Islam FAQ

• Q44: To be considered a Muslim, what are the beliefs one should have ?
• Q45: What are the names and attributes of Allah?
• Q46: Allah is so great and exalted, how could a mortal (like me and you) call him directly, ask him or even pray ? shouldn't we have intermediates ?
• Q47: I ask and ask and Allah did not respond!
• Q48: About Quran, how its validity is maintained ? why it is still valid ?
• Q49: All of them took part! What happened to the illiterate community you were talking about ?
• Q50: What is the day of Judgment for ?
• Q51: What is the "decreeing", how to believe in it ?
• Q52: What are the two types of Allah's will ?
• Q53: What is Imaan (level of belief or faith) ?
• Q54: Don't you have other beliefs ? What about Satan, Evil, Devils, Jinn ?
• Q55: What about Souls or Spirits ?
• Q56: Do dead people Hear us ?
• Q57: What about Dreams ? Isn't Interpreting dreams is a kind of foretelling which is forbidden in Islam ?

Details of Islamic Beliefs

• Q44: To be considered a Muslim, what are the beliefs one should have ?
  A: The Islamic Beliefs foundation (articles of belief)

  1. To believe in Allah; God; the one and only god, the almighty creator of every creature, the only creator توحيد الربوبية, that only him deserve to be worshiped or obeyed توحيد الألوهية, and to believe in all of his perfect names and attributes nothing like him, as mentioned in Quran and Sunnah.
  2. To believe in Angels; that they do exists, they were created from light, they have no gender, they do not eat, ..etc, they are obeying creatures, they can't disobey (they do not have free choice nor responsibility like humans, they don't deserve to be worshiped, or asked anything as they don't do any thing by themselves, we worship Allah only, see the the previous term, this should be obvious)
  3. To believe in Messengers; that they were regular humans have the duty and honer of delivering messages from Allah, sent down to them through Angel Gabriel. That there are many messengers, (tens of thousands), every ancient nation had at least one, there are more than 20 mentioned in Quran (like Abraham, Moses and Jesus).
  4. To believe in Books of Allah; that they were revelations from Allah (through Angel Gabriel), some where named in Quran like Gospel and Torah. Yet this does not mean that the currently available Bibles and Torahs are authentic, they had been seriously tempered with, then they (the real authentic Gospel and Torah and other books) were lost, what we have now are unauthentic books written by regular people. The last book, is Quran where there is no doubt it's from Allah. Direct words of Allah, written in the protected book in the highest heaven, then sent down (at once) to the lowest heaven, and later revealed to Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel, and copied on many means (leaflets, papers, leather, tablets, ...etc.) by the companions assigned for this job by prophet Muhammad in his life, narrated vocally to us in a flawless procedure with all authentic reciting styles just exactly as revealed to prophet Muhammad.
  5. To believe in Judgment Day; aka Resurrection day, Hereafter. to believe what we have been told in Quran and Sunnah about resurrection, then judgment, where { فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْراً يَرَهُ * وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرّاً يَرَهُ } meaning { Whosoever has done an atom's weight of good shall see it * and whosoever has done an atom's weight of evil shall see it. } (V99:7-8).
  6. To believe in القدر; (translated as the decreeing); That Allah is the creator of what people call good and evil. A Muslim should not look behind in the past by saying "why me?" nor "What have I done to deserve this ?" there is no use of such deeds. That Allah is the doer of whatever He wants, and none can change His Words. But we are not fatalists (as clearly indicated in Sunnah القدرية مجوس الأمة) as there are two types of his will. Those who obey Allah, obey him with his will, and those who disobey him, do that with his will. It's Allah's will to give man the choice so that man is responsible.
• Q45: What are the names and attributes of Allah?
  A: We believe in his names and attributes that are mentioned in Quran and Sunnah, as is, ie. without analogy, nor denial, and with the proper manner that is suitable for his perfection (we need not be able to understand how). For example, { ... لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ } meaning { ... There is nothing like Him. He is the Hearer, the Seer. } (V42:11) means that Allah is the Seer, he can see, but his sight should NOT be considered analogous to the sight of creatures. The answer to "Can Allah see ?" is "Yes", but the answer to "Can Allah see, like me ?" is "No", and the answer to "How Allah can see ?", is "in the perfect manner that is suitable for his glory", those three questions and answers applies to all of his names and attributes mentioned in Quran and Sunnah.

