In order to answer this question we need to pay attention to some points:

1- The essence of the Jinn and the soul

In Arabic the word jinn means being covered and hidden. This word has been mentioned several times in the Quran and there is a surah in the Quran that describes this hidden creature. According to other surahs of the Quran, Jinns are created from fire[1] or a mixture of fire[2]. This creature has been gifted with intellect, freedom of choice and owing to it's physique, it is hidden from humans in regular circumstances. It is mokallaf[3] (responsible for its actions) like us human beings, will be resurrected in the next world, may or may not obey Allah, and can also be a believer or infidel.[4] Those of them who are believers were at the service of the imams (as) and consider human believers and Shias as their brothers.[5]

The way the soul functions is one of the most mysterious issues that science today has not been able to reveal  and has caused scientists to present different theories; it is said that there are almost a thousand different opinions and theories about the true nature and quality of the soul and the issues pertaining to it.[6]

The Quran stresses on the fact that humans cannot truly understand the soul and that they know very little about it: "And they ask you [O, Messenger!] regarding man's soul. Say:" Knowledge about the soul is only with my Creator and Nurturer; and of this knowledge you [mankind] have been given only a little."[7]

According to the verses of the Quran and hadiths the human soul is an immaterial, living, knowing, capable and free being that is referred to by terms such as "intellectual self" or "spirit".[8] This creature is not limited by time or place.[9] Therefore after death it can stay connected to this world and know what takes place in it.

The connection between the soul and the body is a “managing” one, meaning that it is the soul that originally possesses life and the body gains life only when it is connected to the soul, and when it is disconnected at the time of death, the body loses it’s life and starts to deteriorate while the soul stays alive.[10][11]

2- The abilities of Jinns and souls: Although Jinns are not very clever and smart but they do possess great physical power, for example they can do many extraordinary things in very little time, like transporting very heavy objects from one place to another. In the Quran, when an "Ifrit" of the Jinns claims that he is able to bring "Bilqays’s" throne (Bilqayse was the queen and ruler of the land of Saba’) to the presence of Prophet Suleiman in a very short time[12], the prophet does not deny what he claims[13] and this can be considered evidence that proves that Jinns do possess power to do extraordinary actions.

Regarding whether or not Jinns can bother humans or not, "Sheikh Mofid" says in his book "Irshad": "It has been narrated from Ibn Abbas that when Prophet Muhammad was leaving the city of Madina at night to fight against the tribe of "Bani Mustalaq", they came to a very scary and arduous valley. The angel Jibrail informed the prophet that there was a group of Jinns waiting in the middle of the valley to bother them and cause problems".[14] This story shows that even the believers and righteous people may be bothered by some Jinns. Although the existence of Jinns and that there are good and bad ones among them that can do extraordinary things is an accepted belief, but the truth of the matter is that there has been a lot of exaggeration, lies and myths made up about these creatures, giving rise to a false perception of them.  For example, it is falsely said that if one pours a bowl of hot water, they will burn down several houses. These beliefs are totally unacceptable and do not make sense in any way.[15] Add to above that there are ways one can protect oneself from their potential threats and dangers.

About the power and potential of the human soul it must be said that because it is immaterial, it can go anywhere and isnt limited by things like time, the same way neither windows nor clouds can avoid the sun's rays from lighting up a place.[16] It has been pointed out in hadiths and verses from the Quran that the human soul can find out what takes place in this world after one’s death and that he will be able to visit his family every now and then depending on the persons righteousness.[17]  This is of course regarding the souls of believers that do have some freedom as hadiths tell us, as for the souls of infidels and disbelievers and those who are oppressors and have dark and cruel souls, they will be locked up in a land called "barahoot" and will not enjoy the freedom of going anywhere.

Therefore the theory that dark and cruel souls cause people problems, bother them and determine whether or not one is successful, which is literally a way of determining their fate, is a false one, and there is no evidence that can back it. Because they neither have the time to try to change what will take place[18], neither has Allah (swt) endowed them with such power, for he is the only one who determines what is to happen for all.

For more information you can refer to these sources:

1-Badruddin bin Abdillah al-Shabliyy, Gharae’b wa Aja’ibul-Jinn, translated by Ibrahim Muhammad al-Jamal.

2- Alirezea Rijali, Jinn va Sheytan.

3- Makarem Shirazi, Owde Arvah.

4- Naser Makarem Shirazi, Ertabat ba Arvah.

You can also refer to these Questions on this website:

1- Shaytan, an angel or jinn? Question 100 (website 857).

2- The abilities of Shaytan and Jinns, question 138 (website: 883).