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Types of DjinnAdapted from The Vengeful Djinn by Rosemary Ellen Guiley and Philip J. Imbrogno, Llewellyn,

2011

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There are different types of Djinn. The Quran mentions only three: Djinn, ifrit, and marid.

Other names include jann, ghul, shaitans, hinn, nasnas, shiqq, silat, and a host of others. The

names above vary depending on the region in the Middle Eastern country. Some of the best-

known Djinn are:

Ghul

The ghul (ghoul) are shape-shifting cannibalistic and blood-drinking

creatures that feed on the flesh of human beings, especially travelers,

children or corpses stolen out of graves. The oldest references to

ghul in Arabian lore are found in The Book of 1001 Nights. There

are several types of ghul. The most feared is a female type (ghula)

which has the ability to appear as a normal, mortal woman. Such a

creature marries an unsuspecting man, who becomes her prey.

The ghul are nocturnal creatures who inhabit graveyards, ruins and

other lonely places. Sometimes they are described as dead humans

who sleep for long periods in secret graves, then awake, rise and

feast on both the living and the dead. Ghul also personify the

unknown terrors held by the desert. Djinn in Clash of the Titans, 1981.

In Persian lore the ghul has the legs of a donkey and the horns of a goat.

Hinn

The hinn are weak Djinn, close to animals, and they especially like to appear as dogs.

Ifrit

The ifrit (variation: afrit) is cited only once in the Quran, in reference to a Djinni who fetched

the throne of the Queen of Sheba at the command of Solomon. In lore it is evil and powerful,

and difficult to control.

Jann

Jann are shape-shifters who lives in the desert, and take the forms of whirlwinds and whitecamels. They are open-minded about humans, and were among the first Djinn encountered by

people. They have the power to hide or reveal oases in the desert, depending on whether they

like or dislike a party of travelers. They are the enemies of the Ghul.

Marid

The marid is unruly and rebellious, and the most powerful of Djinn. The marida (plural) possess

great knowledge of magic and have assisted kings and priests. They a re also known as blue

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Djinn and are the ones most often associated with wish-granting genies.

Nasnas

The nasnas is another weak form of Djinn, hybrids of human-like and animal-like forms, and

may account for some of our encounters with mysterious creatures. It is described in The Book of

1001 Nights as a half- human being, that is, it has half a head, half a body, one arm, one leg. Ithops about on its single leg. The nasnas was said to be the offspring of a Shiqq and a human

being.

Palis

The palis is a vampiric foot-licker that lives in the desert. It has low intelligence and can be

easily outwitted, according to lore. It attacks sleeping people and drains their blood by licking

the soles of their feet. It can be fooled by two people sleeping end to end with their soles of their

feet together or under each others head.

Shaitan

The Shaitan (Shaytan) is a rebellious, malevolent Djinni associated with demonic forces.

Shiqq

The Shiqq is lower Djinn, a half creature, literally only half-formed and thus monstrous in

appearance.

Silat

The Silat are expert shape-shifters and the smartest of the Djinn. They can mimic human

appearance with ease.

Colors

Djinn are also denoted by colors:

Green Young and immature Djinn who often act mischievous, and who sometimes develop

amorous or infatuated attachments for humans

Blue (as mentioned above) older, very intelligent Djinn, often ambivalent about humans

Red Hostile and aggressive Djinn

Black Very powerful Djinn

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