  We can't see Allah (in this life), Muslims do not draw any visual image of Allah (even mental image), { لَا تُدْرِكُهُ الْأَبْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الْأَبْصَارَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ } meaning { No eye can see Him, though He sees all eyes. He is the Subtle, the Aware. } (V42:11) This verse indicate that Allah is imperceptible (maybe the meaning translation I used here is not as clear as in Arabic), We don't have the sufficient senses to be able to do that. Common sense and usual induction can NOT be used on Allah, you can NOT conclude things about Allah by studying creatures then conclude that Allah is like that, as nothing like Him. We don't project our limited knowledge on Allah. Our source of knowledge about him is Quran and Sunnah and what we could deduce from that. (Mathematics; yes, common sense; no).

  Names of Allah mentioned in Quran and Sunnah (at least 99) are used to call him (in prayer/supplication) as in { قُلِ ادْعُوا اللَّهَ أَوِ ادْعُوا الرَّحْمَنَ أَيّاً مَا تَدْعُوا فَلَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى ... } meaning { Say: 'Call upon Allah, or call upon the Merciful; whichever (Name) you call upon, to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. ' ... } (V17:110) In most times, knowing the English translation of the meaning of his names is not sufficient, as the meaning is deeper, and interesting to know. Salafi translations usually keep them in Arabic and have some English interpretations between parentheses, I think this is the best way to avoid people projecting their previous knowledge on those concepts (But I don't have such meaning translation on hand for now). Notice this verse { وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَمَا مَسَّنَا مِنْ لُغُوبٍ } meaning { In six days We created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them and no weariness touched Us! } (50.38) Allah is so mighty, if he wants something to be, then it had already been, with no weariness from his side. He is independent, he was before all creatures, he don't need them to worship him. { سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ * لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ * هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآَخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ } meaning { All that is in the heavens and earth exalt Allah. He is the Almighty, the Wise. * To Him belongs the Kingdom in the heavens and earth. It is He who revives and causes to die, and He has power over all things. * He is the First and the Last, the Clear and the Hidden. He has knowledge of all things. } (V57:1-3) الأول والآخر He is the first, means nothing was before him, he is unbounded, unlimited. He is the last means he will abide forever, unbounded, unlimited, while everything else will perish (no matter how long they live, they will perish just before Judgment day). Both names together means, that he was and nothing with him, and later he will be and nothing with him. (questions like "when he was created" is irrelevant and invalid, also "who created him" as he is the creator, the first, the last) الظاهر meaning translated here as "the Clear" in English, means (refer to Tafseer at-Tabari) the Exaltation of Allah, that he is above his creatures (and above their minds and their senses, remember "in the manner that is proper for his glory"). As he is in the same time, الباطن meaning translated here as "the Hidden" in English (literary means from inside) means (refer to Tafseer at-Tabari) that Allah is too close to his creatures, nothing is closer than him, he is closer to creatures than themselves, { وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ } meaning { Indeed, We created the human. We know the whisperings of his soul, and are closer to him than the jugular vein. } (V50:16) We believe that Allah is everywhere through his power and knowledge, also we believe that Allah is NOT physically everywhere.

  Here is some Ayat that show some names and attributes { لَوْ أَنْزَلْنَا هَذَا الْقُرْآَنَ عَلَى جَبَلٍ لَرَأَيْتَهُ خَاشِعاً مُتَصَدِّعاً مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ * هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ هُوَ الرَّحْمَنُ الرَّحِيمُ * هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ * هُوَ اللَّهُ الْخَالِقُ الْبَارِئُ الْمُصَوِّرُ لَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ } meaning { Had We sent down this Quran upon a mountain, you would have seen it humble itself and split asunder for fear of Allah. Such are the parables we strike for people so that they will reflect. * He is Allah, there is no god except He. He knows the Unseen and the Visible. He is the Merciful, the Most Merciful. * He is Allah, there is no god except He. He is the King, the Pure, the Peace, the Confirmer, the Watchful, the Almighty, the Compeller, the Sublime. Exalted is Allah, above all that they associate! * He is Allah, the Creator, the Originator, the Shaper. To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. All that is in the heavens and earth exalt Him. He is the Almighty, the Wise. } (V59:21-24) let's discuss السلام as-Salam meaning translated here as "the Peace", the source of Peace, means (as indicated by Tafseer at-Tabari, the most respectable interpretation) that Allah protects his creatures from his injustice (as almighty Allah can be iniquitous as a matter of ability, but he is as-Salam, he won't do that) as Allah has written for Himself mercy (refer to V6:12 and V6:54) Ibn-Katheer (the second most recognized interpretation) add that it also mean the perfect. (both depends on Quran and Sunnah in their interpretation)

