by Samir Ibrahim

Many Muslims believe there is a material world of the senses, and behind it a world of spirits, with whom they have a relationship by means of religion or magic. In pre-Islamic Arabia, the spirit-world consisted of "Allah" and the "Jinn." The link between men and the "Jinn" or spirits were magicians, soothsayers, et cetera. As Islam spread throughout the world, it came in contact with other supernatural beliefs, magical arts, and rituals. Notably, it not only retained some of its former magical practices in Arabia, but adopted certain local animistic concepts and practices.