A Qareen is a spiritual double of human, either part of the human himself or a complementary creature in a parallel dimension. Due to its ghostly nature, the Qareen is classified among the Jinn-type creatures, although usually not actually a Jinni. The Qareen as an accompanying spirit should not be confused with the Qarinah as a female "childbed demon" also existing in Middle Eastern faith.
Qareen in Islam
In Quran
Qareen are mentioned by name in the following Quran verses: Sūrat az-Zukhruf: "And whosoever turns away from remembering and mentioning the Most Beneficent, we appoint for him a Satan to be a Qareen to him." Sūrat as-Saffat: "A speaker among them will say, 'Indeed, I had a Qareen.'" Sūrat an-Nisa: "And those who spend of their wealth to be seen by the people and believe not in Allah nor in the Last Day. And he to whom Satan is a Qareen - then evil is he as a Qareen." Sūrat Qaf: "And his Qareen, will say, 'This is what is with me, prepared.'" Several opinions exist on the exact nature of the Qareen. According to one opinion, the Qareen is actually a Shaitan, who incites a human with waswās, but can become good in accordance with the human’s good deeds. For example, it is said, that the Qareen of Muhammad became Muslim. However it is uncertain, whether or not, a Qareen besides those of Muhammad, can actually become good. Another opinion holds that Qareen refers to any type of spirit accompanying humans. Here, the Qareen refers to both demons, who cast evil suggestions, but also to angels, who advise to do good deeds. Further the Qareen is depicted as the other self: An integral spirit which is part of the person. A dissent between the inner Qareen and the behavior may cause the same symptoms as Jinn-possession.
With regard to the hadith of Muhammad, "There is none of you who does not have a companion appointed for him from among the jinn." They said, "Even you?" He said, "Even me, but Allah helped me against him fa aslama , so he only tells me to do that which is good." There are two well-known views that have been reported. Those who read the phrase as fa aslamu said that it means, "So I am safe from his evil and temptation." Those who read it as fa aslama said that it means, "The Qareen became Muslim and became a believer, so he only tells me to do that which is good." They differed as to which view is correct. Al-Khattaabi said: The correct version is fa aslamu . Al-Qaadi Iyaad thought that fa aslama was correct, and this is the preferred version, because he then said, "so he only tells me to do that which is good.". And they differed concerning the report that saysfa aslama. It was said that it means he submitted in the sense of surrendering, and it appears in this form in reports narrated elsewhere than in Saheeh Muslim. And it was said that it means that he become a Muslim and a believer. This is the apparent meaning. Abu Na’eem al-Asbahaani said in Dalaa’il al-Nubuwwah : It was said aslama meaning he believed. Muhammad was the only one whose Qareen became a Muslim and a believer. Based on this, having one's Qareen become a Muslim was something that was unique to Muhammad. Furthermore, there is no evidence that the Companions ever tried to convert their Qareen to become a Muslim.
