Our last three blogs looked at jinn veneration at Firoz Shah Kotla. Here we explore beliefs about jinns around the world and introduce you to a place where the jinn worship reflects what happens at Firoz Shah Kotla.
Scholars tell us jinns were supernatural creatures in pre-Islamic Arabian mythology who were incorporated into Islam by Prophet Muhammad. The Quran states that Allah created three types of beings from three substances: humans (made of earth); angels (made of light); and jinn (made of smokeless fire).
The mention of jinns in the Quran meant that they were taken seriously in Islam. Michael W. Dols notes that, “Even the legal status of the jinn was worked out by medieval Muslim jurists in all respects and in astonishing detail especially with regard to marriage between jinn and human beings.”
Can we see Jinns?
Jinns are invisible to humans in their pure form (smokeless fire) but can take any shape. Like people, jinns have free will and can be good or evil. They are born, grow up, marry, raise families, and die, but their life span is much longer than ours. Some jinns are said to live for thousands of years. Unlike us, they can fly through the air and travel wherever they please
Jinns in India
Jinns were firmly established in Indian mythology long before the Mughals arrived in the 16th century. In Indian folklore, they appeared as beings ‘of, gigantic stature sometimes resplendently handsome, sometimes horribly hideous’ and could occur almost anywhere. Evil jinns roamed at night, heard but rarely seen, haunting houses and bringing misfortune, sickness and death to all but the most devoted.
Children were warned that, if they did not obey their parents, a jinn might catch them. Arjit Mahal, from New Jersey, said the following in response to one of our blogs. “Growing up in India, kids were afraid of ‘Jinn-Bhoot’ used as a term to discipline them from some wrong doing. In J&K where I grew up, there was another legend of ‘Chall’ an invisible entity that used to change itself into any being or animal.”
Jinns abroad
In Arabia, jinns were said to be like air. In Egypt, they were described as having flaming eyes and could disappear by turning into fire. Another common belief was that their eyes were perpendicular not horizontal like humans.
Jinn figure heavily in Moroccan folklore and seem to be closely linked to pre-Islamic beliefs in nature spirits. It is not unusual for a jinni in Moroccan folklore to be able to assume the form of a young, beautiful woman, or even a terrible crone.
A book by Nagi B.A. Jinnat, Sex Aur Insaan (The Jinn, Sex And Humans), published in 2002, tells us that Lahore, in Pakistan, is home to many thriving jinn communities. Apparently, the three earliest jinn tribes came to Lahore from Arabia and made their homes in the mausoleums and Islamic monuments.
The 72nd chapter of the Qur’an entitled Al-Jinn (The Jinn), as well as the heading and introductory bismillah of the next chapter entitled al Muzzammil (The Enshrouded One).
Zulqarnayn with the help of some jinn, building the Iron Wall to keep the barbarian Gog and Magog from civilized peoples (16th century Persian miniature)
Another site for Jinn veneration on the sub-continent
While researching this blog, we discovered another site, the 17th century Moti Masjid in the Red Fort in Lahore, where jinns are petitioned in the same way as they are at Firoz Shah Kotla. Moti mean ‘pearl’ and the mosque is a small, white marble structure built by Mughal emperor Jahangir.
What do we see here?
Jinn worshippers at Moti Masjid in Lahore
As at Firoz Shah Kotla, people come in large numbers, especially on Thursdays, to light candles and lamps, and petition the jinns. Two cloisters inside the mosque are brightly carpeted, and plastic pegs for hanging rosaries dot the walls. The lady in blue in the photo above claimed her prayers were answered within three days.
Unlike Firoz Shah Kotla, where people leave paper petitions, the supplicants at Moti Mosque cover the walls with messages to the jinns, ignoring signs that say “This is the House of Allah, and it is a grave sin to write on walls”.
Incidentally this Fort and the Pearl Mosque come under the Walled City of Lahore Authority, an organization similar to the Archaeological Survey in India (ASI).
We hope you’ve enjoyed our Jinn series. Some of us have already walked in Firoz Shah Kotla, and the idea behind the Blog was to enhance our knowledge and for you to ponder whether this type of activity should be allowed at ASI sites. If you know of any similar site anywhere in the world, please do share the information. And we’d really appreciate your ideas for blog topics.
