Difference between revisions of "Ifrit"
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'''Ifrit''' (I say "ih-FREET"),<ref>Like with the term ''jinn'', I use the singular as the plural.</ref> also spelled '''efreet''', are legendary beings from Islamic theology. They are generally believed to be a class of powerful [[demon | demons]]. | '''Ifrit''' (I say "ih-FREET"),<ref>Like with the term ''jinn'', I use the singular as the plural.</ref> also spelled '''efreet''', are legendary beings from Islamic theology. They are generally believed to be a class of powerful [[demon | demons]]. | ||
== Etymology == | |||
The term is a weird one because it doesn't appear in Arabic before the Quran, and even in the Quran it only appears once, in Surah 27. In it, King Solomon asks his people which of them can bring him the throne of the Queen of Sheba. Then "A '''powerful one''' from among the jinn said, 'I will bring it to you before you rise from your place, and indeed, I am for this [task] strong and trustworthy.'" | The term is a weird one because it doesn't appear in Arabic before the Quran, and even in the Quran it only appears once, in Surah 27. In it, King Solomon asks his people which of them can bring him the throne of the Queen of Sheba. Then "A '''powerful one''' from among the jinn said, 'I will bring it to you before you rise from your place, and indeed, I am for this [task] strong and trustworthy.'" | ||
The term "powerful one" there is ''ifritun'', coming from ''ifrit'', meaning "powerful, rebellious." In other words, when Solomon calls for volunteers to take the Queen of Sheba's throne, a fearsome, loose-cannon of a jinn raises his hand—that is an ifrit.<ref>And if you're wondering, in the next verse, a scholar of the Torah speaks up and volunteers as well. Solomon gives him the job over the ifrit, and the guy brings him the throne in "the blink of an eye."</ref> | |||
== Endnotes == | == Endnotes == | ||
Revision as of 18:28, 30 July 2022
Ifrit (I say "ih-FREET"),[1] also spelled efreet, are legendary beings from Islamic theology. They are generally believed to be a class of powerful demons.
Etymology
The term is a weird one because it doesn't appear in Arabic before the Quran, and even in the Quran it only appears once, in Surah 27. In it, King Solomon asks his people which of them can bring him the throne of the Queen of Sheba. Then "A powerful one from among the jinn said, 'I will bring it to you before you rise from your place, and indeed, I am for this [task] strong and trustworthy.'"
The term "powerful one" there is ifritun, coming from ifrit, meaning "powerful, rebellious." In other words, when Solomon calls for volunteers to take the Queen of Sheba's throne, a fearsome, loose-cannon of a jinn raises his hand—that is an ifrit.[2]
