Qareen

A Qareen (Arabic: قرين‎ qarīn literally meaning: 'constant companion') is a spiritual double of human, either part of the human himself or a complementary creature in a parallel dimension.[1][2] Due to its ghostly nature, the Qareen is classified among the Jinn-type creatures, although usually not actually a Jinni.[3] The Qareen as an accompanying spirit should not be confused with the Qarinah as a female "childbed demon" also existing in Middle Eastern faith.

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Qareen in Islam

In Quran

Qareen are mentioned by name in the following Quran verses:

Sūrat az-Zukhruf: "And whosoever turns away from remembering and mentioning the Most Beneficent, we appoint for him a Satan to be a Qareen to him." [4]

Sūrat as-Saffat: "A speaker among them will say, 'Indeed, I had a Qareen.'" [5]

Sūrat an-Nisa: "And those who spend of their wealth to be seen by the people and believe not in Allah nor in the Last Day. And he to whom Satan is a Qareen - then evil is he as a Qareen." [6]

Sūrat Qaf: "And his Qareen, will say, 'This is what is with me, prepared.'" [7]

Several opinions exist on the exact nature of the Qareen. According to one opinion, the Qareen is actually a Shaitan, who incites a human with waswās ("evil suggestions"), but can become good in accordance with the human’s good deeds.[8] For example, it is said, that the Qareen of Muhammad became Muslim.[9] However it is uncertain whether or not a Qareen besides that of Muhammad can actually become good.

Another opinion holds that Qareen refers to any type of spirit accompanying humans. Here, the Qareen refers to demons, who cast evil suggestions, but also to angels, who advise to do good deeds.[10]

Further the Qareen is depicted as the other self: an integral spirit that is part of the person. A dissent between the inner Qareen and the behavior may cause the same symptoms as Jinn-possession.[11][12]

In hadith

With regard to the hadith of Muhammad, "There is none of you who does not have a companion (Qareen) appointed for him from among the jinn." They said, "Even you?" He said, "Even me, but Allah helped me against him fa aslama [or fa aslamu], so he only tells me to do that which is good."

There are two well-known views that have been reported. Those who read the phrase as fa aslamu said that it means, "So I am safe [aslamu] from his evil and temptation." Those who read it as fa aslama said that it means, "The Qareen became Muslim [aslama] and became a believer, so he only tells me to do that which is good."[13]

They differed as to which view is correct. Al-Khattaabi said: The correct version is fa aslamu [so I am safe]. Al-Qaadi Iyaad thought that fa aslama [so he became Muslim] was correct, and this is the preferred version, because he then said, "so he only tells me to do that which is good." (Reported by Muslim, 2814). And they differed concerning the report that says fa aslama. It was said that it means he submitted in the sense of surrendering, and it appears in this form (fa astaslama – so he surrendered) in reports narrated elsewhere than in Saheeh Muslim. And it was said that it means that he become a Muslim and a believer. This is the apparent meaning.[13]

Abu Na’eem al-Asbahaani said in Dalaa’il al-Nubuwwah (1/185): It was said aslama meaning he believed. Muhammad was the only one whose Qareen became a Muslim and a believer.[13]

Based on this, having one's Qareen become a Muslim was something that was unique to Muhammad.[13]

Furthermore, there is no evidence that the Companions (Sahaba) ever tried to convert their Qareen to become Muslims.

Other sources

The concept of a Qareen appears in pre-Islamic literature as well, and is reminiscent of the Greek daimones and the Christian guardian angel.[14] In Pre-Islamic Arabian the Qareen is said to be able to inspire poets for their works.[15]

One of the seven mu'allaqat—Arabic poems recognized as masterpieces during the pre-Islamic period—uses the word as a metaphor. To describe his tribe's excellence in battle, poet Amr bin Kulthum says that "every tribe has taken fear of us as a qarin (or 'constant companion')," meaning that their fear of Amr's tribe is always present. This goes further to show the origin of the word qareen, as described in the Arabic dictionary as a "companion".

See also

References
  1. Anwer Mahmoud Zanaty Glossary Of Islamic Terms IslamKotob page 184
  2. Kelly Bulkeley, Kate Adams, Patricia M. Davis Dreaming in Christianity and Islam: Culture, Conflict, and Creativity Rutgers University Press 2009 ISBN 978-0-813-54610-0 page 144
  3. Veena Das, Clara Han Living and Dying in the Contemporary World: A Compendium Univ of California Press 2015 ISBN 978-0-520-27841-7 page 145
  4. Quran 43:36
  5. Quran 37:51
  6. Quran 4:38
  7. Quran 50:23
  8. Majmū‘ al-Fatāwá. 1. pp. 359–361.
  9. IslamQA: "Every person has a constant companion from among the jinn"
  10. Kelly Bulkeley, Kate Adams, Patricia M. Davis Dreaming in Christianity and Islam: Culture, Conflict, and Creativity Rutgers University Press 2009 ISBN 978-0-813-54610-0 page 144
  11. audouin Dupret Standing Trial: Law and the Person in the Modern Middle East I.B.Tauris 2004 ISBN 978-1-860-64997-4 page 154
  12. Veena Das, Clara Han Living and Dying in the Contemporary World: A Compendium Univ of California Press 2015 ISBN 978-0-520-27841-7 page 145
  13. Islam Question and Answer - Praying for Jinn Companion to Become Muslim
  14. Rosemary Ellen Guiley, Philip J. Imbrogno The Vengeful Djinn: Unveiling the Hidden Agenda of Genies. Llewellyn Worldwide, 2011. ISBN 978-0-738-72881-0. p. 117.
  15. Baudouin Dupret, Standing Trial: Law and the Person in the Modern Middle East, I. B. Tauris, 2004. ISBN 978-1-860-64997-4. p. 153.
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