By Aboo Aamir
Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem
About two weeks ago, Dr. Imran came out publicly with the claim that the Ifreet from the time of Prophet Sulaymān (ʿalayhi as-salām) died forty years ago. This assertion prompted a wave of rebuttals from many Muslims.
We also published a response, although perhaps not as clearly as it should have been, wherein we stated that such a belief is incorrect. We suggested that perhaps the duktūr heard this claim from a jinn during a ruqyah session. But even if that were the case, such a source remains unreliable, as jinn are known liars.
We also corrected the mistaken notion that Ifreet is a specific individual among the jinn. Rather, Ifreet is a descriptive term referring to every powerful and stubborn jinn as agreed by the Qur'an experts.
As for the one mentioned in Sūrah an-Naml, in the verse: "ʿIfreetun mina al-jinn" (An Ifreet from among the jinn), some of the mufassirūn identified him with names such as Kuzān, Kudān, or Dhakwān.
Despite the initial pushback, Dr. Imran has repeatedly reasserted his position and attempted to provide foundations for his bold claim. So he reiterated his stance in a recent video at a public function.
Talking about the mortality of the jinns, which nobody disputes with him, he argued that al-ghayb (the unseen) is of two types: mutlaq (absolute) and nisbī (relative), and that knowledge about the jinn and ruhaaniyah (spiritual beings) falls under al-ghayb an-nisbī. He likened it to knowing the gender or date of delivery of a baby in the womb via ultrasound technology.
He further claimed that an acquaintance of his told him about this in 1987 when he was still a pupil in his father's madrasah. This acquaintance, he said, was an expert in ʿilm al-jinn wa ar-ruhānīyah, having studied it in Egypt, then India, and later in the United States. Some of Dr. Imran’s audience affirmed knowing this “expert.”
He concluded that when an expert speaks about his field, his opinion should be respected. He claimed he was merely quoting a source.
Dear Dr. Imran, all these notions are mistaken.
The Knowledge of the Unseen (ʿIlm al-Ghayb) is solely with Allah—the All-Aware, the All-Knowing, even what is in the wombs.
Though technology may allow humans to determine the sex or approximate due date of a baby, this does not amount to knowing the ghayb in the Islamic sense. What the verse in Surah Luqmān refers to is complete knowledge of what is in the womb, such as the child’s future, sustenance, deeds, lifespan, and destiny, all of which remain known only to Allah.
As Shaykh Ibn al-‘Uthaymīn, rahimahullah, explained, such observable details, like gender, may be discovered through tools and signs, and this does not contradict the exclusive nature of Allah’s knowledge of the unseen. Medical predictions remain limited and prone to error, and are not comparable to the perfect, all-encompassing ʿilm al-ghayb of Allah.
Allaah therefore said:
قُلْ لَا يَعْلَمُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۚ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ
If anyone were to know some aspects of the ghayb, it would be the Messengers of Allah, and that would be through wahy (revelation), as He says:
عَالِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ فَلَا يُظْهِرُ عَلَىٰ غَيْبِهِ أَحَدًا • إِلَّا مَنِ ٱرْتَضَىٰ مِن رَّسُولٍ
Therefore, all such claims about knowing the actions, life, or death of the jinn and spirit beings amount to rajman bil-ghayb (conjecture about the unseen), which Allah has warned us against:
وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ مَا تَتْلُوا۟ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَـٰنَ...
Studying the secrets of the jinn and the spiritual world (ruhaaniyaat) is part of the prohibited knowledge due to its inevitable link to misguidance and evil.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah - rahimahullah - said:
"وأما من يدعي علم أسرار الحروف وأسماء الروحانيين فهؤلاء من جنس السحرة والكهان."
“As for those who claim knowledge of the secrets of letters and the names of spiritual beings, they are of the same kind as magicians and soothsayers.” Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā (13/267)
Ibn al-Qayyim - rahimahullah - said:
"فالسحر مبني على الشرك، وكل ما كان فيه استعانة بالجن أو تقرب إليهم فهو من السحر."
“Magic is based on shirk. Any practice involving seeking help from the jinn or drawing close to them is a form of magic.” Zād al-Maʿād (4/124)
Ash-Shaykh Al-Imaam Muhammad ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhāb - rahimahullah - said:
"الروحانيات من أبواب الشرك، وكثير منها لا يُفرّق عن السحر إلا بالاسم، فاحذرها."
“Spiritualities are gateways to shirk, and many of them are indistinguishable from magic, except in name. Beware of them.” ad-Durar as-Saniyyah (2/118)
Ash-Shaykh Ibn Bāz, rahimahullah, said:
"من يتعلم طرق تسخير الجن أو التعامل معهم فهو على خطر عظيم من الكفر، وإن سميت هذه العلوم بأسماء براقة مثل 'روحانية' أو 'أسرار'."
“Whoever learns methods of subjugating or interacting with the jinn is in grave danger of disbelief, even if these sciences are given attractive names like ‘spirituality’ or ‘secrets.’” Majmūʿ Fatāwā Ibn Bāz (8/111)
Ash-Shaykh Ibn Uthaymīn, rahimahullah, stated:
"العلم الذي يُسمى بالروحاني، إذا تضمن طلاسم أو استعانة بالجن، فهو سحر محرّم وكفرٌ بالله."
“So-called ‘spiritual knowledge’, if it includes talismans or seeking help from jinn, is forbidden magic and disbelief in Allah.” Liqāʾ al-Bāb al-Maftūḥ, tape no. 168
This subject is no different from tanjīm (astrology), which is also condemned in Islam.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"مَنِ اقْتَبَسَ شَيْئًا مِنَ النُّجُومِ، فَقَدِ اقْتَبَسَ شُعْبَةً مِنَ السِّحْرِ، زَادَ مَا زَادَ."
If all of this is clear, as we believe it should be to our honourable doctor, then honouring someone who claims such knowledge is reprehensible, let alone quoting them as an authority.
Islam teaches us to verify information:
يَا أَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا۟ إِن جَآءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌۭ بِنَبَإٍۢ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓا۟...
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
"كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ كَذِبًا أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ."
Our respected Dr. Imran should reflect on this. We understand that back in 1987, the general understanding of the Sunnah was weaker than it is today. But now, in 2025 (1447 AH), we must be cautious with the information we disseminate, especially anything that can corrupt the sound creed of the Muslims.
We sincerely hope Dr. Imran Eleha will retract this grave error, for the sake of the Ummah and to protect his followers from the gross misconception and irreparable danger this can lead to.
All knowledge lies with Allaah the All-Knowing.
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