this post was submitted on 19 Feb 2024
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Funny: Home of the Haha

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I've always wondered this too (lemmy.world)
submitted 9 months ago by Stamets@lemmy.world to c/funny@lemmy.world
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[–] splatt9990@lemmy.ml 93 points 9 months ago (3 children)

In Islamic/pre-Islamic mythology (over simplifying greatly) genies are actually trapped demons forced into servitude long ago by human sorcerers. They must comply with your wish but use any ambiguity they can as a form of malicious compliance. It's also worth noting that the idea of genies granting 3 wishes is mostly a western invention and is also likely influenced by Christian ideas of "deals with the devil" (see Foust for how that usually works out for the wisher)

[–] I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I thought the 3 wishes came from the story of the Monkey's Paw

[–] splatt9990@lemmy.ml 21 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The monkey's paw comes from a short story of the same name by W.W. Jacobs back in 1902. It seems the genie that grants three wishes dates all the way back to 1697 in "The Ridicuolous Wishes" by Charles Perrault.

[–] Akasazh@feddit.nl 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)

This is the most askhistorians moment on Lemmy for me, thus far, I would like to read your thesis.

Thnx!

[–] splatt9990@lemmy.ml 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Oh, I'm not a historian, that's actually just a few vaguely informed wikipedia searches. The extent of my education on Islam and Islamic culture is just a world religions class back in HS.

[–] Akasazh@feddit.nl 1 points 9 months ago

Yeah but you just scratched that itch, by knowing something about a niche subject. Hence me saying it felt like that.

I think it's s veiled compliment for your comment if nothing else.

[–] Blemgo@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

Isn't it also that originally captured genies had more superhuman abilities rather than unlimited power? As in they could perform a human could if they were not bound by physical limitations, but materializing stuff out of thin air is impossible for them.

Another thing I heard is that the entities that could actually do that had a witch-like deal to them, meaning that refusing a request from such a spirit most likely had some dire consequences for you.