He found out that his Shaykh deals with jinn

 

A young man is studying with a sheikh who deals with jinn in order to treat the possessed people and those suffering from spells. This young man knew about this recently. Should he stop learning from this sheikh and leave the place? Bearing in mind that he has only few months left to complete his Qura’anic studies with him. What is the ruling on seeking knowledge through this sheikh and what is the ruling on the alms given to this student by his sheikh?.

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly: 

Dealing with the jinn is a serious issue, and is a door that
leads to evil and mischief; how often have people are affected by this evil?
It is sufficient for you to know that shirk only came to mankind through
them. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said,
telling us how Allaah taught His slaves: “ ‘I have created all My slaves
with the inclination to worship Me alone, but the devils come to them and
turn them away from their religion. They forbid to them that which I have
permitted to them, and they tell them to associate others with Me for which
I have not sent down any authority.’” Narrated by Muslim (2865). 

There are believers and Muslims among the jinn, and also
kaafirs and evildoers. But the fact that they are concealed from man means
that we cannot be sure about any one of them, and gives us cause for concern
about their tricks and treachery, especially with the spread of ignorance
and bid’ah (innovation), which is the harbinger of shirk. Usually these
creatures make man fall into that which is haraam, and bring only a little
benefit. 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter
with the males among the jinn, but they (jinn) increased them (mankind) in
sin and transgression”

[al-Jinn 72:6] 

Hence the fatwas of the scholars state that it is haraam to
deal with the jinn at all – whether with the believers or the kaafirs among
them – and it is essential not to take this matter lightly, so as to close
the door to fitnah and confusion, and out of concern for those who have
faith in Allaah.  

It says in al-Insaaf by al-Mardaawi (10/351): 

“As for the one who claims to have power over the jinn and
claims that he can summon them and they obey him, he should not be denounced
as a kaafir or executed, but he should be given a ta’zeer punishment.” He
should be given a severe ta’zeer punishment that should not reach the extent
of execution, according to the correct view of our madhhab; and it was said
that his ta’zeer punishment may reach the extent of execution. End quote. 

It says in al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (14/18): 

As for seeking help from anyone other than Allaah, it is
either from humans or from the jinn. If it is seeking help from the jinn,
then this is forbidden and it may be shirk and kufr. “And verily, there
were men among mankind who took shelter with the males among the jinn, but
they (jinn) increased them (mankind) in sin and transgression” [al-Jinn
72:6]. 

Shaykh al-Albaani said in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah
(hadeeth no. 2760): 

This also includes some who appear outwardly to be righteous
treating people by means of that which they call “spiritual medicine
(al-tibb al-roohaani)”, whether that is in the ancient manner by contacting
his qareen  or jinn companion – as they used to do during the Jaahiliyyah –
or it is done by means of what they call “summoning the spirits”. Similar to
that in my opinion is hypnotism. All of these are means that are not
acceptable in sharee’ah, because they all boil down to seeking the help of
the jinn who were the cause of the mushrikeen going astray as it says in the
Holy Qur’aan (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter
with the males among the jinn, but they (jinn) increased them (mankind) in
sin and transgression”

[al-Jinn 72:6] 

The claims of some of those who seek their help, that they
only seek the help of the righteous among them, are false claims, because
they usually cannot mix with them and live with them in ways that will show
whether they are righteous or not. We know from experience that most of the
humans with whom you keep company turn out not to be good friends. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):  

“O you who believe! Verily, among your wives and your
children there are enemies for you (who may stop you from the obedience of
Allaah); therefore beware of them!”

[al-Taghaabun 64:14] 

This has to do with people who can be seen, so what do you
think about the jinn, concerning whom Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning): 

“Verily, he [Shaytaan] and Qabeeluhu (his soldiers from
the jinn or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them” [al-A’raaf
7:27]? End quote. 

We have previously quoted fatwas from the scholars on this
topic, in the answers to the following questions:
10518,
11114 and
78546. 

Secondly: 

The first thing that the seeker of knowledge must do is to
choose trustworthy scholars, people who are religiously-committed,
trustworthy and pious. He should only acquire knowledge from those who are
qualified, and those who are truly qualified are those who have the
knowledge and act upon it, by obeying Allaah and adhering to His laws and
commands. The teacher has the greatest effect on the student, so he should
have the quality of fear of Allaah (taqwa). 

