DJINN
African Folklore
Religious Folklore
Folklore of the people who follow Islam
Formed by Allah from the winds of the Sahara
Emperor of the Elementals, Salamanders
Also spelled as: Dgen, Dchin,Genie, Ginn, Jann, Jinn,Jinni, Djin, Jinnee or Jnun.
The belief is that Allah created the angels from light, the Shaitans from the fire of his anger, humans from earth and the Djinn from the Saharan wind (the Simoon).
Taranushi was the first Djinn charged with controlling the rest, the Djinns rebelled and Azazal and Iblis became their most terrifying leaders, being opposed by an army of angels.
The Djinns can be invisible or they can take the form of any shape including that of a gigantic human. They can also be both beautiful or hideously deformed. When a Djinn appears as a beautiful woman, the deception may be detected by noting the vertical eyes and the feet of a goat or a camel.
When benevolent, they may fall in love with and have children with human partners. Their offspring can walk through walls, fly and age very slowly. Djinns can bring great wealth, beauty and possessions to those they like or magicians who know how to control them. To those they dislike or have been directed to do harm to they bring disaster, tortures and horrible deaths.
Morocco : It is believed that each human has their own Djinn or Grine throughout their life, as well as independent Djinns who inhabit dark and isolated places. Earth Djinns dwell in drains, wash places, bathrooms, cemeteries and ruins. They are also easily offended, and if correct procedures are not taken before digging for drainage or building foundation, there will be revenge from the Djinn. Water Djinns live by rivers, fountains and wells. They are particularly malevolent towards humans. They entice them into the water for the pleasure of killing them. Tree Djinns such as Hamadryads inhabit the trees and are usually kinder to humans. Allowing them to rest and proving them with shade - all except the fig tree. The Djinn in the fig tree incite people to fight or quarrel with one another, so the shade of this tree should be avoided.
Egypt : It is said that the whirlwinds in the sand and the dust devils in the desert show where an evil Djinn is traveling. One must take precautions against them because they shower stones from the roof tops at people, and steal any good food or pretty women they see. The name of Allah will dispel them, shooting stars over the desert are said to be Allah's arrows directed at the Djinn.
Serbia and Albania : Djinns are evil nature spirits inhabiting lakes, mountains and forests. They will terrify any unwary traveler who does not respect the area of the Djinns control. A Djinn inhabiting the woods near the Lake of Skutar would envelope in a miasma of nightmare visions to anyone who even touched a leaf of his forest.
Book: Thousand and One Tales of the Arabian Nights
SOURCE: Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins Encyclopedia