the valley that holds many mysteries and secrets—I will tell you the stories and legends mentioned in books about the truth of this valley. Let’s begin. Thousands of years ago, the jinn inhabited islands, valleys, and various places, and one of the most famous locations they resided in is a valley that is thousands of years old. But it was not just any jinn who lived there; it was the most intelligent tribe of jinn, the tribe of ‘Abqar. This tribe mastered Arabic poetry so skillfully that they even taught many famous Arab poets and figures, such as Antarah ibn Shaddad and Imru’ al-Qais. They have many stories, but what is the tale of this valley known as Wadi ‘Abqar? Is it true that anyone who visits this valley and spends a night there becomes a poet? Or that, upon waking, a poet appears to them and recites poetry? And did every pre-Islamic poet have a companion from this valley? Today’s story is filled with mysteries and secrets about pre-Islamic Arabs, this valley, poets, and the names of the jinn who taught them poetry. This valley, where the jinn lived and taught many figures, holds ancient stories recorded in books. It is said that one day, a group of Arab men set out on a trade journey, accompanied by a guide who knew the roads well—essentially their version of Google Maps. This guide was called Ibn Sahm. While traveling, Ibn Sahm suddenly stopped and told the men with him, “I swear to you, we are at the edge of the Valley of the Jinn.” Fear and panic gripped them, and suddenly, a man of great stature, with a strange and terrifying appearance, emerged, riding on a male ostrich. The sight of such a large, odd-looking man on an ostrich frightened them. Ibn Sahm then asked this mysterious figure, “Who are you?” The stranger ignored them at first but then asked a question of his own: “O Ibn Sahm, who is the most famous man among you?” Ibn Sahm was shocked that the stranger knew his name and spoke their language. He noticed the man's eyes turning red and shifting, and fear silenced him. The stranger smiled and said, “The most famous man among you is the one who said: ‘And your eyes shed tears only to strike with your arrows deep into the heart of the slain.’” The men looked at one another in astonishment, realizing that this was a line of poetry from none other than Imru’ al-Qais, one of the greatest pre-Islamic poets. Ibn Sahm stammered and, invoking the pre-Islamic gods, asked again, “Who are you?” The strange man finally answered, “I am Lāfiẓ Baḥlāḥiẓ, one of the greatest jinn.” He then added, “When your poet, Imru’ al-Qais, recited poetry, it was because of me. Without God and then me, he would not have been able to compose poetry.” The jinn laughed and suddenly vanished into thin air. The men turned to Ibn Sahm and asked him to explain what had just happened. Ibn Sahm told them, “You heard him yourselves. That was Lāfiẓ Baḥlāḥiẓ, the jinn who inspired Imru’ al-Qais with poetry.” It was then that they realized they were standing in Wadi ‘Abqar itself. Now, let me share some information about Wadi ‘Abqar. In Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani’s book Al-Aghani, there is a story about the famous poets Jarir and Al-Farazdaq. These two poets were known for their sharp poetic duels. Once, Al-Farazdaq boasted that his poetic jinn was superior to Jarir’s. He even claimed that they shared the same jinn, but when the jinn spoke through Al-Farazdaq, it was more wicked. Jarir himself once said, “Elders cast poetry upon me—Satan of all satans.” This suggests that he, too, received poetry from the jinn. In ancient times, Arab poets would compete by praising their jinn companions. It was believed that having a male jinn was superior to having a female jinn. One poet stated, “Every human poet has a female jinn, but mine is male—thus, I am better than the others.” The renowned companion-poet Hassan ibn Thabit once wrote: “I have a companion from the Banu Shayṣbān, sometimes I speak, and sometimes he does.” Banu Shayṣbān is a tribe of jinn, and oddly enough, the name “Shayṣbān” also refers to male ants—raising the question of whether there is a connection between ants and jinn. God knows best. Now, about Wadi ‘Abqar’s location—it lies in the Arabian Peninsula, specifically on the eastern border of Yemen with Oman. The valley was named after one of the great jinn, and another theory suggests it was named after Mount ‘Abqar, under which the valley lies. The word “‘Abqari,” meaning “genius” or “extraordinarily talented,” is believed to have originated from this valley because it was associated with producing poetic geniuses in pre-Islamic times. Why is Wadi ‘Abqar famous? It gained fame because, as legend has it, it was inhabited by poet-jinn. Arabs of old would claim to encounter these jinn in the valley and strike deals with them—where a jinn would teach a poet how to compose poetry. These deals led many Arab poets to acquire extraordinary abilities in composing verses. Each poet had a specific jinn who mentored them in poetry. But why did the jinn teach humans poetry? The answer lies in recognition and fame. The jinn wanted their names to be known among the Arab tribes, and in return, the poets would credit them for their poetic talents. As a result, the names of jinn often became more famous than the poets themselves. For instance, the warrior-poet Antarah ibn Shaddad’s jinn was called Jālid ibn Ẓill. The poet of Banu Asad, Al-Kumayt ibn Zayd, had a jinn named Mudrik ibn Wāghim. Imru’ al-Qais’s jinn, as mentioned earlier, was Lāfiẓ Baḥlāḥiẓ. The great poet Al-Nābighah’s jinn was Dhur ibn Māhir, and the pre-Islamic poet Al-A‘sha, known as the “bard of Arabia,” had a jinn named Masḥal al-Sukrān. These were the greatest poet-jinn, agreed upon by scholars and storytellers alike. Poets took pride in their jinn companions and even engaged in poetic battles on their behalf. Qays ibn al-Mulawwah mentioned that the jinn of Wadi ‘Abqar were black-skinned with completely red eyes and could shape-shift into animals at will. Wadi ‘Abqar was not seen as a place of sorcery but rather as the homeland of jinn who taught poetry to humans, making them the most celebrated poets of their time. One story about Ibn al-Amadi suggests that some jinn knew about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and even converted to Islam. Ibn Maymoun al-Amadi narrated that his father once met a jinn named Al-Saffah ibn al-Raqqāq in Wadi ‘Abqar. This jinn was a believer in God and His messengers and had wished to see the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). When he learned of the Prophet’s passing, he wept—suggesting that some jinn in Wadi ‘Abqar had embraced the divine message. Wadi ‘Abqar, deep in the Arabian Desert, remains shrouded in myths and stories. But does spending a night there truly turn someone into a poet, as the legend suggests? Scientifically, there is no proof, but these tales have been passed down for generations, adding to the valley’s mystery and allure in the world of poetry and literature.