Genie facts for kids
Genies or jinns or djinns are supposed to be magical beings or creatures with free will. They are originally found in ancient myths and legends of the Middle East, especially Arabia.
Nowadays, people in many Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Iraq, Syria,United Arab Emirates, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Turkey, Iran, parts of Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan believe in these Jinns or Djinns. Jinns are also common in legends and stories from the Middle East, for example in the One Thousand and One Nights.
The holy book of Muslims, the Quran also mentions Jinns, and says that they are made from fire or smoke. Together, the jinn, humans, devils and angels make up the four wise creations of God. Like human beings, the jinn can be good or bad.
In movies and on television
- A genie who lives in an lamp can be seen in the famous story Aladdin. When the lamp is rubbed, the genie appears from the lamp with a cloud of dust. He has the power to grant wishes.
- I Dream of Jeannie was a popular television series in the 1960s about a female genie, named Jeannie.
- In the famous 1924 film The Thief of Bagdad, there are many Jinnns/Djinns, who are shown with magical powers. This film was remade in 1940 and 1942, also.
Images for kids
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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)
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The cave chamber Majlis al Jinn, believed to be a gathering place of the jinn in Omani lore
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The Singer Ibrahim and the jinn. Ibrahim has been imprisoned by his master Muhammad al-Amin and visited by a jinn in guise of an old man. The jinn offers him food and drink and is so impressed by Ibrahim's voice that he convinces Muhammad to free him.
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A Sinai desert cobra. Snakes are the animals most frequently associated with jinn. Black snakes are commonly believed to be evil jinn, whereas white snakes are held to be benign (Muslim) jinn.
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The red king of the djinns, Al-Ahmar, from the late 14th-century Book of Wonders.
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Ornamentation of intertwined serpents above the door of the Citadel of Aleppo.
See also
In Spanish: Genio para niños
