Jawnomicon

Shaitan

Also called Sheitan, Sheytan, shaytan, shayatin, sheytans, shitan, chitane.

In Islamic tradition, Shaitan denotes both the singular tempter-figure identified with Iblis and, in the plural shayatin, the wider class of evil jinn who serve him in leading humanity astray.

At a glance

Tradition
Islamic mythologyPersian mythology
Kind
Arabian jinn
Trait family
The Song-Binders

Near this figure

and 2 more

Traits

Read from the figure's description, which a model wrote. Open "why" for the sentence a trait came from.

Form

  • Made of smokeless fire
    why

    Jinn in Quranic cosmology are a distinct order of beings created from smokeless fire, parallel to humanity and subject to the same moral choice between belief and defiance; shaitan and shayatin denote specifically those jinn who chose defiance.

  • Shapeshifts human animal
    why

    appearing in disguised or animal form

Behaviour

  • Confuses travelers into losing their way
    why

    The shayatin are credited with a narrow but well-attested repertoire: whispering temptation into the hearts of humans, a mode of influence the Quran names directly, inciting discord and sin, causing forgetfulness and intrusive thoughts during prayer, and appearing in disguised or animal form to mislead travelers.

Utility powers

  • Emotional manipulation
    why

    The shayatin are credited with a narrow but well-attested repertoire: whispering temptation into the hearts of humans, a mode of influence the Quran names directly, inciting discord and sin, causing forgetfulness and intrusive thoughts during prayer, and appearing in disguised or animal form to mislead travelers.

  • Invisibility
    why

    Lebling's survey of the fire spirits notes that every category of jinn, shaitans included, is able to change shape or hide itself by becoming invisible, which is why their appearance is said to vary with circumstance.

Roles

Judged from the works' own entries, not from the description. Carries: the figure holds the role. Meets: the role is in its stories, held by something it meets.