Questioner: Regarding the jinn, there are two questions regarding them, the first is about seeking assistance from them. It is known that amongst the jinn there are disbelievers, sinners [faasiq] and Muslims.

Al-Albani: Yes, by Allaah.

Questioner: So is it permissible for a Muslim, if he is able to, or some things happen [as a result of which] it becomes clear to him that the jinn, for example, is a Muslim, and so he seeks his assistance in some worldly affairs. So is it permissible for a Muslim to use this jinn …, in the same way that I seek the assistance of a human Muslim brother?

Al-Albani: When you mentioned seeking assistance from the Muslim jinn, how do you know he is a Muslim?

Questioner: He says so!

Al-Albani: He says so?

Questioner: Yes.

Al-Albani: And you do not know him [he is unknown].

Questioner: Yes.

Al-Albani: And you do not know him [he is unknown].

Questioner: Yes. Unknown because I do not know him.

Al-Albani: So how do you judge with the testimony of someone unknown?

Questioner: And he, namely, in reality, he is just like one of the brothers.

Al-Albani: No I am asking you, if there were a brother next to you, how do you know if he is a Muslim and a righteous one if you do not know him?

Questioner: I don’t know.

Al-Albani: Thus, the question from its general, initial, onset was wrong. Is it permissible to seek assistance from the jinn or not? The answer is no.

As for categorising the jinn then it can be [done] in two ways. Dividing them in terms of there being amongst them those who are righteous and those who are sinners, believers and disbelievers. This is correct, “There are among us some that are righteous, and some the contrary; we are groups each having a different way.” [Jinn 72:11]. This is from the angle of there being an unseen reality, something which we do not see.

As for dividing the jinn in terms of their relation to us humans/mankind, then such a division is lost on us. We cannot say, “So and so who speaks to us is a Muslim jinn, or a non-Muslim jinn, or a righteous Muslim jinn … no, we cannot make apparent such judgements. Because this is a judgement about something which is behind–as they say today–nature, i.e., in sharee’ah terminology, the Unseen. We do not know the Unseen.

And at the same time as it not being something legislated, believing someone who is unknown and from the Unseen, is also stupidity. Because if a person who you do not know at all were to come to you and say, ‘I am a trustworthy Muslim. And I want to share with you [in something].’ You would not agree to it, because you don’t know him. So then it is even more fitting that you do not accept the testimony of someone who is behind a wall who says, ‘I am a good, righteous Muslim. And I am going to interact with you from behind this wall based upon the fact that the religion is sincerity.’

Questioner: Yes.

Al-Albani: Would a person accept such a dealing?

Questioner: No.

Al-Albani: So what do you think about [someone] behind a wall, behind all matter [i.e., someone from the Unseen].

Thus, the correct question is: is it permissible to interact with the Jinn at all?’ The answer is that it is not allowed at all.

The only thing that is allowed in that which is connected to Jinn and mankind is that if one were pretty sure that there is a person who has been possessed by a Jinn, then some aayahs can be recited on him, and [the Jinn] can be warned through such recitation … this is what has been established in the Sunnah.

As for the Quraan then it warns us against seeking the assistance of the Jinn [this having been quoted] from the believing Jinns [themselves] who came to the Prophet عليه السلام and believed in him. They spoke about their situation such as saying, ‘And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the masculine among the jinns, but they (jinns) increased them (mankind) in sin and disbelief,’ [Jinn 72:6] i.e., … in misguidance.

Because of this it is not allowed to seek the assistance of the Jinn. This is the answer to the question. End of Shaikh al-Albaani’s words.

I’ve seen some of the translations that have been put up on the blog have been taken and made into YouTube videos. I happened to chance by some of them. I don’t mind anyone taking such an initiative since I had been hoping someone could do it, may Allaah reward you guys well, whoever you are. At the same time I’d like it if you could send me a link to inform me of such videos. If they’re done well, I can then put up a link to them on the blog here. Shukran.



Al-Hudaa wan-Noor, Tape no. 704, starts at 3 minutes and 50 seconds approximately.

Mawsoo’atul-Allaamah, al-Imaam, Mujaddidil-Asr, Muhammad Naasirid-Deen al-Albaani, of Shaikh Shady Noaman, vol. 3, pp. 1053-1055.

The YouTube video: