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Spirit possession and exorcism in Islam

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(Redirected from Ruqyah) Belief in Islam of possession by spirits and of their exorcism

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The 72nd chapter of the Qur'an entitled Al-Jinn (The Jinn), as well as the heading and introductory bismillah of the next chapter entitled al-Muzzammil (The Enshrouded One).

In Islam, the belief that spiritual entities—particularly, jinn—can possess a person, (or a thing or location), is widespread; as is the belief that the jinn and devils can be expelled from the possessed person (or thing/location) through exorcism. This practice is called al-'azm, ṭard al-shayṭān/al-jinn (expulsion of devils/spirits), or ruqya (Arabic: رقية, romanized: ruqya, spell, charm, magic, incantation), and exorcists are called raqi.

Belief in the supernatural—witchcraft, sorcery, magic, ghosts, and demons—in the Muslim world is not marginalized as eccentric or a product of ignorance, but is prevalent among all social classes. Belief in the supernatural creatures such as Jinn are both an integral part of Islamic belief, and a common explanations in society "for evil, illness, health, wealth, and position in society as well as all mundane and inexplicable phenomena in between".

Jinn are thought to be able to enter and physically possess people for various reasons, while devils (shayāṭīn) assault the heart (qalb) and attempt to turn their victims to evil.

Possession in Islam

Most Muslim scholars believe in the possibility that jinn can physically possess people. Only a minority denies demonic possession and argues that jinn can merely whisper to a person. The everyday-life concern may vary. Some consider possession to be purely theoretical with no practical application, others consider inteference of jinn only under rare circumstances, for example, when summoned by a sorcerer, yet others take it seriously and attribute everyday events to demonic activities.

Mental disorders, such as epilepsy, forgetfulness, schizophrenia, lack of energy, and morbid fears, are often attributed to demonic-possessions and witchcraft. Yet, not all mental-illnesses are attributed to demons, rather demons are believed to cause such symptoms. Belief in Jinn-possession is not only prevalent in Middle-Eastern countries, such as Saudi Arabia, but also among Muslims in Great Britain. Belief in demonic possession also prevails among educated people.

Possessing spirits

According to the Islamic view on possession, a corrupted soul (nafs) increases suspectibility (dha'iyfah) to possession by evils spirits. Among them are jinn and devils. The jinn differ from devils, by that the former can be believers (Muslim). However, since both are said to be created from some sort of fire, they are affined in some local Islamic beliefs.

The jinn can be good or evil and inflict harm autonomously or when enslaved through magic. Since jinn share their bodily nature with humans, jinn may also possess people because they fell in love with them, often resulting in alleged intercourse between these two. Jinn may also possess someone to take revenge if angered. In such cases, the jinn are also thought to harm a person physically.

The devils' sole purpose is to lure both humans and jinn into sinful activities, both minor ones and major ones. Paradoxically, suspectibility to the devils also increase with piety, since the devils are more engaged to corrupt a pure soul than a tainted one.

Ruqyā (exorcism)

Ruqyā (Arabic: رقية IPA: [ruqja], lit. 'invocation') refers to the practise of exorcising spirits, jinn, and demons in Islamic tradition and is part of the wider body of the "prophetic medicine".

Exorcisms are performed by qualified a Raqi or a saint (darvish) who has been blessed by God (barakah). To qualify as a Raqi, one needs, among other criteria, to believe in God, practise the Five Pillars of Islam, follow the Sunnah as examplified by Muhammad and the saints, believe that the Quran has the power to influence spirits, and knows about the spiritual world.

For preparations, distractions, such as pictures, music, and golden jewelry, are removed to enable angels to enter. During the exorcism the exorcist seeks refuge in God and recites Quranic verses. The process further constitutes questioning the patient about their emotional state and dreams. Next, the excorsist negotiates with the possessing creature and attempts to convince them to convert to Islam.

Some traditions request aid good jinn (muwakkal) to negotiate with the possessing spirit. Given the ambigious nature of jinn, some people may volunteer for possession. In context of Swahili culture, jinn possession may be used for healing purposes. Such possessions are to be distinguished from cultural concepts of possession by demons.

See also

References

Citations

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  4. Wehr, Hans. Dictionary of Arabic (PDF). p. 302. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
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  12. Khalifa, Najat, and Tim Hardie. "Possession and jinn." Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 98.8 (2005): 352.
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  14. Naz, N. F., & Aslam, N. (2024). Belief in Jinn Possession Scale: Development and validation. Archive for the Psychology of Religion, 46(1), 88-105. https://doi.org/10.1177/00846724231225675
  15. GINGRICH, ANDRE. “SPIRITS OF THE BORDER: SOME REMARKS ON THE CONNOTATION OF JINN IN NORTH-WESTERN YEMEN.” Quaderni Di Studi Arabi 13 (1995): 199–212. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25802775. p. 203
  16. Barbera, Gerardo. "People of the Wind." Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 31.3 (2021): 421-432.
  17. ^ Khan, S. (18 Nov. 2024). Spirit of the Mind. Leiden, Niederlande: Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004719033 p. 35
  18. ^ Alean Al-Krenawi; John Graham (1999). "Social work and Koranic mental health healers". International Social Work. 42 (1): 57. doi:10.1177/002087289904200106. S2CID 71504194.
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  20. Joseph P. Laycock Spirit Possession around the World: Possession, Communion, and Demon Expulsion across Cultures ABC-CLIO 2015 ISBN 978-1-610-69590-9 page 166
  21. Egdunas Racius ISLAMIC EXEGESIS ON THE JINN: THEIR ORIGIN, KINDS AND SUBSTANCE AND THEIR RELATION TO OTHER BEINGS pp. 132–135
  22. ^ Bulkeley, Adams & Davis (2009).
  23. GINGRICH, ANDRE. “SPIRITS OF THE BORDER: SOME REMARKS ON THE CONNOTATION OF JINN IN NORTH-WESTERN YEMEN.” Quaderni Di Studi Arabi 13 (1995): 199–212. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25802775. p. 202
  24. Větrovec, Lukáš. "Curse, Possession and Other Worlds: Magic and Witchcraft among the Bosniaks." p. 79
  25. Meldon (1908), pp. 123–146.
  26. Sells (1996), p. 143.
  27. Szombathy, Zoltan, "Exorcism", in: Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE, Edited by: Kate Fleet, Gudrun Krämer, Denis Matringe, John Nawas, Everett Rowson. Consulted online on 15 November 2019<http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1573-3912_ei3_COM_26268> First published online: 2014 First print edition: 9789004269637, 2014, 2014-4
  28. Gerda Sengers Women and Demons: Cultic Healing in Islamic Egypt BRILL, 2003 ISBN 9789004127715 p. 50
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Bibliography

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