  Another interesting name to study, Al-Mutakaber, translated here as the Sublime, means that he is above all evils, he rejects them, and he is acquit from what disbelieves claim about Him. Another aspect of this name (as interpreted by Al-Qurtubi, the third most recognized interpretation) The literal meaning of Al-Mutakaber (something like Pride) means the greatest, nothing like him. it is a very negative attribute for creatures, but for Allah, it's positive as he is perfect, and he really do have the best perfect attributes. (Mathematicians should understand what Al-Qurtubi interpretation means)

  notice this verse, { وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ وَالْأَرْضُ جَمِيعاً قَبْضَتُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَالسَّماوَاتُ مَطْوِيَّاتٌ بِيَمِينِهِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ } meaning { They have not valued Allah with His true value. But on the Day of Resurrection, the entire earth will be in His grip, and the heavens shall be rolled up upon in His Right. Exaltations to Him! Exalted high is He above all that they associate!} (V39:67)

• Q46: Allah is so great and exalted, how could a mortal (like me and you) call him directly, ask him or even pray ? shouldn't we have intermediates ?
  A: Almighty Allah is so powerful, he needs no aid, no intermediaries, he can hear whisperings or even hear your thoughts. { وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ } meaning { When My worshipers ask you about Me, I am near. I answer the supplication of the suppliant when he calls to Me; therefore, let them respond to Me and let them believe in Me, in order that they will be righteous. } (V2:186) Just ask Allah, supplicate to him, in any language, time after another, admit your need and submission to Allah, this is another type of worshiping Allah.
• Q47: I ask and ask and Allah did not respond!
  A: Hello, do you understand English ? who is the Lord! You are not, He is. Allah respond to whom he will. He don't need your prayer, it's not a favor you do to him, praying is a favor you do to yourself (more over, Allah allowed you to do yourself that favor). Anyway Allah respond to believers in away that it's better for them (they might not know how) provided that they met some conditions.
• Q48: About Quran, how its validity is maintained ? why it is still valid ?
  A: Islam is the last message, Muhammad is the last prophet, Quran is the last book. Which mean that it has to be perfect, suitable for every time, and valid for every time, this is a promise from Allah in several verses: { إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ } meaning { It is We who sent down the Quran, and We watch over it. } (V15:9) It was Allah's will behind all the reasons that protect the validity of Quran. Quran was written in prophet Muhammad life as he directly command revelation writers to write it down and specify where (this verse goes after that verse), some companions have had complete copies of Quran. Also Many companions had validated their reciting of Quran by heart before prophet Muhammad, at least once a year. In time of Abu Bakir just after prophet Muhammad death, Omar suggested to collect the whole Quran in a single hard covered book, Abu Bakir refused at first as companions follow the prophet firmly, Omar managed to convince Abu Bakir that this is not an innovation, it's something good that all Muslims will need. They just did not write what they already remember even though it's sufficient, they had chosen the best writer, Zaid ibn Thabit, at first he also refused, it's a great responsibility! "why don't command me to move mount Ohod instead, it's much easier to me." he replayed. Zaid did a survey to collect every written means (scrolls, stones, leaves,..etc.) before everybody's eyes. Yes, they could just write it by heart, but no, the entire city should watch that process, the entire city should take part making sure it's done well. The Mus-haf (hard covered book) term appeared and used to refer to Quran written down on a book like we know today. This Mus-haf was called Al-Mus-haf Al-Imam and kept as a reference. In times of Othman ibn Affan few years later, that very Mus-haf were massively copied and sent to every city, it was the first massively copied book in Arabic history (those copies were named after cities, مصاحف الأمصار). Othman was also so firm, no variation is allowed, no Sunnah is allowed to be written, no interpretations is allowed to be written, nothing is allowed to be mixed with Quran, the Mus-haf should only have Quran, Ibn Masoud book was burned as it contained interpretations and comments mixed, this is not a serious issue as vocal reciting is taught and narrated to us through Ibn Masoud (and reading matches writing). As I mentioned before Quran is narrated to us vocally in continuous narration chains, so many parallel continuous chains, chains lead directly to prophet Muhammad, those chains are written and maintained. Prophet companions الصحابة taught the followers التابعون, ...etc. they were forming clusters of 10 students for every teacher, they keep reading Quran by heart one by one till they are certified by their teacher. Later, teaching hints were added (like letter dotting, and marks to indicate "vowel elongation", "recommended stop", "do not stop here", "short silence",...) but to avoid making an innovation in Islam they were written in red ink! so that Mus-haf contains only Quran in black ink and teaching marks in red ink. Nowadays, subscripts, superscripts, and margins are used for such reading aids. Several western teams tried to find unmatched copies of Quran, by comparing copies from east and west, recent copies and older copies, they all failed. We (Muslim) always know what is Quran, and what is not. What is an authentic reciting style and what is not.
• Q49: All of them took part! What happened to the illiterate community you were talking about ?
  A: That was in the ignorance era (before Islam), as they have accepted Islam, most companions have learned reading and writing because Islam encourages seeking knowledge and learning.
• Q50: What is the day of Judgment for ?
  A: People will be resurrected from bones, dust, stones, iron, or from where ever their Molecules or atoms where, by the one who created them from nothing. They will be resurrected into a second different creation. "What's for ?" for Judgment. In this life, there are so many injustice, so many sins and sinners and wrong doers ..etc. There were several perfect crimes committed by so many peoples, a lot of innocent people were killed ..etc. Some people think that they are gods, or they are going to escape with their crimes. Do you think those who committed the worst crime ever (disbelieve in Allah or ascribed to Allah associates) they will escape with that ? Of course not, they will be questioned, their hands will witness against them, they will be punished, it's the perfect justice. { مَثَلُ مَا يُنْفِقُونَ فِي هَذِهِ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَثَلِ رِيحٍ فِيهَا صِرٌّ أَصَابَتْ حَرْثَ قَوْمٍ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ فَأَهْلَكَتْهُ وَمَا ظَلَمَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَلَكِنْ أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ } meaning { The wealth they spend in this worldly life is like a freezing wind that smites the harvest of a people who have wronged themselves and destroys it. Allah has not wronged them, but they wronged themselves. } (V3:117)

