Ifrit, also spelled as afreet, afrit, afrite, or efreet, are a class of powerful malevolent supernatural beings in Islamic mythology and folklore. They are often depicted as enormous winged creatures of smoke who live underground and frequent ruins. They are one of the types of jinn, the supernatural beings created by Allah from smokeless fire.

The exact meaning of the term ifrit in the earliest sources is difficult to determine. It does not occur in pre-Islamic poetry and is only used once in the Qur’an, in the phrase “the ifrit of the jinn” (Qur’an 27:39), where it seems to designate a rebellious member of the jinn who offered to bring the throne of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon. The phrase recurs in the Hadith (narratives recounting Muhammad’s words, actions, or approbations), where it is used to describe a strong and cunning jinni who can change his shape and fly quickly.

Arabic philologists generally assigned it the triconsonantal root Ê¿-f-r, to which they attached the meanings “rebellious” and “strong”. Ifrit subsequently came to refer to an entire class of formidable rebellious beings who are hostile to humans and can harm them with their supernatural powers. Beyond these attributes, though, the characteristics of an ifrit remained vague and unstable, and the term is often indistinguishable in later literature from the marid, another wicked and rebellious demon.

Ifrits live in a society structured along ancient Arab tribal lines, complete with kings, tribes, and clans. They generally marry one another, but they can also marry humans. While ordinary weapons and forces have no power over them, they are susceptible to magic, which humans can use to kill them or to capture and enslave them. As with the jinn, an ifrit may be either a believer or an unbeliever, good or evil, but is most often depicted as a wicked and ruthless being who delights in causing mischief and destruction.

Ifrits have appeared in various forms of literature and media, such as Arabian Nights, video games, comics, anime, and movies. They are usually portrayed as fiery demons who can manipulate fire and possess great strength and speed. Some examples of ifrits in popular culture are Ifrit from Final Fantasy series, Efreet from Tales series, Ifrit from Shin Megami Tensei series, Ifreet from CounterSide game, Fullmetal Ifrit from YouTube channel, and Ifrit from Steam game.

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Marid, also spelled as mārid or marada, are a type of powerful and rebellious jinn in Islamic mythology and folklore. They are often associated with water and the oceans, and can control storms and waves. They are one of the types of jinn, the supernatural beings created by Allah from smokeless fire.

The word marid is derived from the Arabic root m-r-d (مرد), which means “to rebel” or “to be strong”. It is used in the Qur’an to describe a defiant jinni who refused to bow down to Adam at Allah’s command (Qur’an 18:50). It is also used in the Hadith to describe a cunning and powerful jinni who can change his shape and fly quickly. According to some sources, the marid are the descendants of this rebellious jinni.

Marids are usually depicted as huge and muscular beings with blue or green skin, scales, fins, and horns. They can manipulate water and create illusions. They are also very proud and arrogant, and demand respect and tribute from humans and other jinn. They live in palaces under the sea or near rivers and lakes, where they guard treasures and secrets. They have their own kings, tribes, and clans, and often wage wars against each other or against other types of jinn.

Marids can be either good or evil, believers or unbelievers, but they are generally hostile to humans and can harm them with their supernatural powers. However, they can also be helpful if they are pleased or impressed by a human’s courage, wisdom, or generosity. They can grant wishes, teach magic, reveal secrets, or bestow gifts. Humans can also use magic to capture and enslave marids, but this is very dangerous and difficult.

Marids have appeared in various forms of literature and media, such as Arabian Nights, video games, comics, anime, and movies. They are usually portrayed as water spirits or genies who can grant wishes or cause trouble. Some examples of marids in popular culture are Marid from Dungeons & Dragons game, Marid from Bartimaeus Sequence novel series, Marid from Daevabad Trilogy novel series, Marid from Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic anime series, Marid from Steam game Marid.

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