<P> The supernaturality of Jinn does not mean they are transcendent to nature, but that they appear so in relation to human's perception of nature, due to their invisibility . They are "natural" in the classical philosopical sense by consisting of an element, undergoing change and being bound in time and space . Thus they are not purely spiritual, but also physical in nature, being able to interact in a tactile manner with people and objects, and also subject to bodily desires like eating and sleeping . Unlike the Jinn in Islamic belief and folklore, Jinn in Middle Eastern folktales are often depicted as monstrous or magical creatures, and unlike the former, generally considered to be fictional . </P> <P> The appearance of jinn can be divided into three major categories: </P> <P> Jinn are assumed to be able to appear in shape of various animals such as skorpions, cats, owls and onagers . The dog is also often related to jinn, especially black dogs . However piebald dogs are rahter identified with hinn . Associations between dogs and jinn prevailed in Arabic - literature, but lost its meaning in Persian scriptures . Serpents are the animals most associated with jinn . Islamic traditions knows many narratitions concerning a serpent who was actually a jinni . However (except for the' udhrut from Yemeni folklore) the jinn cannot appear in form of wolves . The wolf is thought of as the natural predator of the jinn, who contrasts the jinn by his noble character and disables them to vanish . </P> <P> The jinn are also related to the wind . They may appear in mists or sandstorms . Zubayr ibn al - Awam, who is held to have accompanied Muhammad during his lecture to the jinn, is said to view the jinn as shadowy ghosts with no individual structure . According to a narration Ghazali asked Ṭabasī, famous for jinn - incantations, to reveal the jinn to him . Accordingly Tabasi showed him the jinn, seeing them like they were "a shadow on the wall". After Ghazali requested to speak to them, Ṭabasī stated, that for now he could not see more . Although sandstorms are believed to be caused by jinn, others, such as Abu Yahya Zakariya' ibn Muhammad al - Qazwini and Ghazali attribute them to natural causes . Otherwise sandstorms are thought to be caused by a battle between different groups of jinn . </P>

Where did the term genie in a bottle come from