  Those who did the good deeds, just for the sake of Allah, not to be famous, not to get reward from this or that, no for hypocrisy before certain community. They would be rewarded by some rank in Paradise.

  Paradise or Hellfire that would be the Judgment. Paradise is a real physical materialistic reward to good people for their good deeds, and Hellfire is a real physical materialistic punishment to sinners for their sins. There are several ranks in Paradise, and also there are several ranks in Hellfire. (BTW: We Muslims do NOT believe that Hellfire is under the ground)

• Q51: What is the "decreeing", how to believe in it ?
  A: Good and bad things, that happen to you are by the will of Allah, if you are a Muslim, you should know that what ever happens to you is for your own good, as if it's good, you thank Allah and get rewarded, and if it's a harmful or saddening thing then you be patient to get rewarded and your sins are purified or you get your rank in Paradise increased.

  A Muslim should believe that Allah already knows everything (that had happened, that is happening, and that will happen), his knowledge is complete and perfect, he won't acquire new knowledge nor forget an already known things. Allah wrote everything in the preserved book before creation, every event is recorded from creation till Judgment day. Every thing happen according to the will of Allah, Whatever he willed to be, it would be. And whatever he willed not to be, it won't be. Allah is the creator of every thing, no matter you consider it good or bad. All this we know from Quran.