It was narrated that Ibraaheem al-Nakha’i said: 

When they came to a man to acquire knowledge from him, they
would look at his character, his prayer and his situation, then they would
take knowledge from him. Al-Jaami’ li Akhlaaq al-Raawi (1/127). 

The scholars stated that this is especially important with
regard to learning the Qur’aan. 

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
al-Tibyaan fi Adaab Hamalat al-Qur’aan (p. 13): 

It should not be learned except from one who is fully
qualified and whose religious commitment is apparent, whose knowledge is
proven to be sound and whose piety is well known. Muhammad ibn Sireen,
Maalik ibn Anas and others among the salaf said: This knowledge has to do
with religion, so look to whom you take your religion from. End quote. 

Al-Zarnooji (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Ta’leem
al-Muta’allim (p. 7): 

He should choose the most knowledgeable, the most pious and
the oldest, as Abu Haneefah chose Hammaad ibn Abi Sulaymaan after much
thinking and consideration, and he said: I found him to be a patient,
forbearing and dignified old man. End quote. 

Ibn Jamaa’ah al-Kinaani said in his book Tadhkirah
al-Saami’ wa’l-Mutakallim (p. 133): 

The seeker of knowledge should look and pray istikhaarah,
asking Allaah for guidance concerning the one from whom he will take
knowledge and learn good attitude and manners; if possible he should be one
who is fully qualified, and is proven to be kind, compassionate and
chivalrous, and who is well known for his chastity and piety, and who is
well versed and has deep understanding. 

The student should not continue to learn when there is a
shortcoming in (the teacher’s) piety or religious commitment, or his
attitude is not good. It was narrated from one of the salaf: This knowledge
has to do with religion, so look to whom you take your religion from. 

If you explore the lives of the earlier and later
generations, you will find that the student usually only benefits and
succeeds if the Shaykh is clearly sincere towards his students. 

Even if you look at books, you will find that you will
benefit from books authored by those who are more pious and have less
interest in worldly gains.  End quote. 

Thirdly: 

Our advice to this seeker of knowledge is to leave this
teacher who uses the services of the jinn – if there is certain proof of
that – and he should not learn anything from him of knowledge, attitude or
religion. That is the most cautious approach, to be on the safe side, if he
is able to make up what he has missed and complete his studies with a Shaykh
who follows the Sunnah and is righteous. 

But if there are no righteous people in his city who can do
that for him, then what we think is that he should complete the short time
that remains of his studies, if the situation is as described and he only
uses the jinn for treating those who are bewitched or sick, and he is not
known to practice sihr (witchcraft) or harm the Muslims, or transgress
against their wealth or honour. The basic principle according to the
scholars is that one may be pardoned for continuing that which one may not
be pardoned for starting. Although we would tell a seeker of knowledge not
to begin studying with a Shaykh who follows bid’ah, or who is obviously
deviant in his knowledge or action, in cases such as this, there is a
concession allowing him to continue these studies until he finishes,
especially since the remaining time is very short, and especially since he
cannot find an alternative teacher in his city who is a righteous follower
of the Sunnah. 

But what we have said here should also be balanced against
the fact that this Shaykh may be following the opinion of those who say that
it is permissible to employ the jinn with regard to permissible matters,
such as those mentioned in the question; he may be excused for following
that (weak) view and in that case we cannot say that he is a follower of
bid’ah (innovation) or is misguided. 

Although some of Ahl al-Sunnah are of this view, the correct
view is that which we mentioned first of all, which is that it is forbidden
to employ the services of the jinn at all. But the correct view concerning
the issue is one thing, and finding an excuse for those who follow a weaker
view is something else. 

Fourthly: 

Our advice concerning the charity is also to try to do
without it, and always look for ways of earning a living by yourself,
without falling short in seeking knowledge or spending all your time and
effort in seeking a living. Rather you should be moderate and refrain from
taking that which is in people’s hands (i.e., by earning your living by your
own efforts), and strive to learn about issues of religion, and thus you
will attain the pleasure of Allaah. 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: “Whoever follows a path seeking knowledge, Allaah will make a path to
Paradise easy for him.” Narrated by Muslim (2699).  

