Seeing Jinn, Satan and Iblis

19-3-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

In the world we cannot see jinn, Satan and Iblis. Can we see them in the Hereafter? In the world can jinn or Iblis see angels or can Jinn see Iblis or Satans?

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

It is agreeable to make our brother inquirer know some important issues of the Islamic creed concerning angels and jinn.
It is part and parcel of a Muslim's creed to believe in the existence of jinn and that they are responsible for their deeds, good or bad, in front of Allah on The Day of Judgement. Also, the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) is sent both for mankind and jinn. There are Muslim jinn and non-Muslim jinn, good jinn and bad. The first, Allah willing, will enter Paradise and the second group (non-Muslim) will enter the Hell-Fire.
Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {And We have sent you (O Muhammad SAW) not but as a mercy for the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists).}[21:107] He Says: {And I (Allâh) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).}[51:56].
He also Says: {O you assembly of jinns and mankind! "Did not there come to you Messengers from amongst you, reciting unto you My Verses and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say: "We bear witness against ourselves."}[6:130].
Allah, The Great and Almighty, has told us their story of listening to the Noble Qur'an and their return to their people as warners.
Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {And (remember) when We sent towards you (Muhammad SAW) Nafran (three to ten persons) of the jinns, (quietly) listening to the Qur'ân, when they stood in the presence thereof, they said: "Listen in silence!" And when it was finished, they returned to their people, as warners. They said: "O our people! Verily! We have heard a Book (this Qur'ân) sent down after Mûsa (Moses), confirming what came before it, it guides to the truth and to a Straight Path (i.e. Islâm). O our people! Respond (with obedience) to Allâh's Caller (i.e. Allâh's Messenger Muhammad SAW), and believe in him (i.e. believe in that which Muhammadhas brought from Allâh and follow him). He (Allâh) will forgive you of your sins, and will save you from a painful torment (i.e. Hell-fire)}[46:29-31].
He also Says: {Say (O Muhammad SAW): "It has been revealed to me that a group (from three to ten in number) of jinns listened (to this Qur'ân). They said: 'Verily! We have heard a wonderful Recital (this Qur'ân)! 'It guides to the Right Path, and we have believed therein, and we shall never join (in worship) anything with our Lord (Allâh).}[72:1-2].
Allah, while clarifying that some jinn are Muslims and others non-Muslims, good and bad, Says: {'There are among us some that are righteous, and some the contrary; we are groups each having a different way (religious sect, etc.).}[72:11].
He also Says: {'And of us some are Muslims (who have submitted to Allâh, after listening to this Qur'ân), and of us some are Al-Qâsitûn (disbelievers those who have deviated from the Right Path)'. And whosoever has embraced Islâm (i.e. has become a Muslim by submitting to Allâh), then such have sought the Right Path." And as for the Qâsitûn (disbelievers who deviated from the Right Path), they shall be firewood for Hell,}[72:14-15].
As for if they can see human beings or not, Allah has informed us that they see us, but we do not see them. Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {…Verily, he and Qabîluhu (his soldiers from the jinns or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them. …}[7:27].
This means that the jinn can see human being in some state which we can not see them. The above-verse does not indicate that no human being can see them by all means. However, maybe some human beings can see them, but not in all states of their existence, i.e. a jinni can appear to us in many forms and different shapes. Here are some examples:
1) The jinni may appear in the form of a human being as recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari when a devil came to Abu Hurairah (Radiya Allahu Anhu) in the shape of a poor man and Abu Hurairah found the devil taking much food of charity.
2) The jinni may appear in a form of dog or black cat as confirmed in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "A black dog is devil". Ibn Taimiya (May Allah's Mercy be upon him) said: 'The black dog is a devil, and the jinn often appear in its form, since the black color can bring the devilish powers more than other colors.
3) The jinni can appear in the shape of snakes. Thus, the Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) banned killing home snakes lest may any of them be a Muslim jinni. Abu Said al-Khudri (Radiya Allahu Anhu) said that Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "There are Muslim Jinn in al-Madina: If one appears to you, in any form, you are to admonish it to depart for three days. If it appears after that, you must kill it, for it is truly a devil". [Reported by Imam Muslim]
So, a Muslim has to protect him/herself with Allah's Ziker and to seek refuge with Him from the evils of jinn and devils.
A Satan can see angels. Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {And (remember) when Shaitân (Satan) made their (evil) deeds seem fair to them and said, "No one of mankind can overcome you this Day (of the battle of Badr) and verily, I am your neighbour (for each and every help)." But when the two forces came in sight of each other, he ran away and said "Verily, I have nothing to do with you. Verily! I see what you see not. Verily! I fear Allâh for Allâh is Severe in punishment."}[8:48].
Ibn 'Abbas commented on the above-verse saying: When a devil saw the angels.
At the same time, a human being can see the angels in some form, but not the form on which Allah has Created them. In al-Bukhari and Muslim that Sa'd Ibn Abu Waqqas said: "On The Day of Uhud, I saw on the right side of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and on his left two men wearing white clothes defending him (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and fighting fiercely. I did not see them before that day nor after it. They are the angels.
Angels are in charge of many functions and jobs. They Obey Allah and do what Allah, The Great and Almighty, orders them to do. They are honourable and obedient; they record and keep deeds of mankind.
Here are some of their names and functions as stated in the Qur'an and the Sunnah:
1) Gibril (Gabriel) ().
He is the bearer and bringer of the Divine Revelation to Messengers and Prophets (blessings and peace of Allah be upon them all).
2) Mikal (Michael) ().
He is in charge of rain falling.
3) Israfel ().
He is the owner of the Trumpet. He will sound it.
4) The Angel of Death and his helpers.
He is in charge of taking the souls of people whose death is due. It is not proved in the Qur'an or Sunnah that his name is 'Azrael. He () is named the angel of death.
5) Other angels are in charge of recording and keeping deeds of humankind, good or bad.
They are the good scribes; one on everybody's right side to record good deeds and one on everybody's left side to record bad deeds.
6) Angels those who are in succession of human beings, i.e. follow us in succession: some in the day and others at night.
7) Moving angels: those who move from one place to another seeking, gatherings of Zikr of Allah.
8) There are other angels who are assigned as guardians of slaves in all their states: asleep or awake…
9) Angels who are in charge of testing the faith of human beings in their graves. They are Munkar and Nakir (Peace be upon them).
10) Angels who are assigned as keepers of Paradise. Angel Ridwan is the first one (peace be upon him).
11) Angels who are assigned as keepers of the Hell-Fire. Angel Malik is the first one. ().
As for your question concerning the Hereafter, the knowledge thereof is with Allah alone.
So, a Muslim has to busy him/her self with what is beneficial, since al-Salaf (Sahaba, Tabi'un, their followers and every scholar who follow the Qur'an and the Sunnah) (Radiya Allahu Anhum) were used to banning questions that had no relation with an action.
Allah knows best.