  On the other hand, we believe that mankind are given guidance and warnings through messengers { رُسُلاً مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزاً حَكِيماً } meaning { Messengers bearing glad tidings and warning, so that the people will have no argument against Allah, after the Messengers. Allah is the Almighty, the Wise. } (V4:165) and we believe that we have freewill or free choice { إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِلْعَالَمِينَ * لِمَنْ شَاءَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَسْتَقِيمَ * وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ } meaning { This is nothing but a Reminder to the worlds, * for who soever of you would go straight, * but you shall not, unless Allah wills, the Lord of all the Worlds. } (V81:27-29) which mean that our will is given to us by Allah, he willed that, but our bad deeds should not be projected to him as we are responsible and we will be judged by him. Evil or bad things are not attributed to him, but the consequences of some decreeing may appear bad from some narrow aspect, but taking the whole picture it would be clear that it's not bad. Take the example of punishment in any law, from criminals perspective it's bad, from the whole community it could be the opposite. If one ask how could some bad things like "Worms", "illness", "friction force",..etc. be good ? The answer is quite simple, the worms are needed for birds, and illness keeps the balance and equilibrium between predators and preys, and without friction force one can't walk (imagine yourself walking on ice having small friction factor) ...etc. There is a great wisdom behind things that appear bad to you, no matter you know it or not. And the notable apparent corruption in the balance of nature is due to this verse { ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ } meaning { Corruption has appeared on land and sea with what the hands of the people earned. Therefore, they taste some of what they did in order that they return. } (V30:41) and { وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنْفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ * الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ } meaning { We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, and decrease of goods, life and fruits. Give glad tidings to the patient, * who, in adversity say: 'We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. ' } (V2:155-156)

• Q52: What are the two types of Allah's will ?
  A: The Universal will; Nothing happened against Allah's will, that Allah's knows all things that are going to happened to anything even before their creation, he made them happened, he decreed them. { وَعِنْدَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا هُوَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِنْ وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعْلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْأَرْضِ وَلَا رَطْبٍ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُبِينٍ } meaning { With Him are the keys of the unseen, none knows them but He. He knows that which is in the land and sea. No leaf falls except He knows it, and there is no grain in the darkness of the earth, fresh or withered, but is recorded in a clear Book. } (V6:59). This will include good things and things that we might consider to be bad. Yes, Allah allow things that he don't approve to happen, things he don't like. While sinners are sinning their livers and Kidneys are removing poisons from their blood! How generous! It's Allah the merciful, he is examining us. It's due to Allah's will that what wrath him happen, as this life is not the last life, it's not the end of the story. Injustice in this life happens due to Allah's will, this is only a partial image, the image will complete in the day of Judgment, then we'll see the whole image, the absolute Justice.

  The second type is, legislating will, and all of it is good, it's the prefect wisdom, it's what we are supposed to practice. It need not happen, some choose to practice it, some don't. It's Allah's will to let people choose, then he judge them.

  A good description for this is that Allah wants us to do things (legislating will) and wants things to happen to us (Unavoidable Universal will), he hide the later, and he uncovered the earlier, and let us choose.

• Q53: What is Imaan (level of belief or faith) ?
  A: Imaan is an individual gradual scale, it's zero for disbelievers, while for Muslims, it increases by good deeds and decreases with bad deeds. So in Islam, it's NOT sufficient for one to just say that he believes in Allah or say "لا إله إلا الله", as this belief should be reflected to your deeds.
• Q54: Don't you have other beliefs ? What about Satan, Evil, Devils, Jinn ?
  A: The word Jinn means covered (ie. invisible), Allah had created the Jinn from blended flames (this does not mean that they are fire nor flames, as they were created and became a different creature). As mankind are descendants of Adam, Jinn-kind are descendants of Iblis (Satan). Jinn is a kind of invisible creatures (unseen by man kind), living creatures that eat (on negligible amounts of proteins found on decayed bones or wastes of animals as mentioned in Hadith 450 in Saheh Muslim), they breads and dies, there is no visual image for them (we consider the image of Jinn in common mythologies in the west to be false) {... إِنَّهُ يَرَاكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَهُمْ ...} meaning {... Indeed he and his descendants see you from where you cannot see them. ...} (V7:27) [according to Tasfeer Al-Qurtubi interpretation they only can be seen in case of a miracle to a prophet like Solomon and Muhammad, as then they were converted, by the will of Allah, into another visible creature] there are different species of Jinn, some are unintelligent (unaware) just like animals ("دوابهم" as mentioned in Hadith number 450 in Saheh Muslim) but they are not meant usually by the word "Jinn", others are intelligent (but yet less intelligent than mankind), aware and have free choice (like mankind), and they are responsible (they will be asked in the Day of Judgment), the later are the descendants of Iblis (Satan), usually those who are referred to by the word Jinn, and those have so many nations, languages, religions, sects, ideologies ...etc. (just like mankind, maybe there are communist Jinn, Jewish Jinn, Muslim Jinn,..etc.) {... وَأَنَّا مِنَّا الصَّالِحُونَ وَمِنَّا دُونَ ذَلِكَ كُنَّا طَرَائِقَ قِدَداً ...} meaning {... Some of us are righteous, but some are otherwise, we are sects that differ. ...} (V72:11). Yes, some of them are not evil!

