ABQAR Valley | Eloquence and Beliefs in the Pre-Islamic Era
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| ABQAR Valley |
The Arabs in the pre-Islamic era were renowned for their eloquence, virility, generosity, and magnanimity. One of the most distinctive features of this period was the Arabic language itself, as nearly all Arabs were proficient in it and possessed a remarkable richness of expression. The pre-Islamic era is regarded as one of the most prolific ages in literature and poetry. Even when the Prophet Muhammad—peace be upon him, the final messenger of God—was sent, his miracle came in the form of the Qur’an, which stood as an unparalleled challenge in literature and language. God says in the Holy Qur’an:
“In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.
Say, "If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants."
(True are the words of Almighty God.)
Yet, this same era was referred to as the Age of Ignorance (Jāhiliyyah) because people worshipped idols and were ignorant of the monotheistic teachings of the Prophet Abraham—peace be upon him.
The Legend of Wadi Abqar and the Jinn Poets
In Yemen, there was a valley known as Wadi Abqar, named after Mount Abqar, beneath which the valley lay. The name is linked to the tribe of Abqar, who once inhabited the mountain. According to tradition, Abqar was regarded as a figure from among the jinn and the chief of a tribe of jinn poets. It is said that he descended with his tribe and settled in this valley after the death of the wise Prophet Solomon—peace be upon him.
Legends hold that anyone who spent a night in Wadi Abqar would encounter a group of jinn. These jinn would pledge to remain with the person, teaching them poetry throughout their life, provided that the poet invoked the name of the jinn and his clan. However, the jinn were known for acts of disbelief in God, the Exalted. Even so, among them were those who believed in Him—such as ʿAmr ibn Jabir—while others, particularly the poet-jinn, were said to have rejected faith.
Poets of the Jinn in Early Arabic Tradition
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| ABQAR Valley |
One of the earliest references to the link between Arab poets and the jinn is found in the renowned work of Abū Zayd al-Qurashī, Jamharat Ashʿār al-ʿArab (The Crowd of Arab Poetry). This book, considered the first and oldest compilation of pre-Islamic poetry, records the belief that every poet of that era had a counterpart poet from among the jinn.
Al-Qurashī mentions several notable examples:
- Imruʾ al-Qays and his jinn poet Lāvez ibn Lāhez.
- Al-Nābigha al-Dhubyānī and his jinn poet Heather ibn Māhir.
- ʿAntarah ibn Shaddād and his jinn poet Jald ibn Shādhar.
- Al-Kumayt ibn Zayd al-Asadī and his jinn poet Madrak ibn Waghām.
- Maymūn ibn Qays al-Aʿshā and his jinn poet Mishʿal al-Sukrān ibn Jandal.
- ʿUbayd ibn al-Abras and Bishr ibn Abī Khāzim al-Asadī, both said to have shared a single jinn poet, Ḥabīd ibn al-Saladam.
This tradition reflects the widespread belief in the supernatural inspiration of poets, where mastery of eloquence and verse was often attributed to companionship with a jinn.
The Encounter of Ibn Sahm in Wadi Abqar
Among the most famous tales about Wadi Abqar is the story of a group of travelers who set out with a guide named Ibn Sahm. When he lost his way, he gazed toward the valley and saw a strange figure: a man riding an ostrich bareback, with green freckles across his back. Fear gripped the travelers, and even their camels recoiled in terror.
The mysterious rider fixed his eyes on Ibn Sahm and asked,
“O Ibn Sahm, who composed this verse of poetry?
And you did not shed your eyes except to strike me
with your glance, in the tenths of a heart slain.”
Ibn Sahm and his companions replied: “These verses belong to Imruʾ al-Qays.”
The stranger answered, “That is his recitation, but I am Lāvez ibn Lāhez.” His voice was strong, almost unsettling, as he continued, “If it were not for me, your companion would never have spoken poetry.” Then, as suddenly as he had appeared, he vanished.
Such stories are very likely to be nothing more than myths, woven into Arab folklore,but are countless. And to this day, Wadi Abqar remains a place of legend. Were you to visit it yourself, would you believe the tales—or discover their secrets firsthand?