Note: Information about Moti Masjid, Lahore, from “Jinnealogy” by Anand Vivek Taneja. Further information and photos from YouTube
Do post your comments on walks@delhimetrowalks.com
Inputs by Surekha Narain, design & concept by Catriona Child
Comments & Replies
Jinns were firmly established in Indian mythology long before the Mughals arrived in the 16th century. In Indian folklore, they appeared as beings ‘of, gigantic stature sometimes resplendently handsome, sometimes horribly hideous’ and could occur almost anywhere. Evil jinns roamed at night, heard but rarely seen, haunting houses and bringing misfortune, sickness and death to all but the most devoted.
Children were warned that, if they did not obey their parents, a jinn might catch them. Arjit Mahal, from New Jersey, said the following in response to one of our blogs. “Growing up in India, kids were afraid of ‘Jinn-Bhoot’ used as a term to discipline them from some wrong doing. In J&K where I grew up, there was another legend of ‘Chall’ an invisible entity that used to change itself into any being or animal.”
- Beverly in Delhi: For those with a fascination for Delhi’s history – enjoy Surekha’s lockdown blog. I always learn something new when I go on a historical walk with Surekha, and her blog is no less surprising! I always learn and see new things on a walk with Surekha, even after living in Delhi for over 30 years. This blog is no different – just full of interesting information and surprises. I am now impatient for the lockdown to be lifted so I can do this Feroz Shah Kotla walk. I am sure there will many supplicants for the assistance of the jinns in the aftermath of coronavirus. Perhaps ASI could ban offerings of food and persuade people that jinns only like flowers?
DMW: Bev – thanks so very much for the Facebook introduction. Always love your infectious enthusiasm! You are always “up for adventure”, even if it has, temporarily, to be from an armchair!
- Avril in the UK: I do apologise but I have only just found your emails in my “spam” box which I have just checked! I am really sorry I did not see you in Delhi, but I shall make sure we can meet up next time. Let’s hope it will not be too long before flights resume and we are allowed to leave the UK. I would be so frustrated if I could not visit India for the unforeseeable future. I am glad you have adapted to being inside and are contented. That is important! I shall read your blogs and will send you any comments I wish to make. I am sure your blogs will be most interesting, just like your walks!
DMW: Thank you for your kind comments Avril. I do hope that things will return to normal before too long and we can meet up in Delhi. Meanwhile do please send your thoughts and reactions to the Blogs. We are open to ideas for topics too.
- David Higham in the UK: My wife and I enjoyed a wonderful day with Surehka, walking Chandni Chowk. She was a courteous and very knowledgeable guide. Blog: The Ancient Traveller Post: A Day in Old Delhi Link: http://www.theancienttraveller.com/2019/03/a-day-in-old-delhi.html
DMW: Thank you very much David. It was a lot of fun to be able to show you Chandni Chowk and I greatly appreciate your mention of me in your Blog. Come back to India soon!
- Amita in Kuala Lumpur: I did, Surekha, “tongue in cheek” it proves that India-Pakistan are chips off the same block……what was built here, was built there too; what goes on here, goes on there too BECAUSE we are chips from the same block !! I am not in the least surprised at this find……
DMW: You are so right Amita! In the Jinnealogy book Anand Vivek Taneja argues that the jinn worship at Firoz Shah Kotla, which involves both Hindus and Muslims is actually an expression of a medieval “North Indian” (therefore undivided) culture, which transcended religious affiliations. What is so interesting is that, in both Delhi and Lahore, the phenomenon of people worshipping jinns at ancient sites in public only began fairly recently after periods of great pain and disturbance for ordinary people. At Firoz Shah Kotla, the calamitous event was The Emergency (1970s). In Lahore, Taneja speculates that it might have been, “ the changed political geography of post-9/11 Lahore, where suicide bombings and counter terrorism precautions have altered and unsettled the sacred landscapes of the city, particularly Sufi shrines.”
- Pippa de Labilliere in the UK: How wonderful to hear from you and I have been really enjoying your blogs! They bring back so many really happy memories of fun times. Very strange times we are living in but one day we will come back to Delhi and you are always welcome here.
DMW: Pippa – thank you for your warm words. These are indeed strange times but I do hope you will return to Delhi soon and we can have more adventures!
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