  Let's set the terminology,

  • Iblis إبليس, The Satan, The devil, the ancestor of Jinn-kind.
  • Jinn الجن, his descendants kind, good or bad, believers or disbelievers.
  • Satan or Devil شيطان, depending on context (and definite article) it could mean The Satan إبليس, or disbelievers from his kind, always includes evil and disbelievers of them only. In some cases this word could also include evil and disbeliever humans.
  • Satans or Devils شياطين, usually refers to evils and disbelievers among both Jinn and Humans

  { وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ عَدُوّاً شَيَاطِينَ الْإِنْسِ وَالْجِنِّ يُوحِي بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُوراً وَلَوْ شَاءَ رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُ فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ } meaning { As such We have assigned for every Prophet an enemy; the satans of humans and jinn, revealing varnished speech to each other, all as a delusion. But had your Lord willed, they would not have done so. Therefore leave them and what they invent, } (V6:112) Jinn could flow in blood veins of humans (as mentioned in Sunnah), they could whisper in our mind (this is how far they could go) but they can't take our will and free choice { وَقَالَ الشَّيْطَانُ لَمَّا قُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَعَدَكُمْ وَعْدَ الْحَقِّ وَوَعَدْتُكُمْ فَأَخْلَفْتُكُمْ وَمَا كَانَ لِيَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ سُلْطَانٍ إِلَّا أَنْ دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَاسْتَجَبْتُمْ لِي فَلَا تَلُومُونِي وَلُومُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ مَا أَنَا بِمُصْرِخِكُمْ وَمَا أَنْتُمْ بِمُصْرِخِيَّ إِنِّي كَفَرْتُ بِمَا أَشْرَكْتُمُونِ مِنْ قَبْلُ إِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ } meaning { And when the issue has been decided, satan will say (to them): 'The promise which Allah made you was true. I promised you, but failed to keep it. I had no authority over you except that I called you, and you answered me. Do not blame me, rather, blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I disbelieved in your associating me (with Allah) before. ' Indeed, for the evildoers there is a painful punishment.} (V14:22) { وَمَا كَانَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ سُلْطَانٍ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِالْآَخِرَةِ مِمَّنْ هُوَ مِنْهَا فِي شَكٍّ وَرَبُّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَفِيظٌ } meaning { Yet he had no authority over them except that We would know who believed in the Everlasting Life, from he who doubted. Your Lord is the Watcher over all things. } (V34:21)

  We (Muslims) do not try to make connection with Jinn (even good Jinn), We (Muslims) are not afraid of Satans (no matter who evil they are), { إِنَّمَا ذَلِكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ فَلَا تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ } meaning { That is satan frightening those whom he sponsored. So do not fear them, and fear Me, if you are believers.} (V3:175) { إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانٌ إِلَّا مَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْغَاوِينَ } meaning { [Allah said] over My worshipers you [Satan] have no authority, except the perverse that follow you. } (V15:42) and see V17:65, and V16:98-100.

  Protection from Devils (both mankind and Jinn) is achieved by reciting verses of Quran (understanding them, and practice them), such verses uncover their guiles, for example, reading the last chapter, chapter 114 (Surat Annas; People or mankind) { قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ * مَلِكِ النَّاسِ * إِلَهِ النَّاسِ * مِنْ شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ * الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ * مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ } meaning { Say: 'I take refuge with the Lord of people, * the King of people, * the God of people, * from the evil of the slinking whisperer. * who whispers in the chests of people, * both jinn and people.' } (V114:1-6), for example, one having bad (mankind) friends whispering in his ears to induce him to take drugs or alcohols, "You loser! you miserable piece of junk! give up, it's no use, this is the only way you have." also Jinn could also be whispering in his mind, "I should not do that, should I ? why not ? I'm not a baby any more, I won't suck milk any more." ..etc read this verse { الشَّيْطَانُ يَعِدُكُمُ الْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ وَاللَّهُ يَعِدُكُمْ مَغْفِرَةً مِنْهُ وَفَضْلاً وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ } meaning { Satan promises you with poverty and orders you to commit what is indecent. But Allah promises you His Forgiveness and bounty from Him. Allah is the Embracer, the Knower. } (V2:268) Forgiveness is mentioned here as one of devil's guiles is to make one hopeless, he whisper bad things in your mind, for example, "was Mary really Virgin ? how silly!" then "What am I saying, I'm so bad, I'm so evil, it's no hope, Allah will never forgive me". { قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَكَ هَذَا الَّذِي كَرَّمْتَ عَلَيَّ لَئِنْ أَخَّرْتَنِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لَأَحْتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلاً * قَالَ اذْهَبْ فَمَنْ تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ جَزَاؤُكُمْ جَزَاءً مَوْفُوراً * وَاسْتَفْزِزْ مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ مِنْهُمْ بِصَوْتِكَ وَأَجْلِبْ عَلَيْهِمْ بِخَيْلِكَ وَرَجِلِكَ وَشَارِكْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَوْلَادِ وَعِدْهُمْ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ إِلَّا غُرُوراً * إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانٌ وَكَفَى بِرَبِّكَ وَكِيلاً } meaning { What do You think? ' he said: 'This whom You have honored above me, if You defer me until the Day of Resurrection, I will root out all but a few of his seed (by misleading them). ' * 'Begone! ' said He. 'Indeed, Gehenna is your recompense, and the reward of those who follow you, an ample recompense. * Rouse with your voice whoever you are able from among them. Rally against them your cavalry and those on foot. Share their wealth and children with them, and promise them. ' But satan promises them nothing except delusion. * 'Over My worshipers you shall have no authority. ' Your Lord is their Sufficing Guardian. } I'm not sure if "begone" is clear to you in English (according in Tafseer Al-Qurtobi interpretation it means "Go ahead do what ever you are able to do [how miserable!]" as it's a hopeless move from Satan side to take some misled humans with him to Hellfire), The meaning of "your voice" here (according to At-Tabari) is Merrymaking, Bacchanals and sinning advocates (and Al-Qurtobi mentioned that and adds "whispering") Cavalry and Infantries draws a figurative image of an army of Devils, the meaning is groups of sinners, bad company (eg. gangs), all this and we yet say "go ahead, we Muslims are not afraid, Our Lord is Sufficing Guardian". On the other hand, a non-worshiper could become depressed, and maybe he could go crazy, and start having hallucinations.

• Q55: What about Souls or Spirits ?
  A: "I don't know more than you!" Soul or Spirit الروح is imperceptible thing (created by Allah) that is the reason for life, the difference between a dead animal and a living animal (they [dead/living animals] have the same materials! if they don't replace the missing materials, could you bring it back to life ?). When someone dies, his soul returns to heaven (we don't believe in western mythologies nor eastern mythologies, that talks about roaming spirits) his body decompose in the soil (if he is buried), till the day of Resurrection, this individual lives an imperceptible barrier/marginal life (called الحياة البرزخية).

  In some contexts Soul الروح means Angels, in specific Gabriel (usually in this case translated as Spirit, see V97:4)

  There is another different term called Al-Nafs النفس commonly translated as Soul but this is wrong. Al-Nafs means an individual, a soul, a self, a persona, a character and a being, I'm not sure if there is an English word that combine this collection.

• Q56: Do dead people Hear us ?
  A: Simple answer: No. As mentioned in Quran (V35:22, V30:52 and 27:80) The only way that some dead people hear something in case of a miracle to a prophet like Moses, Jesus and Muhammad may peace be upon them all, this is not strange as prophets did even more than that they brought some dead people back to life by the will of Allah.
• Q57: What about Dreams ? Isn't Interpreting dreams is a kind of foretelling which is forbidden in Islam ?
  A: Any claimed way to foretell the future is a kind of disbelieve because the the knowledge of the unseen is not supposed to be revealed to people (except to prophets, and Muhammad was the last one) refer to (V72:26). Prophet Muhammad [PBUH] taught us that if someone see a bad dream then he should ignore it, just like that,one should not feel depressed as it won't really harm him. While if someone see a good sight (dream), one should take it positively, and he should be optimistic, so interpreting sights is something different than foretelling. No knowledge is claimed. It's just living life happily and positively and consider them good signs because we trust Allah. It's an art or a gift which is not reliable nor certain and have no lawful consequences.