Many Westerners know the term genie from the tale of Aladdin and the magic lamp, or the 1960s American sitcom, I Dream of Jeannie. But the BBC’s Sebastian Usher says genies, or jinn, in Islamic theology can be a lot more sinister. They are believed to be normally invisible but with the ability to assume human or animal form, and are often said to be motivated by revenge or jealousy.
