djinn

Everyday

1. In Arab and Muslim stories and beliefs, a spirit made of smokeless fire that can be good or bad and can sometimes take the shape of people or animals. tree →
2. A genie, like the magic spirit in a lamp in the story of Aladdin. tree →
3. In the Just So Story «How the Camel Got His Hump», the Djinn in charge of All Deserts gives the lazy Camel a hump because he only says «Humph!» and will not work. tree →

In the lessons

Muslims believe that jinn are real beings created by God, mentioned in the Qur'an; in story books they are magic spirits who grant wishes or play tricks. In the Just So Stories the Djinn is a wise, powerful spirit who teaches the Camel a lesson about laziness: the Camel must now carry his own food in his hump so he can work three days without eating.

Examples

• The Djinn rolled across the desert in a cloud of dust. tree →
• «Humph!» said the Camel, and the Djinn made his back puff up into a hump. tree →
• In the old tale, a djinn came out of the bottle. tree →
• The Djinn in charge of All Deserts was riding on a whirlwind. tree →
• Aladdin's genie is a kind of djinn. tree →
• Some people tell stories of djinn who live in empty places. tree →
• The Djinn said, «You've had three days off; now work.» tree →

Note

Sounds like «jin»; the d is silent. Plural can be djinns or djinn. Genie is the English form of the same word. Speak of Muslim beliefs respectfully: «Muslims believe in jinn».