The Permanent Committee’s statement about jinn possessing humans
Praises be to Allah, Lord of `Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists) and peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions.
To answer the inquiry of Hammad ibn `Abdullah Al-Hammad, a tax notary public, about what was written by: Muhammad ibn `Abdullah Al-Fawzan in Al-Jazirah Newspaper, issue no. 10168 dating 29/4/1421A.H. denying the fact that humans can be possessed by the Jinn, the Permanent Committee of Scholarly Research and Ifta’ states:
There is evidence from the Book of Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, and the Sunnah of His Prophet (peace be upon him), as well as the consensus of Ummah (nation) on the possibility and occurrence of this condition, i.e. A Jinn possessing the body of a human. Allah, the Exalted, states, Those who eat Ribâ (usury) will not stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except like the standing of a person beaten by Shaitân (Satan) leading him to insanity. Ibn Jarir, may Allah have mercy on him, said: He (Allah) means that Satan leads him to insanity during his lifetime as Satan causes him depression and seizure, (Al-Mas) means insanity.
Al-Baghawy, may Allah have mercy on him, commented on this Ayah (verse), will not stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except like the standing of a person beaten by Shaitân (Satan) leading him to insanity. with a similar statement.
Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “The people referred to in the Ayah will be resurrected from their graves on the Day of Resurrection in a very similar condition to someone who is possessed by Satan, in terms of the very odd state they will be in.” Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, said, “The usurer is resurrected on the Day of Resurrection as a choking insane person”, narrated by Ibn Abu Hatim. He said it was narrated from `Awf ibn Malik, Sa`id ibn Jubayr, Al-Suddy, Al-Rabi` ibn Anas, Qatadah and Muqatil ibn Hayyan with close wording.
Al-Qurtuby, may Allah have mercy on him, said: This Ayah (Qur’anic verse) is a proof against those who denied the possession of Jinn in human beings thinking that it is a natural disposition and that Satan can never enter a human or be a part of him.
Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, wrote in Majmu` Al-Fatawa (The Compendium of Fatwas) vol. 24, pp. 276-277,
“The existence of Jinn is affirmed in the Book of Allah, Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and according to the consensus of the Salaf (Righteous Predecessors) of this Ummah and its leading scholars. Moreover, the entrance of a jinn into a human body is also confirmed by the consensus of Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah (those adhering to the Sunnah and the Muslim main body). Allah, the Exalted states, Those who eat Ribâ (usury) will not stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except like the standing of a person beaten by Shaitân (Satan) leading him to insanity. In the Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith compiled by Al-Bukhari and/ or Muslim) it is reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, Satan circulates in the human body as blood does.
`Abdullah son ofImam Ahmad ibn Hanbal said, “I told my father that some people claim that Jinn can never enter the body of a person. So he said, ‘O son! They tell lies. Satan can even speak on the tongue of those whom he possesses.'” Shaykh-ul-Islam said, “What he [`Abdullah] said is self-evident. The Jinn may possess someone and cause him to speak a language that he does not even know. A possessed person may be violently beaten, beatings that even a camel may not endure, yet he neither feels the beating nor is aware of the words he says.” Then he said, “None of the leading Muslim scholars ever denied the ability of Jinn entering the body of a human being. Whoever denies this fact and assumes that the Shari`ah (Islamic law) denies it too, is fabricating lies against Shari`ah as there is no Shari`ah-based evidence that denies this fact.” (End of quote).
Through the Shari`ah-based evidence that we have mentioned and the consensus of the scholars of Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah (those adhering to the Sunnah and the Muslim main body) concerning the possibility of Jinn entering a human body, it becomes clear for the readers that those who denied this fact are totally wrong. Consequently, the writer Muhammad ibn `Abdullah Al-Fawzan should return to the right and not speak about matters he does not know very well. Allah, the Exalted, states, And follow not (O man i.e., say not, or do not or witness not) that of which you have no knowledge. Attributing things to Allah with no basis of reliable knowledge is more grievous than Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) as far as prohibition is concerned. Allah, the Exalted, states, Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): “(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are Al-Fawâhish (great evil sins and every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners (in worship) with Allâh for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allâh of which you have no knowledge.”
May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!
Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’
Member Member Member Chairman
Bakr Abu Zayd Salih Al-Fawzan `Abdullah ibn Ghudayyan `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah Al Al-Shaykh
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