But if a seeker of knowledge cannot earn enough to live on
and he has no choice but to accept charity given by this teacher, there is
no sin on him, in sha Allaah, if he takes it. 

And Allaah knows best.

Ruling on using bukhoor (incense) to expel devils

 

Some people use a type of bukhoor (incense) that is sold by perfume-sellers, claiming that it expels devils.

Praise be to Allaah.

I do not know of any basis in sharee’ah for doing this, and
it should not be done, because it is a myth that has no basis. Devils can
only be expelled by reciting a lot of dhikr and reading Qur’aan and seeking
refuge in the perfect words of Allaah from the evil of that which He has
created. It is proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: “Whoever stops to rest and
says, ‘A’oodhu bi kalimaat Allaah il-taammah
min sharri ma khalaq  (I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allaah from the
evil of that which He has created),’ nothing will harm him until he moves on
from that place.”  A man said:
O
Messenger of Allaah, I was stung by a scorpion last night. He said: “If you
had said, A’oodhu bi kalimaat Allaah al-taammah min sharri ma khalaq
(I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allaah from the evil of that which He
has created), it would not have harmed you.” And he (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever says in the morning, ‘Bismillaah
illaahi laa yadurru ma’a ismihi shay’un fi’l-ard wa la fi’l-sama’ wa huwa
al-samee’ ul-‘aleem (In the name of Allaah with Whose name nothing is
harmed on earth nor in heaven, and He is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing)’
three times, nothing will
harm him until evening comes, and whoever says it when evening comes,
nothing will harm him until morning comes.” 

I ask Allaah to help us and you
and all of our brothers to attain beneficial knowledge and act upon it, for
He is All hearing and Ever Near. End quote. 

The chaining up of the devils in Ramadaan

 

We know that in Ramadaan the devils (we seek refuge with Allaah from them) are chained up. And I would like to know whether the practitioners of sihr (magic, witchcraft) – may the curse of Allaah be upon them – practise their craft in this month?.

Praise be to Allaah.
 

 

Yes, the devils may whisper to man in Ramadaan, and the practitioners of
witchcraft may practise their craft during Ramadaan, but that undoubtedly happens to a lesser extent than at times other than Ramadaan. 

It was proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: “When Ramadaan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.” Narrated by
al-Bukhaari, 3277; Muslim, 1079. According to al-Nasaa’i: “The most evil jinn are chained up.” 

This does not mean that the devils have no influence at all, rather it indicates
that they become weaker in Ramadaan and are not able to do what they are able to do at times other than Ramadaan. 

It may be interpreted as meaning that the ones who are chained up are the most
evil devils, not all of them. 

Al-Qurtubi said: If it is said, how come we see many evil actions and sins being
committed in Ramadaan, for if the devils were chained up, that would not happen? 

The answer is that (evil actions) are reduced on the part of those who fast
meeting all the conditions of fasting and paying attention to the etiquette of fasting. 

Or some of the devils – namely the most evil ones – are chained up, not all of
them, as previously mentioned in some reports. 

Or it may mean that evil actions are reduced in Ramadaan, which is something that we can see.
Even though evil actions happen in Ramadaan, they are less than at other times. Even if all of the devils were to be chained up, that does not
mean that no evil action would happen, because there are other causes of evil action besides the devils, such as evil souls, bad habits and the
human devils. 

From Fath al-Baari. 

And Allaah knows best.

Is Iblees a jinn or an angel?

 

I was just wondering if Iblis was actually a jinn or an angel. This particular issue recently sparked my curiosity when it was presented to me by a person I know.
If he is an angel, then how is it he disobeyed Allah, when Angels have no will of their own and follow only Allah's command. If he is really a jinn, then it would better explain his disobedience as then he actually had the choice to obey or disobey Allah. I would appreciate a response, even if it is a brief one.

Praise be to Allaah. 

