# Why not treat jinn possession as just a difference of opinion among scholars?

*Why he refuses a diplomatic 'two opinions' stance on jinn possession*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/7z8yu8kr83y/s/25/
- Date: 2017-09-20 · Kind: lesson · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Jinn Possessions: Myth and Reality in Islam by Sh. Akram Nadwi & Mufti Abu Layth (1:56:14–1:58:09)
- Status: general teaching
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z8yu8Kr83Y&t=6974s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/7z8yu8kr83y/

**Topics:** Jinn possession; Cults, clergy and religious abuse; Scholars and imams of the past

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** Because it is not a harmless difference like raising the hands in prayer: belief in possession underwrites mass exploitation, a multi-million pound industry and ridicule of Islam and its Prophet. Al-Razi, al-Maraghi, Ibn Ashur and al-Shawkani are among those who denied it, and the abuse must end.

**Checked position (checked by two independent reviews, not by the channel):** Mufti Abu Layth refuses a diplomatic stance that treats possession as one of two valid opinions, because unlike a difference over raising the hands in prayer this belief underwrites mass exploitation and abuse and brings ridicule on Islam and its Prophet.

**Evidence, his words at 1:57:09:** “this is why i refuse to have a diplomatic stance on this that this abuse is unacceptable it needs to be brought to an end” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z8yu8Kr83Y&t=7029s)

## Longer summary

Mufti Abu Layth names scholars who rejected possession, Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, Abu Ya'la [?] of the Hanbalis, the Mu'tazila, and within the Sunni mainstream in recent times Mustafa al-Maraghi, the great Shaykh of al-Azhar, Ibn Ashur the famous commentator and al-Shawkani in his tafsir, and takes the objection that since Ibn Taymiyya and others affirmed it, the matter should be left as two opinions. He answers that this is not like raising or not raising the hands in prayer, a harmless difference where each may follow his view; this opinion results in mass exploitation and unleashes a tyranny of abuse, a multi-million pound industry rides on it, religion is ridiculed for believing in demons in the twenty-first century, and the Prophet Muhammad is ridiculed as a consequence. For these reasons he refuses to take a diplomatic stance: the abuse is unacceptable and must be brought to an end, and the understanding presented must be popularised, which he hopes those present and those who watch later will help to do. He closes the session.

## Sources and names cited

- Fakhr al-Din al-Razi
- Abu Ya'la al-Farra [?] (Hanbali)
- Mu'tazila
- Mustafa al-Maraghi
- Ibn Ashur
- al-Shawkani
- Ibn Taymiyya
- raf' al-yadayn (raising the hands in prayer)
- jinn

## Transcript (machine tier, 1:56:14–1:58:09)

[1:55:54] and beyond that it doesn't tackle the greater issues of abuse so this isn't sometimes people say but why can't we just sit on the fence you know okay this is a view you know you're saying because there were many orlimar you heard from chef's occur many Olimar being quoted there was for Athena Razi Audioboo yeah Allah from the humble ease there was people there were other ala ma from the martyrs Allah but even within Allison man you'd heard up into recent times sheltered most of all Marathi great the great Michelle as her if not assured famous Mufasa even show canny in stuff see these kind of things they they they don't accept this kind of stuff jinn

[1:56:32] possession but people say okay this is an opinion but it wouldn't a Mia said this and you know so-and-so said this but so why don't we just have it as two opinions no because it's not just this isn't like should I do roughly Dana should not do roughly thing because look roughly a Dane or not roughly then isn't it's no big deal if you decide to do roughly then you know I decide to do it and you decide not to do it it's a four dealer within salade is two opinions this opinion results in mass exploitations in incredible the tyranny

[1:57:09] of abuse is unleashed by this huge a whole multi-million dollar industry is on the back of this this this belief religion is ridiculed on the back of that you believe in demons possessing you I mean in the 21st century what you know let's like people who go to a doctor it's okay is this got a gene this is an in Islam the Prophet Muhammad SAW Allah Allah salam is ridiculed as a consequence and all of these things make this unacceptable to just say well look oh you know it's just two opinions let's just be diplomatic towards it so this is why i refuse to have a

[1:57:49] diplomatic stance on this that this abuse is unacceptable it needs to be brought to an end and we need to popularize this understanding in saying and this is why you know hopefully people obviously yourselves here but people who watch this later on can learn from this in child loss so hiya Kamala so I hope that's off somehow

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment 7z8yu8Kr83Y/s/25. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/7z8yu8kr83y/s/25/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.