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Spirit possession and exorcism in Islam
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Islam/zDLbL45C">Islam</a>, the belief that spiritual entities—particularly, <a href="/facts/Jinn/pclTyKdb">jinn</a>—can <a href="/facts/Demonic_possession/HKnvsL4t">possess</a> a person, a thing or location, is widespread; as is the belief that the jinn and devils can be expelled from the possessed person (or thing/location) through <a href="/facts/Exorcism/RkVPajWb">exorcism</a>. This practice is called <i>al-'azm</i>,: 98 <i>ṭard al-shayṭān/al-jinn</i> (expulsion of devils/spirits), or <i>ruqya</i> (<a href="/facts/Arabic_language/A1e66hVV">Arabic</a>: رقية, <a href="/facts/Romanization_of_Arabic/A760zaoa">romanized</a>: <i>ruqya</i>, spell, charm, magic, incantation), and exorcists are called <i>raqi</i>. </p><p>Belief in the supernatural—<a href="/facts/Witchcraft/kdbQwmBD">witchcraft</a>, sorcery, <a href="/facts/Magic_(supernatural)/ttcCLh3A">magic</a>, <a href="/facts/Ghost/U2zPJ81t">ghosts</a>, and <a href="/facts/Demon/eAz75uzo">demons</a>—in the Muslim world is not marginalized as eccentric or a product of ignorance, but is prevalent among all social classes. Belief in the supernatural creatures such as <i><a href="/facts/Jinn/pclTyKdb">Jinn</a></i> are both an integral part of Islamic belief, and a common explanations in society "for evil, illness, health, wealth, and position in society as well as all mundane and inexplicable phenomena in between". Given the moral ambivalence ascribed to supernatural agents in Islamic tradition, exorcisms can be addressed to both good and evil spirits. </p><p>Jinn are thought to be able to enter and physically possess people for various reasons, while <a href="/facts/Shaitan/L7jcxSmY">devils</a> (<i>shayāṭīn</i>) assault the <a href="/facts/Qalb/SY2f3Nfb">heart</a> (<i>qalb</i>) and attempt to turn their victims to evil. </p>