Ibless – may Allaah curse him – is one of the jinn.
He was not an angel for a single day, not even for an instant. The angels
were created noble; they never disobey Allaah when He commands them to do
something and they do what they are commanded. This is clearly stated in
the Qur’aanic texts which indicate that Iblees is one of the jinn and
not one of the angels. These texts include the following:

 1.                    
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And
(remember) when We said to the angels: “Prostrate yourselves unto
Adam.” So they prostrated themselves except Iblees (Satan). He was one
of the jinn; he disobeyed the Command of his Lord. Will you then take him
(Iblees) and his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me while
they are enemies to you? What an evil is the exchange for the Zaalimoon
(polytheists, and wrongdoers, etc).” [al-Kahf 18:50]

 2.                    
Allaah stated that He
created the jinn from fire, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And
the jinn, We created aforetime from the smokeless flame of fire”
[al-Hijr 15:27]

“And
the jinn He created from a smokeless flame of fire” [al-Rahmaan 55:15]

And
it was narrated in a saheeh hadeeth that ‘Aa’ishah said: the Messenger
of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The
angels were created from light, the jinn were created from smokeless fire
and Adam was created from that which has been described to you.”
(Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh, no. 2996; also narrated by Ahmad, no.
24668; by al-Bayhaqi in al-Sunan
al-Kubra, no. 18207 and by Ibn Hibbaan, no. 6155).

One of the
attributes of the angels is that they were created from light, and the
jinn were created from fire. It was mentioned in the Qur’aan that Iblees
– may Allaah curse him – was created from fire. This is what Iblees
himself said when Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, asked him the
reason for his refusal to prostrate to Adam when Allaah commanded him to
do so. He – may Allaah curse him – said:

“
‘I am better than him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You
created from clay’” [al-A’raaf 7:12; Saad 38:76 – interpretation
of the meaning]. This
indicates that he was one of the jinn.

 3.                    
Allaah has described
the angels in His Book, where He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O
you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire
(Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels
stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they
receive from Allâh, but do that which they are commanded” [al-Tahreem
66:6]

“And
they say: ‘The Most Gracious (Allaah) has begotten a son (or
children).’ Glory to Him! They [whom they call children of Allaah i.e.
the angels, ‘Eesaa (Jesus)

son of Maryam (Mary), ‘Uzair
(Ezra)], are but honoured slaves. They speak not until He has spoken, and
they act on His Command” [al-Anbiyaa’ 21:26-27]

“And to
Allaah prostrate all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth,
of the moving (living) creatures and the angels, and they are not proud
[i.e. they worship their Lord (Allâh) with humility]. They fear their
Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded” [al-Nahl 16:49-50]

So
it is not possbile for the angels to disobey their Lord, because they are
protected from sin and they are naturally inclined to obey Allaah.

4.                    
The fact that Iblees
is not one of the angels means that he is not compelled to obey Allaah. He
has freedom of will just as we humans do. Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning);

 “Verily,
We showed him the way, whether he be grateful or ungrateful” [al-Insaan
76:3]

  There
are also Muslims and kaafirs among the jinn. It says in Soorat
al-Jinn (interpretation of the meaning):

 “Say
(O Muhammad): ‘It has been revealed to me that a group (from three to
ten in number) of jinn listened (to this Qur’aan). They said: ‘Verily,
we have heard a wonderful Recitation (this Qur’aan)! It guides to the
Right Path, and we have believed therein, and we shall never join (in
worship) anything with our Lord (Allaah).’” [al-Jinn 72;1-2]

 In
the same soorah, it states that the jinn said:

 “‘And
indeed when we heard the Guidance (this Qur’aan), we believed therein
(Islamic Monotheism), and whosoever believes in his Lord shall have no
fear, either of a decrease in the reward of his good deeds or an increase
in the punishment for his sins.  And
of us some are Muslims (who have submitted to Allaah, after listening to
this Qur’aan), and of us some are Al‑Qaasitoon (disbelievers

those who have deviated from the Right
Path)’…” [al-Jinn 72:13-14]

Ibn Katheer
(may Allaah have mercy on him) said in his Tafseer:

 Al-Hasan
al-Basri said: Iblees was not one of the angels, not even for a single
moment. He is the father of the jinn, just as Adam (peace be upon him) is
the father of mankind. This was narrated by al-Tabari with a saheeh
isnaad (part 3/89).

