In 2009, a Muslim family in Saudi Arabia stood before a civil court and said they had suffered harassment and theft for years. They accused the alleged offender of leaving threatening voicemails, stealing their cell phones, and throwing rocks at them when they left their home after dark.

The suspect was a jinni, a supernatural creature whose name means hidden or concealed in Arabic.

In Western pop culture, jinn have inspired tales of magical characters. But for many Muslims around the world, these beings are as real as humans. And they’re much less interested in helping mankind than the mythical blue-skinned creature in Disney’s Aladdin.

Many Muslims believe that jinn are notorious pranksters and mischievous meddlers who take sinister delight in punishing and deceiving people. They blame jinn for leading people astray, corrupting them, and causing misfortunes, accidents, and health problems.

In communities around the world, Muslims take preventative measures to protect themselves from the schemes of jinn. They’ll wear special amulets and chant special prayers. Many also invoke God’s name when entering a bathroom, since some jinn are believed to lurk in filthy places. Others avoid whistling at night and refuse to sleep uncovered, lest they make themselves vulnerable to a jinni’s attack.

A survey by the Pew Research Center found that in most of the countries surveyed, more than half of Muslims believe in jinn. The study also found that men and women who believe in jinn tend to be more observant of Islamic practices, such as performing their daily required prayers.

While views about jinn vary greatly across cultures, fear of evil is widespread and touches every Muslim family. Many followers of Islam live in profound anxiety over the evil that comes from the spirit world.

We all were once dead in our sins and following the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:1–2). But in His great love and grace, God has made us alive with Christ who has overcome the world (Ephesians 2:4–5, John 16:33).

Pray for Muslims, who live in fear, to discover the truth that Christ has overcome evil and darkness.

• Pray for Muslim men, women, and children to embrace the Savior and to call upon His name for protection.
• Pray for wisdom and discernment for workers as God uses them to help Muslims find freedom from spiritual oppression.
• Pray that Muslim-background believers will walk as children of light and discern what is pleasing to the Lord (Ephesians 5:8–10).

Main photo by Mostafa Meraji

Original article: https://frontiersusa.org/blog/jinn-and-genies