Ibn Warraq in his book states that there is no such things as Jinns, Demons, Satan, Angels and other supernatural beings. I can understand why he would say that, because he doesn’t believe in the supernatural.
The key term here is the supernatural. All three Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam acknowledge the existence of Angels, demons and Satan. We can see from the Bible that there are references to these beings.
References to Angels:
Psalms 91:11, Genesis 18:1-3, Exodus 23:20-22, The Book of Tobias [Tobit]
References to Devils/Demons:
Leviticus 17:7, Deuteronomy 32:17, 2 Chronicles 11:15, Psalms 106:35-37, Judges 9:23, 1 Sam 18:10, 1 Sam 19:9, Matthew 4:24, Matthew 8:16, Matthew 8:28-34, Matthew 9:32-33, Mark 5:2-20, Luke 4:41, John 7:20-21, etc.
So the Bible also states that there are supernatural beings among us. But people such as atheists, would argue that if they do exist then how come we cant see them? Islamic tradition indicates that Satan is invisible and that his tribe and his army can see you but you cant see them. How is this possible. I really don’t know. When you die you can ask God. However, Satan could be much closer to us than imagined. The Holy Prophet Mohammed peace be upon him had stated:
Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Verily Satan circulates in the body like blood. Muslim Book 026, Number 5404
So Satan is already in the human body, he is circulating the body like Blood. Another Hadith states:
439. Do not call on women in the absence of their husbands, because Satan might be circulating in any one of you like blood.
(Tirmidhi).
(Ideal Woman in Islam. by Imran Muhammad).
So Satan could be similar to a bacterial infection that circulates in human beings. Demons (or jinns as they are called in Islamic traditions) are able to be seen and heard by others as well:
Volume 5, Book 58, Number 206:
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar:
I never heard 'Umar saying about something that he thought it would be so-and-so, but he was quite right. Once, while 'Umar was sitting, a handsome man passed by him, 'Umar said, "If I am not wrong, this person is still on his religion of the pre-lslamic period of ignorance or he was their foreteller. Call the man to me." When the man was called to him, he told him of his thought. The man said, "I have never seen such a day on which a Muslim is faced with such an accusation." 'Umar said, "I am determined that you should tell me the truth." He said, "I was a foreteller in the pre-lslamic period of ignorance." Then 'Umar said, "Tell me the most astonishing thing your female Jinn has told you of." He said, "One-day while I was in the market, she came to me scared and said, 'Haven't you seen the Jinns and their despair and they were overthrown after their defeat (and prevented from listening to the news of the heaven) so that they (stopped going to the sky and) kept following camel-riders (i.e. 'Arabs)?" 'Umar said, "He is right." and added, "One day while I was near their idols, there came a man with a calf and slaughtered it as a sacrifice (for the idols). An (unseen) creature shouted at him, and I have never heard harsher than his voice. He was crying, 'O you bold evil-doer! A matter of success! An eloquent man is saying: None has the right to be worshipped except you (O Allah).' On that the people fled, but I said, 'I shall not go away till I know what is behind this.' Then the cry came again: 'O you bold evil-doer! A matter of success! An eloquent man is saying: None has the right to be worshipped except Allah.' I then went away and a few days later it was said, "A prophet has appeared."
Angels seen by others in Islamic traditions:
Sometimes Angels would be visble to others in the time of Prophet Mohammed. Consider these hadith:
Sa'd reported that on the Day of Ubud I saw on the right side of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and on his left side two persons dressed in white clothes and whom I did not see before nor after that, and they were Gabriel and Michael (Allah be pleased with both of them).
Narrated Abu Huraira:
One day while the Prophet was sitting in the company of some people, (The angel) Gabriel came and asked, "What is faith?" Allah's Apostle replied, 'Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, (the) meeting with Him, His Apostles, and to believe in Resurrection." Then he further asked, "What is Islam?" Allah's Apostle replied, "To worship Allah Alone and none else, to offer prayers perfectly to pay the compulsory charity (Zakat) and to observe fasts during the month of Ramadan." Then he further asked, "What is Ihsan (perfection)?" Allah's Apostle replied, "To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion then you must consider that He is looking at you." Then he further asked, "When will the Hour be established?" Allah's Apostle replied, "The answerer has no better knowledge than the questioner. But I will inform you about its portents.
1. When a slave (lady) gives birth to her master.
2. When the shepherds of black camels start boasting and competing with others in the construction of higher buildings. And the Hour is one of five things which nobody knows except Allah.
The Prophet then recited: "Verily, with Allah (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour--." (31. 34) Then that man (Gabriel) left and the Prophet asked his companions to call him back, but they could not see him. Then the Prophet said, "That was Gabriel who came to teach the people their religion." Abu 'Abdullah said: He (the Prophet) considered all that as a part of faith.
Volume 5, Book 59, Number 327:
Narrated Rifaa:
(who was one of the Badr warriors) Gabriel came to the Prophet and said, "How do you look upon the warriors of Badr among yourselves?" The Prophet said, "As the best of the Muslims." or said a similar statement. On that, Gabriel said, "And so are the Angels who participated in the Badr (battle)."
Volume 5, Book 59, Number 330:
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
The Prophet said on the day (of the battle) of Badr, "This is Gabriel holding the head of his horse and equipped with arms for the battle.
Volume 9, Book 93, Number 547:
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
The Prophet said, "O Gabriel, what prevents you. from visiting us more often than you do?" Then this Verse was revealed:--'And we angels descend not but by Command of your Lord. To Him belongs what is before us and what is behind us..' (19.64) So this was the answer to Muhammad.
Volume 5, Book 59, Number 444:
Narrated Anas:
As if I am just now looking at the dust rising in the street of Banu Ghanm (in
So these hadith incidate that in the time of Prophet Mohammed, Angel Gabriel would sometimes would be seen by others and sometimes he wouldn’t be. So there is evidence for the supernatural. Most of the time Angels are invisible but sometimes they do show themselves. The Devil and his followers are out there, and are closer than we may think. So this is enough to prove that they truly do exist.
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