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Middle Eastern and Central Asian demons

Ideas of demons (often called Dīv/Dēw) in Armenia, Turkic countries, and Albania derive from Persian imagery. At this time, the demons are more anthropomorphized and morally complex than their original Persian counterparts (daeva). However, a general negative association remains during the Islamic period.

Common features of these Middle Eastern demons are their immortality and pernicious nature, they can turn invisible, and can be enslaved when pierced by a silver needle. Due to their reluctant nature, even enslaved, they do always the opposite of what has been commanded. Like the jinn from Islamic traditions, they can enter sexual relationships with humans and sire offspring. Demons are believed to be mostly active at night and a bad smell in the air or sudden change in temperature would announce their presence. In some tales, supernatural powers are attributed to them, such as causing sickness, mental illnesses, or even turn humans to stone.

Demons are believed to be vanquished by sacred symbols. The content of the symbol depends on the prevailing religion of the culture. Among Turks, the basmalah ("invocation of the name of Allah") is used to ward off demons, while among Armenians, the symbol of the cross is utilized.

The origin of the demons is explained by Abu Ali Bal'ami 's interpretation of Tarikh al-Tabari as the possibly first creation of God (Allah). The demons would have reigned for 70,000 years until they have been replaced by the jinn (peri). Only then, 5000 years later, the angels (firis̲h̲ta) were sent with Iblis as their leader to chase them away and the story of Adam begins. According to the Süleymanname, written during the time of Suleiman the Magnificent, demons were created in the time between the parī and the angels from the fires of the stars and smoke. Due to the Islamic belief-system prevailing in Middle Eastern and Central Asian culture at the time, authors emphasized that demons only exist by God's will and not as an independent or even accidental part of the world. Muslim authors sometimes identified the demons with the devils and ifrits of Islamic tradition, as the Quran asserts that it is God who controls both the angels and devils.