72: Sprites

This graphic chapter was revealed after The Heights 7 and following the Prophet 's
apparently unsuccessful mission to the mountain town of Ta!if (or Tayif) 50 miles
to the southeast of Mecca. This event took place in 620 A. D.. or two years before
the Hijra or his Transfer to Madina. It, like the previous chapter. contains 28
Meccan verses arranged in two sections. Its style resembles that of Chapter 18 on
The Cave, for it relates similar allegories.
The terms Jinn or genie ` (which forms the usual rendering for the title)
are confusing, and when employed they tend to give an undesirable Arabian
Nights atmosphere to this sacred text. The Jinn (which is a plural in Arabic)
are intelligent yet immaterial beings created from fire. If the cognate word spirits
is used in English, it can be confused with the Holy Spirit (or Ruh who in Islamic
theology is the archangel Gabriel); thus I prefer the more popular term sprites
which somewhat makes them resemble the gremlins, elves or the so-called little
people `in Western folklore, especially in Celtic areas. Professor Faruqi calls
them: spiritual beings between man and angels (in referring to 51:III). We can
also remember the evil spirits which Jesus cast out in Matthew 8:16 and Mark
5. Some commentators consider these sprites to be opponents of the Prophet's
mission hecause of those associated with solomon.