair can be any color, any length or texture. Though, commonly, male Djinni (especially those bound to serve) are depicted as bald, with the exception of a ponytail or a topknot. The presence of facial hair varies, but if male Djinni have facial hair, they trend toward having either a bear, or a full mustache-beard combination. Female Djinni are often depicted as having long hair, which either flows free, or is tied in a ponytail.
"Human, beware. I will only grant your wish this day, if your wish is a death wish."
Behavior[]
Originally, the race of Djinni hail from a land in another dimension called Jinnistan. Their power structure consists of a succession of seventy-two (72) kings, which are referred to as "Suleyman". The language of the Djinni is called Janna.
When they live in the mortal world, common places for Djinni to reside include abandoned buildings, caves, graveyards and other lonely, dark, desolate places (perhaps even underground). This arises from the desire of Djinni to not deal with mortals who often mistake them for demons, as well as deterring those who seek to ask favors of them (or worse, to capture/bind them).
While generally perceived as vain and quick-tempered, the Djinni are endowed by Allah with free will, and thus are not automatically disposed toward good or evil. And although a greater majority of Djinni are non-believers, some have been known to seek redemption by adhering to religious faith, especially (but not limited to) Islam.
It should be known that, despite a spiritual ranking just below the level of Angels and Demons, in terms of power potential, the habits and traditions of Djinni are not unlike those of humans. They are subject to a similar emotional range as humans, marry (fellow Djinni or other humanoids), raise families and have norms of society and civilization.
"Slay them? As you wish, Aqa."
The reputation of Djinni as being sneaky, devious or malevolent is only partly rooted in fact. Djinni are rightly known for their cunning and ingenuity; however, it commonly turns to dark purposes, when called into the service of others.
Some Djinni are called into voluntary contracts for the use of their magical powers to mischievous or malicious ends. Though, far more commonly, Djinni are summoned and bound forcibly by magic for selfish or greedy purposes.
As revenge, a Djinni so bound (called instead a "Genie") often causes the wishes to backfire on the one to whom their services are bound (who is referred to as Aqa or "Master"), by playing on the words of the wish being asked.
A common trick for a Genie to play is to grant a wish for its literal meaning, rather than any metaphorical or figurative meaning it may hold. Or some Genies will simply lie about what wishes they are able to grant, to avoid doing things they do not want to.
Favorite animals among the Djinni include cats, lizards, onagers (wild donkeys), scorpions, snakes, as well as animals commonly used by Djinni as mounts; foxes, gazelles and ostriches.
Wolves, on the other hand, are hated and feared by the Djinni.
Description[]
- "Born from the smokeless flame, they received the gift of free will. Like you, sweetling, they tread the snake-tongued path to goodness or wickedness. Way back, in the Long Ago, before apes were given tongues to speak as humankind, other, glorious beings wandered the lands and soared the skies. They made the sphere of our Mother a rich world of uncountable delights. The Host brought new sentience to life, beings you call demons and spirits. The jinn were among the first."
- ― The Buzzing, The Secret World
Genie (literally: to hide, to conceal, also djin, djinn, jinn), a supernatural creature in Arab folklore and Islamic mythology that occupies a world parallel to that of mankind.
They may be free-willed Demons and/or Lesser Angels or redeemable fallen angels, some of them aligned with Paradises.
Traditional jinn are made of smokeless flame or are the spirits of dust devils (hence the term) and like human beings, they are both free-willed and can be good, evil, or neutral. They live in their own communities, are usually invisible to mortals and can change their shape.
Modern genies are either connected to one of the classical elements or are extremely powerful magical beings that are able to grant wishes and manipulate reality on a large scale. Some of them are not bound by their law or are free willed and there are also some genie's that are bound by certain magical item.
Powers & Abilities[]
- "So what would you wish of me? The ever-impressive, the long-contained, the often imitated, but never duplicated... GENIE OF THE LAMP!"
- ― Genie (Aladdin)
- Immortality - The ability to potentially live forever, unless subject to mortal injury.
- Magic - The ability to channel supernatural energy to induce and manipulate events and phenomena.
- Flight - The ability to propel oneself through the air.
- Invisibility - The ability to render oneself unavailable to the sense of sight.
- Madness Inducement - The ability to cause symptoms of mental illness to manifest.
- Possession - The ability to physically or supernaturally inhabit and dominate a subject.
- Precognition - The ability to psychically perceive visions of future events.
- Shapeshifting - the ability to alter physical appearance to assume a new form.
- Sickness Inducement - the ability to cause symptoms of physical illness to manifest.
- Storm Inducement - the ability to cause the formation of a storm system.
- Superhuman Speed - the ability to move with quickness beyond human norms.
- Superhuman Strength - the ability to exert physical force beyond human norms.
- Wish Granting - the ability to warp the fabric of reality to suit the desires of others.
Weaknesses[]
- Iron - Djinni fear this metal, and a common method of thwarting evil efforts by Djinni includes sticking their skin or clothing with iron needles, which they will be too afraid to remove, and thus flee in a panic.
- Magic - Djinn are susceptible to the powers of magic.
- Magical Binding - If confronted with magic of sufficient power, Djinni can be summoned and bound to service of a wizard or sorcerer, or even imprisoned within an object (common traps include oil lamps, bottles, large jars or pots, or other containing vessels)
- Wish Restriction - Depending on the level of power that a Djinn has access to (commonly, but not always, correlated to the age of the Djinn in question), they may be unable to cast certain spells or grant certain wishes; this is the root of a Genie's rules against killing curses, raising the dead or making people fall in love--they are often literally unable, by not having strong enough powers.
- Wolves - A Djinn, despite its shapeshifting powers, cannot assume the form of a wolf. And in fact, wolves are considered a natural predator of the Djinni.
Gallery[]
Related sites[]
- Genie from Aladdin Wikia
- Genie from Disney Wikia
- Jeannie from Cartoon Harem, Genies, Belly-Dancers Wikia
- Jinn from Demonology Wikia
- Genie Physiology from Powerlisting Wikia
- Jinn from Wikipedia
- Jinn from Ultimate Pop Culture Wikia