Is Every Muslim Assigned a Jinn at Birth? If So, Can It Become Good or Bad?

Answered by Ustadh Nail Kadi

Question

Is every Muslim assigned a Jinn at birth? If so, can it become good or bad?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

Every person is assigned an associate from the Jinn whose goal is to lead one astray and an Angel whose mission is to guide and inspire.

Allah says in Surat al-Qaf:

“And his (evil) companion will say, ‘Lord, I did not make him transgress; he had already gone far astray himself.’ God will say, ‘Do not argue in My presence. I sent you a warning and My word cannot be changed: I am not unjust to any creature.’” [Quran, 50:27-29]

Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him and his father) said the “companion (قرينه)” in verse 27 refers to an evil jinn appointed to every person. [Ibn Kathir, Tafsir Ibn Kathir]

In fact, Imam Muslim in his Sahih titles one of the sections in the chapter on the “Day of Judgement, Paradise, and Fire” in the following way:  “The Mischief Of The Shaytan And How He Sends His Troops To Tempt People, And With Every Person There Is an Associate.”

“.بَاب تَحْرِيشِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَبَعْثِهِ سَرَايَاهُ لِفِتْنَةِ النَّاسِ وَأَنَّ مَعَ كُلِّ إِنْسَانٍ قَرِينًا”

Angel and Jinn as Companions

In a hadith narrated by the noble companion Abdullah bin Mas’ud, the Messenger of Allah (May God’s peace and blessing be upon him) said, “‘There is none amongst you with whom is not an associate from amongst the jinn (devil).’ They (the Companions) said: ‘Allah’s Messenger, with you too?’ Thereupon he said: ‘Yes, but Allah helps me against him and so I am safe from his hand and he does not command me but for good.’” [Muslim]

There is another narration also mentioned in Sahih Muslim which mentioned the existence of an associate from the Angels.

We learn that even the Prophets have been assigned jinn except that their lofty state is a shield and has a transformative effect on their associate. The hadith reminds us of the continual reality of being tested by one’s associate and also of the possibility of the jinn’s becoming a force for good.

As for seeking protection from the Jinn, see the following:
The Jinn: The Reality of Their Existence and How to Protect Ourselves From Them

And Allah knows best
[Ustadh] Nail Kadi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani