Jann (legendary creature)

Jann (Arabic: جَنّ / جُنّ‎, jann) is a type of Jinn in Arabian- and Islam-related lore which has several meanings:

  • Designation for the Jinn-genus, to distinguish them from the term "Jinn" as a collective noun for all supernatural creatures.[1]
  • The father of all Jinn created from the fires of samum, sometimes identified with Iblis or Azazel.[2][3]
  • A primitive type of Jinn, which dwelled on earth before the actual Jinn emerged or a transformed type of Jinn, comparable how Apes are related to humans. These Jann are regarded as the most harmless class of supernatural creatures.[2]

Etymology

Jann from the Semitic root JNN is an Arabic term, whose primary meaning is "to hide" and can also refer to an agile snake.[4] In the Quran this term appears in Surah 15:27 and Surah 27:10 to designate a supernatural creature or a serpent.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Amira El-Zein Islam, Arabs, and Intelligent World of the Jinn Syracuse University Press 2009 ISBN 9780815650706 page 40
  2. 1 2 Patrick Hughes, Thomas Patrick Hughes Dictionary of Islam Asian Educational Services 1995 ISBN 978-8-120-60672-2 page 134
  3. ↑ The Society Studia Orientalia, Band 85 1999 University of Michigan digitized 2008 page 130
  4. ↑ Muhammad Saed Abdul-Rahman The Meaning and Explanation of the Glorious Qur'an (Vol 7) MSA Publication Limited 2009 ISBN 978-1-861-79661-5 page 111
  5. ↑ Al-Saïd Muhammad Badawi, M. A. Abdel Haleem Arabic - English Dictionary of Qurʾanic Usage BRILL 2008 ISBN 978-9-004-14948-9 page 176
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