Qareen
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A Qareen (
Qareen in Islam
Quran
The term Qareen is mentioned in the following Quran verses without necessarily referring to any type of spiritual creature:
Interpretation
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. 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.[2]
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
Other sources
The concept of a Qareen appears in pre-Islamic literature as well, and is reminiscent of the
How prevalent it is in folk belief varies by country. For example, it is more popular in Egypt than Sudan.[11] It is possible the concept in Egypt has been influenced by the older concept of the ka. In some cases (such as that of holy men), the qarin or karin persists after a person has died.[12] In Egypt, both Copts and Muslims believe in the qarin, and believe it may turn into a cat or dog at night[13]. Amulets are used to guard against the qarin, especially if it is jealous. Pregnant women in Egypt used to visit a sheikha three months before birth to ask their counsel on ensuring their qarina does not harm their child. The prescribed rituals and amulets usually involve the number seven. Brides in Upper Egypt also wore amulets against their qarin.[14]
Some record the belief from
Russian and Turkish Muslims believe the qarin is present in the womb with the person it's attached to.[14]
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
- Angel
- Bicameral mentality
- Dmuta in Mandaeism
- Doppelgänger
- Etiäinen
- Familiar spirit
- Genii
- Jinn
- Shadow (psychology)
- Tulpa
- Winged genie
References
- ^ Anwer Mahmoud Zanaty Glossary Of Islamic Terms IslamKotob page 184
- ^ ISBN 978-0-813-54610-0page 144
- ^ ISBN 978-0-520-27841-7page 145
- ^ Quran 43:36
- ^ Quran 37:51
- ^ Quran 4:38
- ^ Quran 50:23
- ISBN 978-1-860-64997-4page 154
- ISBN 978-0-738-72881-0. p. 117.
- ISBN 978-1-860-64997-4. p. 153.
- ^ "Sudan Notes and Records Volume 9 — Sudan Open Archive". www.sudanarchive.net. pp. 80–82. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
- ^ Haikal, Fayza M. H. "The Heritage Of Ancient Egypt In The Culture Of Islamic And Modern Egypt".
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(help) - ^ Blackman, Winifred. The Fellahin of Upper Egypt. pp. 69–71.
- ^ a b c Zwemer, Samuel Marinus. Influence of Animism on Islam. pp. 107–118.