Editing Arabs (section)

=== Mythology ===
{{Main|Arabian mythology}}
[[File:Illustration_of_Aladdin_Flying_Away_with_Two_People_from_the_Arabian_Nights.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Aladdin]] from the ''[[One Thousand and One Nights]]'']]
[[Arabic mythology]] comprises the ancient beliefs of the Arabs. Prior to Islam the Kaaba of Mecca was covered in symbols representing the myriad demons, djinn, demigods, or simply tribal gods and other assorted deities which represented the polytheistic culture of pre-Islamic. It has been inferred from this plurality an exceptionally broad context in which mythology could flourish.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Stetkevych|first=Jaroslav|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OVXC72Td6CsC|title=Muhammad and the Golden Bough: Reconstructing Arabian Myth|date=2000|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0253214133}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O02TygAACAAJ&q=Arabian+mythology|title=Arabian Mythology, Noah's Ark, Hafaza, Jesus, Khidr, Dhul-Qarnayn, Isra and Mi'raj, Luqman, Devil, Throne of God|date=2011|publisher=General Books|isbn=978-1233180516}}</ref>

The most popular beasts and demons of Arabian mythology are [[Bahamut]], [[Dandan]], [[Falak (Arabian legend)|Falak]], [[Ghoul]], [[Hinn (mythology)|Hinn]], [[Jinn]], [[Karkadann]], [[Marid]], [[Nasnas]], [[Qareen]], [[Roc (mythology)|Roc]], [[Shadhavar]], [[Werehyena]] and other assorted creatures which represented the profoundly [[polytheistic]] environment of pre-Islamic.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Leeming|first=David|url=https://archive.org/details/jealousgodschose00leem_0|title=Jealous Gods and Chosen People: The Mythology of the Middle East|date=2004|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0195348996|page=[https://archive.org/details/jealousgodschose00leem_0/page/119 119]|url-access=registration}}</ref>

The most prominent symbol of Arabian mythology is the [[Jinn]] or genie.<ref>{{Cite web|title=jinni|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/jinni|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|date=2 January 2024}}</ref> Jinns are supernatural beings that can be good or evil.<ref>Benjamin W. McCraw, ''Philosophical Approaches to Demonology'' Robert Arp Routledge 2017 {{ISBN|978-1315466750}}</ref><ref>[[Qur'ān 55:15]]</ref> They are not purely spiritual, but are also physical in nature, being able to interact in a tactile manner with people and objects and likewise be acted upon. The ''jinn'', humans, and [[Islamic view of angels|angels]] make up the known [[Sapience|sapient]] creations of [[God in Islam|God]].<ref>Amira El-Zein ''Islam, Arabs, and Intelligent World of the Jinn'' Syracuse University Press 2009 {{ISBN|978-0815650706}} p. 19</ref>

[[Ghoul]]s also feature in the mythology as a [[monster]] or [[evil spirit]] associated with graveyards and consuming human flesh.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Story of Sidi-Nouman|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/lang1k1/tale31.htm|access-date=5 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Ghoul Facts, information, pictures &#124; Encyclopedia.com articles about Ghoul|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia.com|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ghoul.html|access-date=23 March 2011}}</ref> In Arabic folklore, ghouls belonged to a diabolic class of jinn and were said to be the offspring of Iblīs, the prince of darkness in Islam. They were capable of constantly changing form, but always retained [[donkey]]'s hooves.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ghoul|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/ghoul|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|date=14 June 2024}}</ref>