The Jinn and Alien Abduction
2:30
12 Sep 2012
Cosmology, Extraterrestrials
Hamza Yusuf
This video uses an audio track from Hamza Yusuf and creates its own visuals to go with it. Unlike most slide shows, the visuals are themselves videos, and the text of the audio is given as subtitles. There is no indication when or where the original lecture took place.
The material presented suggests that experiences like alien abductions are similar to what Muslims refer to as jinn abduction. (Jinn are one of the three kinds of creatures one meets in the Qurʾān. Humans are made from dust/earth, jinn from fire, and angels from light.)
Some of the videos are lights in the night sky, which seem to suggest aliens.
It’s worth noting that the video is littered with advertisements, including both front and back bumpers, for the video’s uploader on YouTube, Pearls of Madina, which appears to be defunct as a web site, but is active on Facebook and Twitter. It appears to be affiliated with the Kabbani Naqshbandi Sufi organization.
Evaluation:
Hamza Yusuf’s discussion of jinn indicates both their acceptance among Muslims and his slight discomfort with something that doesn’t fit with modern paradigms.
There is little science here other than the connection to aliens.
There is insufficient historical material on which to base an evaluation.
About Hamza Yusuf
Born as Mark Hanson in 1959 to two American parents, Hamza Yusuf converted to Islam at age 17 after a near death experience and is now one of the most influential Islamic scholars in the world. Shortly after converting, Yusuf set off to study Islam from influential teachers around the world. He spent his time abroad divided between Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Mauritania, England, Algeria, and Morocco. Yusuf is especially popular amongst the Western world, and was a close advisor to President Bush in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. He has alienated some Muslims due to his belief that many Muslim countries are oppressive, though he allegedly states his problems are with the culture rather than the religion. Yusuf has also often come under fire for his critical views of American foreign policy.
In 1996, Yusuf helped found Zaytuna Institute in Berkeley, California, which eventually morphed into Zaytuna College, the first, accredited, Muslim university in America. As of 2015, Yusuf is still its president. A few of his major accomplishments include serving as vice president of the Global Center for Guidance and Renewal, founding the first Rihla program (a program specializing in Islamic education) in the U.K., and hosting a successful religious media program for three years.
Yusuf’s work may be found on Sandala, a website devoted to the publishing and production of his work. In addition, Yusuf operates popular Twitter and Facebook pages, which combined boast over half a million followers.
Selected Bibliography:
“Hamza Yusuf.” Sandala. Sandala, n.d. Accessed 25 May 2015.
O’Sullivan, Jack. “‘If You Hate the West, Emigrate to a Muslim Country’” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 8 Oct. 2001.
“Sheikh Hamza Yusuf – Discover the Networks.” Sheikh Hamza Yusuf – Discover the Networks. Discover the Networks, n.d. Accessed 25 May 2015.
Yusuf, Hamza. Facebook. N.p., n.d. Accessed 25 May 2015.
Yusuf, Hamza. Twitter. N.p., n.d. Accessed 25 May 2015.
“Zaytuna College | Home.” Zaytuna College. N.p., n.d. Accessed 25 May 2015.