The Hátif is a being that is heard, but not seen; and is often mentioned by Arab writers. It is generally the communicator of some intelligence in the way of advice, or direction, or warning.
Here terminating this chapter, I must beg the reader to remark that the superstitious fancies which it describes are prevalent among all classes of the Arabs, and the Muslims in general, learned as well as vulgar.
FOOTNOTES:
[18] Mir-át ez-Zemán (MS. in my possession)—a great history whose author lived in the thirteenth century of our era. See also Ḳur. v. 65.
[19] Mir-át ez-Zemán. Ḳur. lv. 14. The word which signifies "a smokeless fire" has been misunderstood by some as meaning "the flame of fire:" El-Jóheree (in the Ṣiḥáḥ) renders it rightly; and says that of this fire was the Sheyṭán (Iblees) created.
[20] Ḳur. xv. 27; and Commentary of the Jeláleyn.
[21] Ḳur. xxvii. 10; and xxviii. 31; and the Jeláleyn.
[22] Ḳur. lv. 39, 74; and the Jeláleyn.
[23] ´Ikrimeh, from Ibn-´Abbás, in the Mir-át ez-Zemán.
[24] Mujáhid, from the same, ibid.