Fatwa ID: 01867

Answered by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question:

Can humans see Jinn’s?

Answer:

Saaiduna Abu Thalabah al-Khushani narrates that the Prophet of Allah said: ‘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.” (Imam Tahawi in his Mushkilul Athar p.95 v.4 & Tabraani)

A Jinn cannot be seen in their original form by humans. (Tarikhul Jinnat p.30) However, if they take have taken the form of animals or humans, such as the famous hadith of Saaiduna Abu Hurairah of Iblis taking the form of Suraqah ibn Malik during the Battle of Badr.

Allah in the Holy Qur’an says:

"Verily, he (Satan) and Qabiluhu (his soldiers from the jinn’s or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them…" (Surah Al Araf v.27)

What I have mentioned above is in terms of general conditions and habit. If a human being were to see them contra-habitually as is the case of Jinns coming to the Prophet of Allah and embracing Islam would not be considered contrary to the above verse. (See Maariful Qur’an p.559 v.3)

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham