In ancient Middle Eastern folklore, ifrits (or efreet) were a powerful type of jinn, supernatural creatures that were created from smokeless fire.
Ifrits were enormous, winged creatures that possessed immense magical abilities and superhuman strength. They were usually depicted as malicious and menacing, inclined to evil deeds, in contrast to other types of jinn who were more ambivalent or benign. In fact, the adjective “ifriti” came to mean “diabolical” or “infernal” in Arabic.
Ifrits frequently appear in Middle Eastern stories and folk tales, where they attempt to thwart heroes, terrorize local inhabitants, or are compelled to use their powers to serve human masters. Their origins are shrouded in mystery, although some accounts describe Iblis, the Islamic equivalent of the devil, as an ifrit who refused to bow to Adam.
Over time, belief in ifrit jinn waned, but they remain an intriguing fixture of regional mythology and occultism.
Ifrit Jinn in Quran
In the Quran and other Islamic texts, jinn represent a class of spirits lower than angels but capable of great powers. Among the jinn, the ifrit stand out as perhaps the most formidable and ominous. Although they receive little elaboration in the Quran itself, subsequent folklore, theological commentaries, and mystical writings flesh out their abilities and role.
Where is ifrit mentioned in Quran?
The few Quranic references describe the ifrit jinn as fierce and physically immense spirits. When Solomon marches his army of men and jinn past the valley of the ants in Sura 27, the beings that terrify the ants are identified specifically as ifrits, implying their gigantic stature.
The same passage also directly correlates the ifrit to the Islamic devil Iblis, linking them to rebellion against divine authority.
Earlier in Sura 27, an ifrit jinn offers to bring the Queen of Sheba’s throne to Solomon, a task accomplished in the blink of an eye due to the ifrit’s tremendous speed.
Later interpreters of the Quran expound on the ifrit further.
The 12th century mystic al-Ghazali, in his Talqih al-abhath, divides jinn into three orders, with the ifrit jinn occupying the highest and most powerful echelon.
Ifrit are sometimes categorized as a type of shaytan, roughly equivalent to demons. They are thought to dwell in desolate ruins and crumbling structures on the outskirts of human habitations. Medieval magical texts claim a properly summoned ifrit cannot be dismissed without acquiescing to a demand or completing an assigned task.
So while the Quran may not devote much attention to the ifrit jinn, their sparse mentions prove rich soil for extrapolation into formidable spirits both feared and sought after. Their role continues to grow in Muslim legends and occult mysteries.
What does an ifrit do?
In Middle Eastern mythology, ifrits constitute the most formidable tribe of jinn – supernatural beings made of smokeless fire.
Stories depict them as winged giants, with abilities far outstripping ordinary jinn and enough power to challenge even the cleverest humans. Tales featuring ifrits often revolve around how they use their formidable talents.
The Ifrits grants wishes, these wishes often have a twist if the ifrit feels slighted, reflecting their hostile and temperamental nature.
The mystical abilities of ifrits also impress human onlookers. Ifrits reputedly have the power to grant wishes, transform objects and beings, and divine the unknowable.
How strong are Ifrits? Ifrit Powers and What they do?
Strength and speed stand as the most outstanding physical capabilities of the ifrit. Ifrits can carry massive loads swiftly across vast distances. Their might also enables them to serve as warriors, slaughtering entire armies when unleashed.
Although winged, some accounts show ifrits traveling underground, tunneling through the earth without hindrance.
Ifrits also work as assassins, striking down victims unawares with sorcery rather than direct combat.
An ifrit’s abilities depend greatly on its current state of imprisonment or freedom.
Trapped ifrits either perform forced labor for their human masters or seethe in captivity, awaiting release. Freed ifrits may go on rampages, destroying everything in their path.
These rampages symbolize the chaos ifrits represent – unpredictable, contrary to order, and capable of upending human society through sheer power.
So while most ifrit tales how strong are Ifrits and Ifrits Powers and how they use their skills offensively, their capabilities far outstrip those applications. Ifrit abilities distill supernatural power into the hands of beings often described as amoral and inhuman. No wonder humans both fear and lust after mastery over these volatile spirits!
Ifrit and Human child
An ifrit and human child pairing could potentially manifest in a few different ways in mythology or fiction:
- The ifrit seeks to harm the child. In traditional folklore, ifrits were often seen as malicious beings who could prey upon humans, including children. Their supernatural powers could make children easy targets for their tricks or violence.
- The child summons or controls the ifrit. Some fictional tales feature a young protagonist who manages to summon an ifrit to do their bidding. The child may command the ifrit to act on their behalf, perhaps seeking vengeance against enemies with the ifrit’s magic.
- A forbidden friendship. Some modern stories have explored unlikely bonds between mystical beings like ifrits and humans. A tale could show a lonely ifrit finding friendship in an open-minded child. These stories often have bittersweet emotional arcs as the friendship faces external persecution.
- The ifrit protects or nurtures the child. A modern, more benevolent interpretation of an ifrit might show it using its powers to guard a vulnerable child, perhaps one who has touched the ifrit’s sense of compassion. Acting as an honorary godfather, the ifrit bonds with the child and keeps them from harm.
So while folklore paints a dark picture, fictional accounts allow for a wide range of relationships, from antagonistic to surprisingly tender. The dichotomy between a mysterious, powerful ifrit and an innocent child opens story possibilities spanning malevolence to compassion.
Is an ifrit good or bad Jinn?
An ifrit is a supernatural creature from Middle Eastern and Islamic folklore. Ifrits are typically portrayed as powerful and dangerous beings:
- In traditional stories, ifrits are depicted as malicious and evil spirits or jinn that like to cause harm to humans. They were feared for their ability to use magic and trick people.
- However, some more modern fictional works have also depicted ifrits as more neutral or even benevolent beings. Sometimes they are shown as allies to heroes or less overwhelmingly dangerous and more balanced in their morality.
So in traditional folklore and stories, ifrits tended to lean more towards “bad”. But in contemporary fiction there is a bit more diversity and moral ambiguity about the nature of ifrits. Overall they are still usually shown as supernatural creatures with great power and unpredictable motives that can make them dangerous. Their moral and ethical slant varies depending on the story.