RENAISSANCE AUGUST 2020

Faith & Beliefs 30 Monthly Renaissance August 2020 In case of tribulations, the Idolaters called out to the jinn and sought their protection. “True, there were persons among mankind who took shelter with persons among the jinn, but they increased them in folly.” (72:6) Because of the belief in their divinity, it began to be thought that they had access to a group of angels from whom they could bring information related to the supernatural for soothsayers. Hence the business of sorcery thrived on the basis of these beliefs. The Qur’ ā n refutes this: We have indeed decked the lower heaven with beauty [in] the stars, - [For beauty] and for guard against all obstinate rebellious evil spirits. [So] they should not strain their ears in the direction of the Exalted Assembly but be cast away from every side, Repulsed, for they are under a perpetual penalty, Except such as snatch away something by stealth, and they are pursued by a flaming fire, of piercing brightness. (37:6-10) Sorcerers interacted with the jinn in their keenness to predict the future and thus involved a large population in the evils of black magic, thus giving rise to worship of the jinn. The Qur’ ā n refers to this: O’ you assembly of The jinn! Much (toll) did you take of men. (6:128) The sorcerers fulfilled all requirements of worship and servitude to the jinn, focus on meditation to them in order to learn of future happenings and when ignorant people came to them to listen to predictions, they would con them through true and false tales. The Qur’ ā n refers to their craftiness” [Into whose ears] they pour hearsay vanities, and most of them are liars. (26:223) The Qur’ ā n is in the form of poetry with rhyming words at the beginning and end, as was the discourse of the sorcerers and both included predictions. Due to this apparent similarity, the Quraysh, at the beginning of prophethood, taunted the Prophet (sws) that he was a sorcerer and that his revelations were not