Some of the
scholars said that Iblees was one of the angels, that he was the peacock
of the angels, that he was the one among the angels who strove the hardest
in worship… and other reports, most of which come from the Israa’eeliyyaat
(stories and reports from Jewish sources), and some of which contradict
the clear texts of the Qur’aan.

Ibn Katheer
said, explaining this:

A lot of
these reports were transmitted from the Salaf,
and most of them come from the Israa’eeliyyaat,
which may be been transmitted in order to be examined [i.e., as opposed to
being accepted as is]. Allaah knows best about the veracity or otherwise
of many of them. Some of them are definitely to be rejected, because they
go against the truth which we hold in our hands. In the Qur’aan we have
sufficient so that we have no need of previous reports, because hardly any
of them are free of distortions, with things added or taken away. Many
things have been fabricated in them, for they did not have people who had
memorized things precisely by heart (huffaaz) who could eliminate the
distortions created by extremists and fabricators, unlike this ummah which
has its imaams, scholars, masters, pious and righteous people, brilliant
critics and men of excellent memory who recorded the hadeeths and
classified them, stating whether they were saheeh (sound), hasan (good),
da’eef (weak), mawdoo’ (fabricated), matrook (to be ignored). They
identified the fabricators and liars, and those about whom nothing was
known, and other kinds of men (i.e., narrators). All of this afforded
protection to the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him), the Seal of the Messengers and the Leader of Mankind, so that
nothing would be attributed to him falsely and nothing would be
transmitted from him that he did not say or do. May Allaah be pleased with
them and make them pleased [by rewarding them], and make the Paradise of
al-Firdaws their eternal abode. (Tafseer
al-Qur’aan il-‘Azeem, 3/90).

And Allaah
knows best.

Does the one who goes to a fortune teller and asks him about something become a kaafir?

 

How can we reconcile between the two following hadeeths? 


1 – “Whoever goes to a fortune teller and asks him about something and believes him, his prayers will not be accepted for forty days.” Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh. 


2 – “Whoever goes to a soothsayer and believes what he says has disbelieved in that which was revealed to Muhammad.” Narrated by Abu Dawood. The first hadeeth does not point to kufr whereas the second hadeeth does.

Praise be to Allaah.

There is no contradiction between the two hadeeth. What is
meant by the hadeeth “ Whoever goes to a soothsayer and believes what he
says has disbelieved in that which was revealed to Muhammad” is that the one
who asks a soothsayer a question, believing that he tells the truth and that
he knows the unseen, has committed an act of kufr, because he has gone
against the Qur’aan in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say: “None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghaib (Unseen) except
Allaah” [al-Naml 27:65]. As for the second hadeeth, “Whoever goes to a
fortune teller and asks him about something and believes him, his prayers
will not be accepted for forty days”, which was narrated by Muslim, it does
not contain the words “and believes him”. 

Thus we learn that if a person goes to a fortune teller and
asks him anything, his prayer will not be accepted for forty days, and if he
believes him, then he has committed an act of kufr. 

And Allaah is the source of strength. May Allaah send
blessings and peace on our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.
End quote. 

Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azez ibn baaz, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Razzaaq ‘Afeefi, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Ghadyaan 

Should they obey the woman who treats people with ruqyah?

 

My mother used to take a woman who recites Quraan to my grandmother’s home so that she recites on our grandmother. As my grandmother is old, disabled, and reached the stage of senility although she is not very old. This woman recites Quraan on my grandmother and sometimes on my mother. One time while she was reciting she held my mother’s head so my mother started screaming. I did not see this but my mother told me. Now my mother goes regularly to this woman and she takes my sister and me with her. When she recites on my mother, my mother raises her hands like if she wants to hit someone, her nails come out and she starts saying threatening statements and slanders the Quraan.


This woman told us that she is possessed by a devil, and that our mother is under spell. She also told us that the devil wants her to become disabled like my grandmother and lose her mind as well. She advised us to read surat al-baqarah everyday and to recite Quraan always at home. She also gave us olive oil, jujube, honey, black seeds and pressed dates, and advised us to use them always. She also advised us to spread water with salt and rose water at home alternatively on daily basis.


