Magic and the Supernatural - Lancaster University

Orchida Ismail and Lamya Ramadan
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As is usually the case, the Jinni offers to spare Sanaan’s life on a condition. He
orders Sanaan to murder the governor of their quarter. It is amazing to learn that
the reason for that request is that the governor has bound the Jinni by a black magic
spell and by murdering the governor he will get his freedom. Suddenly the Jinni is
grouped with those exploited by the governor. Ironically, he resorts to a human to
grant his wish. The merchant Sanaan gives in with a curious phrase: ‘I resign
myself to my fate.’
The reason why we need to contemplate this statement is that Sanaan was quick
to decide that the Jinni is equivalent to fate which is by nature predestined and
impossible to change. However, the incidents that follow are obviously Sanaan’s
choice! At night Sanaan goes out with a head full of sexual fantasies only to rape
and kill a ten year old girl. Sanaan calls for the Jinni to rescue him, which he does
by using his power to get Sanaan out of the crime scene without anyone seeing
him.
The Jinni acuses Sanaan of madness to perform such a crime and that brings to
mind the relationship between madness and being possessed by a Jinni. The two
words are used interchangeably to replace each other especially that the Arabic
word for becoming mad and possessed by a Jinni are the same: ‘mass of madness,
mass of Jinni.’
The next step is for Sanaan to murder the governor but this time the Jinni
refuses to help him. This is again typical of Jinn conduct as they promise one thing
but give another: The Jinni answers Sanaan that he shall not anger God. This
answer is reminiscent of the devil’s answer to sinners going to hell saying it was
him who led them astray by stating ‘I fear God Lord of the Heavens and the earth.’
Sanaan is trialled despite his grotesque story about the Jinni and is beheaded.
Sanaan’s transformation is described as a ‘recreation of the man’s nature.’ 8
Now we need to decide whether Jinn change people’s natures. The second
character to have a Jinni cross his way is Gamasa Al Bulti the chief of police.
While Gamasa is fishing, he accidentally frees a Jinni imprisoned in a metal ball at
the bottom of the lake. Gamasa’s pleads for mercy but for some reason the Jinni
wants to grant mercy only to merciful people being the ones who deserve it. He
asks Gamasa if he is a God fearing person following His orders while performing
his job. Gamasa is revealed as a hypocrite who follows orders regardless and
gladly takes his share of the money undeservedly earned by his superiors. Again
the Jinni confirms ‘No harm afflicts us (Jinn) that does not come from human
beings.’ 9
Gamasa is confronted with the truth about himself. The Jinni’s accusations
reveal to him that he is ‘a murderous robber, protector of criminals, torturer of
innocent men. He had forgotten God until he had been reminded of Him by the
Jinni.’ 10 As Gamasa reaches despair he is transformed. Surprisingly, he truly shows
signs of repenting his past conduct and comes to a decision to make things right.
He lets all the innocent prisoners, even the political adversaries, free. He then goes
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