Ifrit (イフリート, Ifurīto) is a Guardian ÄRM in the shape of a lamp that releases a large genie with a will of its own. Its lamp is identical to Genie's Lamp, a previous Guardian ÄRM Alibaba used in the War Games, but Ifrit is red in color instead of green.
Etymology and Origin
Ifrit is a powerful demon in Islamic tradition. The exact meaning of the term ifrit in the earliest sources is difficult to determine. It does not occur in pre-Islamic poetry and is only used once in the Qurʾān, in the phrase “the ifrit of the jinn” (Qurʾān 27:39), where it seems to designate a rebellious member of the jinn (supernatural beings). The word ifrit derives from the Quran, but only as an epithet and not to designate a specific type of demon. Traditionally, Arab philologists trace the derivation of the word to عفر (ʻafara, "to rub with dust" or "to roll into dust"). It is further used to describe sly, malicious, wicked and cunning characteristics. Some Western philologists suggest a foreign origin of the word and attribute it to Middle Persian afritan which corresponds to Modern Persian آفريدن (to create), but this is regarded as unlikely by others. In folklore, the term developed into a designation of a specific class of demon, though most Islamic scholarly traditions regard the term as an adjective. These popular beliefs were elaborated in works such as in Al-Ibshihi's (ar) Mustatraf. They became identified either as a dangerous kind of demon (shayatin) preying on women, or as spirits of the dead.
Ifrit and the Genie's Lamp, the first Guardian ÄRM of Alibaba, are both based on the two djinns that appear in the folk tale Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, which can be found in the compilation One Thousand and One Nights. In the story, after being double-crossed by wicked sorcerer, Aladdin finds himself trapped in the magic cave. When he rubs his hands in despair, he inadvertently rubs the magic ring the sorcerer had lent him. A genie appears and releases him from the cave, allowing him to return to his mother while in possession of the oil lamp (chirag) that he was originally sent to retrieve. When his mother tries to clean the lamp, so they can sell it to buy food for their supper, a second far more powerful genie appears who is bound to do the bidding of the person holding the lamp.
History
After Alibaba was dropped into a volcano by Alan and teleported to safety by Phantom, the near-death experience ended up improving his sixth sense and magical power, making him strong enough to control Ifrit.