The manuals of sorcery are filled with oaths and incantations addressed to the jinn, invoking their chiefs whom the practitioners hold in awe. For that reason human beings began seeking refuge in the jinn, as Allah, Most High, says:

“Certain men from humankind used to seek protection with certain men from among the jinn, but they only increased them in burden.” (Q 72:6)

When one of them halted in a valley he would say, “I seek refuge with the grand one of this valley from its foolish dwellers,” so Allah sent down this verse.

The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—would seek protection for al-Ḥasan and al-Ḥusayn, saying:

“I shelter you both in the perfect words of Allah from every devil, every venomous creature, and every injurious eye.”

In this supplication he distinguished between devils, creeping creatures, and the eyes of human beings, which indicates that harm can arise from three quarters: humankind, the jinn, and harmful vermin. The Exalted also says:

“Thus We have appointed for every prophet an enemy—devils from among humankind and the jinn, inspiring one another with embellished speech in delusion.” (Q 6:112)

And He says:

“Say, ‘I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind…’” to the end of the sūrah, thereby commanding him to seek protection from the evil of the whisperer—from jinn and humankind—who whispers into the breasts of people.