The question:


Is it permissible for us to use those things she gave us? Is what we do considered shirk?.

Praise be to Allaah.

We ask Allaah to grant your mother quick and full healing by
His Leave and to decree for her and you reward, patience and steadfastness. 

We do not see anything in your question that would make us
say that you should not go to that woman who treats people with ruqyah. It
says in the question that she does ruqyah by reciting Qur’aan, and she uses
blessed oil (i.e., olive oil) and ‘ajwah dates which protect against poison
and spells by Allaah’s Leave, and the fragrance of rose water which gives
one strength to resist witchcraft and hasad (destructive envy); some of them
also use ‘ood (aloeswood) and bukhoor (incense) to achieve the same purpose.
All of these are things that are acceptable in sharee’ah in sha Allaah. 

But what we see here is the use of salt which is sprinkled in
the house, and we are afraid that this idea may have been picked up by some
of those who do ruqyah from the myth or belief of the common folk that salt
wards off the evil eye and so on. 

We asked some of those who do ruqyah about that and he said
that salt has no such effect, even though some people use it. 

What we advise you to do is to be fully aware of what words
and recitations she uses in her ruqyah, and if she uses anything other than
the Islamically acceptable words such as dhikrs, du’aa’s and verses, such as
things that cannot be understood, or you have any doubts about her, then
hasten to ask her about what it means, and ask knowledgeable people about
her. Many of those who treat people with ruqyah pretend to be reciting
Qur’aan to fool the listeners, when in fact they are using sihr (witchcraft)
and trickery and using hidden words which they say or write in order to harm
the sick person so that he will carry on coming to him and giving him
money. 

See also on our site a number of questions on this topic:
11290,
12918,
13792,
21124 and
91901 

And Allaah knows best.

How can we protect ourselves from the harm of the jinn?

 

I am having a problem with Jinn. I hve been able to perceive Jinn in diferent ways all my life. I never seemed to be bothered by this until recently. I saw a Jinn in our apartment in the first days we moved in. Off and on I would pick up on a little activity from this jinn or even jinns like doors opening by themselves· seeing it· hearing them ect... However· things seem to be changing a lot. Now something is happening everyday and things which are making me uncomfortable in my home to the point where I do not want to live here anymore. The Jinn(s) open doors· shout my name startling me out of sleep· knock over objects· appear as a cat· are messing with my computer and phones· I see it's shadows and even more. It is very freaky. I am really not sure what to do about this proble. I am hoping moving out of this house will help the situation...? But in the mean time I have tried to recite Al-Baqarah· Al-Iklas· Al-Falaq· An Nas and even play a recording of the recitation in my house. The activity stops when I do so but as soon as I stop the recording the Jinn makes it presence known in some way or other (most of the time). Sometimes· my recording will be shut off and my cmputer reset in the middle of the recitation...which apparently has happened too many times. Jinn even appear to me in dreams very often. I do not know how to end this situation but I wouls seriously appreciste answers or suggestions soon.

–      
unless  he is a Prophet.”

(Ahkaam al-Qur’aan,
2/195, 196)

 Ibn Hazm
said:

 “The jinn
are real, and they are creatures created by Allaah. Among them are kaafirs
and believers. They can see us but we cannot see them. They eat, have
children and die. Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings): 

‘O you assembly of jinn and Mankind!’
[al-An’aam 6:130]

 ‘And the jinn, We created aforetime
from the smokeless flame of fire’ [al-Hijr 15:27]

 ‘”And of us some are Muslims (who
have submitted to Allaah, after listening to this Qur’aan), and of us
some are Al‑Qaasitoon (disbelievers those who have deviated from
the Right Path)’. And whosoever has embraced Islam (i.e. has become
a Muslim by submitting to Allaah), then such have sought the Right Path.

And as for the Qaasitoon (disbelievers who deviated
from the Right Path), they shall be firewood for Hell”’[al-Jinn 72:14-15] 

‘Verily, he and Qabeeluhu (his soldiers
from the jinn or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them’[al-A’raaf
7:27]

  ‘Will you then take him (Iblees)
and his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me’[al-Kahf
18:50] 

‘Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will
perish’[al-Rahmaan 55:26] 

‘Everyone shall taste death’[Aal ‘Imraan
3:185].”

