Abu Huraira reported: The Apostle of Allah said. When any one of you awakes up from sleep and performs ablution, he must clean his nose three times, for the devil spends the night in the interior of his nose. Muslim vol. 1, no. 462


concerning Satan living in one's nose






If we should take it literally, this is a reference to the fact that the nose and ears provide openings to the heart without barrier unlike the other sense organs and thus gateways for Satan. This is confirmed by other authentic narrations such as: "The devil circulates in human beings just like blood,". "One who yawns should close up his mouth lest the devil enters it,". "The devil cannot open something that has been closed," and similar orders to close doors at night and cover up edibles. And it is possible to take it metaphorically in the sense of accumulated dirt, dust, and mucus since it is established that devils privileges dirty places, dirty smells, etc. Hence the Sunna in wudu' is not only to snuff water up the nostrils (istinshaq), but to blow one's nose as well (istinthar) in order to expel impurities.


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9. RULING ON REGARDING A HOUSE AS UNLUCKY


Question :


A woman had seven sons and daughters, and when she went to live in a new house, one of her sons died, as did one of her daughters. After they died, she saw in a dream that if she stayed in that house, all her children would die. I hope that you can offer some advice.


Answer : Praise be to Allah.


If the situation is as described, then she has the choice. If she wishes she may continue to live in that house, and if she wishes, she can move to another house, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Bad omens are in three things: a house, a woman and a mount.” May Allah help and guide us all. End quote.


Excerpted, with some modifications, from: http://islamqa.com/en/


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10. JINN AND DEMONS


Question:


Is there any difference between the demons and the jinn? Please give me more information about the world of Jinn and tell me more about their hidden secrets? How can I find more information about them?


Answer :


Answering your questions, we’d like to cite for you the following fatwa issued by Sheikh M. S. Al-Munajjid, a prominent Saudi Muslim lecturer and author, who states:


“Allah Almighty has created certain creatures, some of them are known to us and some of them are not.


In his capacity as Allah’s vicegerent on earth, man is ordained by Allah to worship Him Alone without partners. Consequently, we should not get absorbed in stories about jinn, as it is not a form of worship.

The Qur’an and Sunnah indicate that jinn exist, and that there is a purpose for their existence in this life, which is to worship Allah Alone with no partner or associate. Allah Almighty says: “And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans, except they should worship Me (Alone).” (Adh-Dhariyat 51:56)


Scholars are in disagreement over the difference between jinn and demons. Some of them say that the word jinn goes far to encompass the jinn as well as the demons. The word also includes believing and unbelieving jinn. Allah Almighty says, “And among us there are righteous folk and among us there are far from that. We are sects having different rules.” (Al-Jinn 72:11) “And there are among us some who have surrendered (to Allah) and there are among us some who are unjust. And whoso hath surrendered to Allah, such have taken the right path purposefully.” (Al-Jinn 72: 14)

However, the word demon or shaytan is used to refer to the unbelieving ones among the jinn. Allah Almighty says, “… and the devil was ever an ingrate to his Lord.‏” (Al-Isra’ 17:27)

The world of the jinn is an independent and separate world with its own distinct nature and features that are hidden from the world of humans. Jinns and humans have things in common, such as the ability to understand and choose between good and evil. The word jinn comes from the Arabic root meaning “hidden from sight”. Allah Almighty says: “… Verily he (shaytan) and his soldiers from the jinn or his tribe see you from where you cannot see them…” (Al-A`raf: 27)


Allah has told us in His Book the essence from which the jinn were created. He says: “And the jinn, We created aforetime from the smokeless flame o fire.” (Al-Hijr 15:27) `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) says that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The angels were created from light, the jinn were created from fire, and Adam was created from that which has been described to you.” (Reported by Muslim)


Types of jinn


Allah has created different types of jinn. Among them are some who can take on different forms such as dogs and snakes; some who are like flying winds with wings; and some who can travel and rest. Abu Tha`labah al-Khushni says that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says: “The jinn are of three types: a type that has wings and they fly through the air; a type that looks like snakes and dogs; and a type that stops for a rest then resumes its journey.” (Reported by At-Tahawi in Mushkil Al-’Athar)


The jinn and the sons of Adam


Every individual among the sons of Adam has a jinn who has been appointed to be his constant companion (qarin). Ibn Mas`ud reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) says: ‘There is not one of you who does not have a jinn appointed to be his constant companion.’ They said, ‘And you too, O Messenger of Allah?’ He said, ‘Me too, but Allah has helped me and he has submitted, so that he only helps me to do good.’”(Reported by Muslim)Jinn powers


Allah has given jinn powers that he has not given to humans. Allah has told us about some of their powers such as the ability to move and travel quickly. One of the jinn guaranteed to Prophet Sulayman (Solomon, peace and blessings be upon him) that he would bring the throne of the Queen of Yemen to Jerusalem in a moment, faster than the time needed for someone to get up from where he was sitting. Allah Almighty says: “A stalwart of the Jinn said: I will bring it thee before thou canst rise from thy place. Lo! I verily am strong and trusty for such work (39) One with whom was knowledge of the Scripture said: I will bring it thee before thy gaze returneth unto thee. And when he saw it set in his presence, (Solomon said) This is of the bounty of my Lord. That He may try me whether I give thanks or am ungrateful. Whosoever giveth thanks he only giveth thanks for (the good of) his own soul: and whosoever is ungrateful (is ungrateful only to his own soul's hurt). For lo! My Lord is Absolute in independence, Bountiful.” (An-Naml: 39-40)


‏The food and drink of jinn


Ibn Mas`ud reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says: “There came to me an inviter on behalf of the Jinn and I went along with him and recited to them the Qur’an.” He (the narrator) said: The Prophet then went along with us and showed us their traces and traces of their embers. The Jinn asked the Prophet about their provision and he said: “Every bone on which the name of Allah is recited is your provision. The time it will fall in your hand it would be covered with flesh, and (you can have) all the droppings as food for your animals.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “So do not use (these things) for cleaning yourselves (after relieving oneself), for they are the food and provision of your brothers (Jinn).” (Reported by Muslim)


The believing jinn may eat any bone on which the name of Allah has been mentioned, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not permit them to have anything on which Allah’s Name has not been mentioned – those are for the unbelieving jinn.The beasts of the jinn


According to the Hadith reported by Ibn Mas`ud, that we have quoted above, the jinn asked the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) for provision, and he said to them: “… and (you can have) all the droppings as food for your animals.”


The dwelling-places of the jinn


The jinn live where we do live on this earth. They are mostly to be found in ruins and unclean places like bathrooms, dunghills, garbage dumps and graveyards. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us to take precautions when entering such places, by reciting the adhkar (mentioning Allah’s Name) prescribed by Islam.

One of these are reported by Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) who says: “When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) entered the toilet, he would say, 'Allahumma inni a`udhu bika min al-khubuthi wal-khaba’ith (O Allah, I seek Refuge with You from all offensive and wicked things [evil deeds and evil spirits]).'”
Some jinns are Muslims and some are non-Muslims


Allah tells us that some of the jinn said “And there are among us some who have surrendered (to Allah) and there are among us some who are unjust. And whoso hath surrendered to Allah, such have taken the right path purposefully.‏” (Al-Jinn 72:14)