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Before the arrival of Islam, Persian mythology had its own rich traditions of supernatural beings, many of which predated the Arabic concept of djinn. While Arab djinn were spirits of fire and wind, capable of good or evil, Persian mythology had a structured dualism, dividing supernatural entities into Divs (demonic beings), Peris (fairy-like spirits), and Yatus (sorcerous entities). With the rise of Islam, Persian demonology merged with Islamic djinn lore, altering the way spirits were perceived across the Islamic world.
Persian Equivalents of Djinn Before Islam
Div (دیو) – The Evil Spirits
- Divs (Daevas in Avestan) were the main adversaries of Zoroastrianism, directly serving Ahriman (Angra Mainyu), the god of chaos and destruction (Boyce, 1984).
- Unlike djinn, who could be good, evil, or neutral, Divs were purely evil and deceptive.
- They appear in Shahnameh (The Persian Book of Kings) as monstrous beings fought by Persian heroes like Rustam (Ferdowsi, 10th century).
Peris (پری) – The Enchanting Fairies
- Peris were initially considered demonic but later evolved into good spirits in Persian folklore.
- They were depicted as ethereal, winged beings, at times imprisoned by Divs, waiting to be freed by heroes (Davidson, 2006).
- Unlike djinn, Peris had no connection to Islam and were later absorbed into Middle Eastern fairy tales.
Yatus (یاتو) – The Sorcerers or Spirits
- The Yatus were evil sorcerers or dark magical entities linked to Ahriman.
- Their name evolved into the Persian word "Jadu" (جادو), meaning sorcery or black magic (Duchesne-Guillemin, 1973).
Ahuras vs. Daevas – The Cosmic Battle
- In Iranian Zoroastrian tradition, Ahuras were the gods of light and truth, while Daevas (Divs) were the forces of darkness (Zaehner, 1961).
- This directly contrasts with Hinduism, where Devas are gods and Asuras are demons.
How Islam Changed Persian Beliefs About Spirits
1. Djinn Replacing the Divs
- When Islam spread into Persia, the concept of djinn was adapted to replace the Divs and Yatus.
- Islamic scholars like Al-Biruni recorded how Persians associated Divs with Islamic demons (Shayatin) and Ifrits (Gutas, 2001).
2. Peris Became Heavenly Beings
- Peris, once feared, became similar to Islamic angels or fairy-like spirits.
- Some scholars believe Peris influenced the concept of Hoor al-Ayn (heavenly maidens) in Islamic paradise narratives (Corbin, 1998).
3. Zoroastrian Dualism vs. Islamic Free Will
- In Zoroastrianism, Divs were evil without redemption, while Ahuras were always righteous.
- In Islam, djinn are neither purely good nor purely evil, but have free will, much like humans (Quran 55:15).
Conclusion: Persian Mythology Had a More Structured Demonology
While Arab djinn were elemental spirits with free will, Persian demonology was more rigid, dividing supernatural beings into absolute forces of good and evil. Islam merged these two traditions, leading to the ambiguous, unpredictable nature of djinn in Islamic belief. However, pre-Islamic Persian mythology remained deeply dualistic—Divs were evil, Peris were redeemable, and the ultimate battle between Ahura Mazda and Ahriman would decide the fate of the cosmos.
References
- Boyce, Mary. Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. Routledge, 1984.
- Corbin, Henry. The Man of Light in Iranian Sufism. Princeton University Press, 1998.
- Davidson, Olga M. Poet and Hero in the Persian Book of Kings. Harvard University Press, 2006.
- Duchesne-Guillemin, Jacques. Religion of Ancient Iran. Brill, 1973.
- Ferdowsi. Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings. 10th century CE.
- Gutas, Dimitri. Greek Thought, Arabic Culture: The Graeco-Arabic Translation Movement in Baghdad and Early Abbasid Society. Routledge, 2001.
- Zaehner, R.C. The Teachings of the Magi: A Compendium of Zoroastrian Beliefs. Oxford University Press, 1961.
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