  (al-Muhallaa,
1/34/35)

 Hence what
the questioner has seen may be just her imagination or an illusion,
or it may be jinn appearing in a form other than that with which Allaah
has created them. 

Secondly:

With regard to the jinn
harming humans, this is proven to happen and it does happen. Protection
against that is attained by reciting Qur’aan and adhkaar (dhikr) prescribed
in sharee’ah. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen
(may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

“Undoubtedly
the jinn can have a harmful effect on humans, and they could even kill
them. They may harm a person by throwing stones at him, or by trying
to terrify him, and other things that are proven in the Sunnah or indicated
by real events. It was reported that the Messenger
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) gave permission to one of
his Companions to go to his wife during one of the military campaigns
– I think it was the campaign of al-Khandaq – as he was a young man
who had recently got married. When he reached his house, he found his
wife standing at the door, and he objected to that. She said to him,
‘Go inside,’ so he went inside and found a snake curled up on the bed.
He had a spear with him, so he stabbed it with the spear until it died,
and at the same instant as the snake died the man also died. It was
not known which of them died first, the snake or the man. When the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) heard of that, he forbade killing the harmless kinds of
snakes that are found in houses, apart from those which are maimed or
are streaked and malignant. 

This indicates
that the jinn may attack humans, and that they may harm them, as is
known from real-life events. There are numerous reports which indicate
that a man may come to a deserted area, and a stone may be thrown at
him, but he does not see anybody, or he may hear voices or a rustling
sound like the rustling of trees, and other things that may make him
feel distressed and scared. A jinn may also enter the body of a human,
either because of love or with the intention of harming him, or for
some other reason. This is indicated in the aayah (interpretation
of the meaning): 

‘Those who eat Ribaa will not stand (on
the Day of Resurrection) except like the standing of a person beaten
by Shaytaan (Satan) leading him to insanity’[al-Baqarah 2:275]

 
In such cases, the jinn may speak
from inside of that person and address the one who is reading verses
from the Qur’aan over him; the reciter may take a promise from the jinn
never to come back, and other things concerning which there are very
many reports which are widespread among the people. 

So
the protection which will prevent the evil of the jinn is for a person
to recite that which is narrated in the Sunnah as being effective in
providing protection, such as Aayat al-Kurisy,
for if a person recites Aayat al-Kursiy
at night, he will continue to have protection from Allaah, and no shaytaan
will come near him until morning. And Allaah is the Protector.’”

(Majmoo’
Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 1/287-288) 

The
Sunnah mentions adhkhaar (dhikr)
by means of which one may gain protection from the shayaateen
(devils). These include: 

Seeking
refuge with Allaah from the jinn: 

Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And if an evil whisper from Shaytaan
(Satan) tries to turn you away (O Muhammad) (from doing good), then
seek refuge in Allaah. Verily, He is the All Hearer, the All Knower”[Fussilat
41:36]

 “And if an evil whisper comes to
you from Shaytaan (Satan), then seek refuge with Allaah. Verily, He
is All-Hearer, All-Knower”

[al-A’raaf 7:200] 

It
was narrated from Sulaymaan ibn Sard that two men were trading insults
in the presence of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon them), until the face of one
of them turned red. The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “I know a word which,
if he were to say it, what he is suffering from would go away: ‘A’oodhu
Billaahi min al-Shaytaan il-rajeem (I
seek refuge with Allaah from the accursed Shaytaan).’”

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari,
3108; Muslim, 2610) 

2
– Reciting al-Mi’wadhatayn (the
last two Soorahs of the Qur’aan, al-Falaq
and al-Naas). 

It
was narrated that Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him)
said: “The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to seek refuge with
Allaah from the jinn and from the evil eye until the Mi’wadhatayn were
revealed, and when they were revealed he started to recite them and
not anything else.”

(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi,
2058; he said it is hasan ghareeb. Also narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 5494;
Ibn Maajah, 3511. The hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani (may
Allaah have mercy on him) in Saheeh al-Jaami’,
4905). 

3
– Reciting Aayat al-Kursiy

 It
was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: “The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) put me in charge of guarding
the zakaah of Ramadaan. Someone came to me and started grabbing handfuls
of the food. I took hold of him and said, ‘I will take you to the Messenger
of Allaah (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him).’ He said, ‘I will teach you some words by means
of which Allaah will benefit you.’ I said, ‘What are they?’ He said,
‘When you go to your bed, recite this aayah
(interpretation of the meaning): “Allaah! Laa ilaaha illa Huwa
(none has the right to be worshipped but He), Al-Hayyul-Qayyoom (the
Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists)…” [al-Baqarah
2:255] – until he completed the aayah.
Then Allaah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you and
no shaytaan (devil) will come near you until morning.’ The Messenger
of Allaah (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) asked me, ‘What did your prisoner do last night?’
I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, he taught me something, and claimed
that Allaah would benefit me by it.’ He said, ‘What was it?’ I said,
‘He taught me to recite Aayat al-Kursiy
when I go to bed, and said that no shaytaan would come near me until
morning, and that Allaah would appoint a guard for me who would stay
with me.’ The Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, ‘He told you the truth, although
he is an inveterate liar. That was the Shaytaan.’”

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari,
3101)

 
4 – Reciting Soorat al-Baqarah

 It
was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do not make your
houses like graves, for the Shaytaan runs away from a house in which
Soorat al-Baqarah is recited.”(Narrated by Muslim,
780)

 5
– The last verses of Soorat al-Baqarah

 It
was narrated that Abu Mas’ood al-Ansaari said: “The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: ‘Whoever recites the last two verses of Soorat
al-Baqarah at night, that will suffice
him.’” (Narrated
by al-Bukhaari, 4723; Muslim, 807)

 It
was narrated from al-Nu’maan ibn Basheer (may Allaah be pleased with
him) that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah inscribed a book two
thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, from which
the last two aayahs of Soorat
al-Baqarah were revealed. If they are
recited for three nights, no shaytaan (devil)will remain in the house).

(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi,
2882. This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh
al-Jaami’, 1799).

 6
– Reciting “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk
wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer
(There is no god except Allaah Alone with no partner or associate; His
is the Sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is Able to do all things)”
one hundred times. 

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger
of Allaah (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him)  said: “Whoever says “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah
wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli
shay’in qadeer” one hundred times in
the day, will have a reward equivalent to that of freeing ten slaves,
one hundred hasanahs (good deeds) will be recorded for him, and one
hundred sayi’ahs (bad deeds) will be erased from his record, and it
will be protection for him from the Shaytaan for that day, until evening
comes. No one could achieve any better than him except the one who does
more than he did.”

(narrated by al-Bukhaari,
31119; Muslim, 2691) 

7
– Remembering Allaah often (dhikr) 

It
was narrated from al-Haarith al-Ash’ari that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah commanded
Yahyaa ibn Zakariyah (peace be upon him) five things to follow and to
enjoin upon the Children of Israel… and he commanded them to remember
Allaah, and the likeness of that is a man who was being pursued by the
enemy, until he reached a strong fortress in which he found protection;
similarly a man cannot find protection from the Shaytaan except by remembering
Allaah…”

(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi,
2863; he said it is hasan saheeh. The hadeeth was classed as saheeh
by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’,
1724) 

8
– The adhaan 

It
was narrated that Suhayl ibn Abi Saalih said: “My father sent me to
Bani Haarithah, and there was with me a slave of ours, or a companion
of ours. Someone called out his name from a garden, and the one who
was with me looked into the garden and did not see anything. I mentioned
that to my father, and he said, ‘If I had known that this was going
to happen to you, I would not have sent you. But if you hear a voice
then make the call for prayer, for I heard Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah
be pleased with him) narrating that the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When the Shaytaan
hears the call to prayer, he runs away fast.”’”(Narrated by Muslim,
389). 

The
word translated here as “runs away fast” may also mean “farting.” 

9
– Reciting Qur’aan offers protection against the Shaytaan 

Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And
when you (Muhammad) recite the Qur’aan, We put between you and those
who believe not in the Hereafter, an invisible veil (or screen their
hearts, so they hear or understand it not)[al-Israa’ 17:45] 

And Allaah knows best.