demons and evil spirits
Editorial introduction
Fear has a way of furnishing the dark with tenants. Asked why unseen forces should rule a person’s affairs, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá answers that this is only the imagination of mankind: the evil eye has no power in the glance, and whatever influence there is lives in the heart that receives it. The departed who were not good cannot reach back to harm the living, and even in life their power was slight, for good is stronger than evil. Holy souls, by contrast, pour out a blessing that is felt in every world. Words like jinn and Satan are given meanings that point inward, toward hidden motives and the self that tempts us. The letter of James likewise traces temptation to a person’s own desire rather than to God [1]. Freed from dread, attention can turn to the old question of Satan and the Evil One, to the teaching that evil has no positive existence, and to an honest look at superstition and the occult.
Q. Why and how is it that evil or unseen forces have the power to control one's affairs and why is it permissible for those forces to influence a person in any direction?
A. This is but the imagination of mankind.
Regarding what thou hadst written about the evil eye - this is superstition. The effect lies in the souls, not in the glances, and the influence is in the hearts, not in the eyes.
As for what was written about the evil eye, that is, the striking of the eye which in Arabic is called "the perfect eye" - you had asked whether the evil eye has any effect. There is no such effect in the eye itself, but there is consummate wisdom in the influence and impressions between souls. This is in general, but steadfast and firm souls are protected from this occurrence. And if someone experiences any imagination or effect, they should repeat "Ya Allah'u'l-Mustaghath" ninety-five times.
And regarding the matter of jinn, ghoul and al [spirits], what is revealed in the heavenly books has meaning, but what is in the mouths of common people is all pure fantasy. By jinn is meant hidden souls whose faith or denial is not apparent or witnessed. The Bab says: "The jinn is one in whom the fire of denial is hidden." And as for ghoul and al, what is meant by these are manifestations of heedlessness and error.
The jinn refers to imperceptible forces which influence human souls, and the word jinn in Arabic means hidden, that is, realities and forces which cannot be seen. Likewise devils and what people imagine are mere superstitions and have no existence whatsoever.
In regard to the dominance of evil spirits about which you inquired - how can evil spirits, who are deprived of eternal life, have any influence? However, holy souls, since eternal life is assured for them, their outpourings exist in all divine worlds.
There is no power exercised over the people by those evil souls that have passed away. Good is stronger than evil, and even when alive they had very little power. How much less have they after they are dead, and besides they are nowhere near this planet.
Abdu'l-Baha answered, "There are no earthbound souls. When the souls that are not good die, they go entirely away from this earth and so cannot influence anyone. They are spiritually dead. Their thoughts can have influence only while they are alive on the earth.
Superstition hath somewhat overcome her. When the imagined Satan overpowers, let her say: "O Baha-el- ABHA!" She should then turn to the highest Kingdom. Thus will the imagined Satan leave her. [She] has a form of obsession; therefore, you may not heed her sayings.
Awaken, awaken! And become detached, become detached from demons and evil spirits.
For thought and discussion