What are jinn and angels in Islam? Know the big difference

People are naturally curious about spiritual matters because we are spiritual beings. There are so many stories and beliefs about spiritual beings, and some are made to mislead us or distract us from what is most important. Distraction is a key tool of the enemy to keep people from finding the truth in Jesus.

The most important spiritual topic someone needs to learn about is Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers us. But this does not mean that we won’t have questions about other spiritual things like heaven, hell, or even angels.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to know more about angels, but they shouldn’t become a distraction from our core faith and relationship with God. Incorrect understandings of spiritual beings can quickly shift our focus from trusting in God to obsessing over matters that are not essential to our faith or evangelism. 

Islam has incorrect teachings about angels, along with other spiritual beings called jinn, and these can be distracting to Muslims. Most Muslims spend their lives worrying about encountering jinn and in their death facing the angels who will torture them in the grave. Many Muslims get so distracted by spiritual beings and their fear of them that they do not question Islam or search for the true God.

Angels in Islam - Who are the angels in Islam?

According to the Quran and Hadith, angels are spiritual beings that humans cannot see. Surah 35:1 explains that angels were created by Allah to be winged messengers. This hadith says that angels were “created from light:” 

“Muhammad said: The angels are created from light, just as the jinn are created from smokeless fire and mankind is created from what you have been told about." [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2996].

According to the hadith, Jibreel is the highest of all angels, taken from the Jewish and Christian belief in the angel Gabriel, who appeared to Mary in Luke 1:26-38. The Quran pulls from this account and also details Jibreel announcing Isa’s (Jesus’) birth to Mary in Surah 19:17

One Islamic hadith describes Jibreel with 600 wings that has jewels and treasures falling out of them, which is not similar to the biblical description of angels we find in Ezekiel.

Some Christians think that the “jinn” are angels, but jinn is not the Arabic word for angels. Rather, jinn are a separate group of spiritual beings that were created by Allah to be different from angels.

Jinn in the Quran - What are Jinn? Are jinn the same as angels?

Jinn are not the same as angels, although they are also spiritual beings that humans cannot see (Surah 7:27). While the Quran says that angels were created to be messengers of Allah, jinn are put on the same level as humans – to worship Allah (Surah 51:56) and they were created from fire, not light.

To know more about jinn, we look at chapter 72 of the Quran, called Surah al-Jinn, which is all about the jinn.One verse explains that jinn can choose to follow Allah or not, just like humans. Some are Muslim, and some are unbelievers, and they will be judged by Allah and punished or rewarded just like humans:

“Among us are those who are righteous and those who are less so. We have been of different factions.” Surah 72:11

Why are Muslims afraid of jinn?

Most Muslims are afraid of jinn because they have spiritual power and cannot be seen by the human eye. Muslims are not promised protection of Allah from jinn, but they need to protect themselves. One hadith says that every human being has a jinn counterpart appointed to them (Reported by Hadith Muslim, 2814). 

There are three types of jinn distinguished in the hadith: winged jinn, jinn that look like snakes or dogs, and specifically jinn that can “stop to rest on their journey and continue” (Reported by al-Tahawi in Mushkil al-Athar, 4/95). This means they can take the appearance of humans but with some twisted forms.   

There are certain prayers and recitations that Muslims make throughout their day to protect themselves from any negative schemes of the jinn. This is called reciting the “bismallah,” which is from Surah 23:97-98:

“And say, ‘My Lord! I seek refuge in You from the temptations of the devils. And I seek refuge in You, my Lord, that they even come near me.’”Reciting the Bismallah (which translates to “in the name of Allah”) is supposed to protect Muslims, and they are told to do it:

• Before entering a house

• Before eating or drinking

• Before having intercourse

• When entering a bathroom or changing clothes

The bismillah supposedly protects Muslims from the jinn interfering with or joining them in anything and protects their physical private parts from being seen by creatures they cannot see.

Does Islam say Satan is an angel or a jinn?

In Islam, Satan has a few different names – Shaytan, Iblis, Iblees – and he is not considered a fallen angel as he is called in the Bible. Instead, Surah 18:50 tells us that Satan was one of the jinn, meaning he had the ability to be a follower of Allah or not and he disobeyed Allah when he was commanded to bow before Adam.

Why should Christians understand Muslim beliefs about jinn angels and angels jinn?

Most Christians are not concerned about angels in their everyday lives. In fact, the majority of Christians don’t expect to encounter an angel. However, the Bible says in Hebrews 13:2 to always be a gracious host because you never know if it is an angel in your midst in 

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Also, the Word of God teaches us that angels serve God’s people; they minister to us (Hebrews 1:14) and are assigned to protect us (Psalm 91:11). 

Understanding the fear Muslims live in can give Christians sympathy for them. While Christians are promised that the Holy Spirit living in us will protect us from demons, Muslims do not have any assurance that Allah will protect them from the jinn (which are Satan's servants). They are responsible for being perfect in reciting Quranic passages and having strong faith to be protected from jinn.

Be bold and ask your Muslim friend about their beliefs about jinn. Take time to hear how it impacts them – maybe your friend does not follow the Quran as strictly as others, but maybe they do, and they are constantly afraid! Ask if you can pray for them to feel and know true peace, and tell them how you have found peace in Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Muslims

Dear Lord, I pray right now for Muslims who are living in fear of jinn and punishment from Allah. Please intercede in their lives and open their hearts to hear the gospel so they can live with peace instead of fear. Help me to know how to talk to my Muslim friend about You. Amen.