What is Wadi-e Jinn? It is a valley just 30 km away from Madinah. In the northwest direction to the city, the place holds a mystery that has attracted and fascinated people from around the world. In the holy land of Saudi Arabia, this place sees many travellers and tourists putting camps on the roadside on weekends.
The biggest mystery of the valley is that cars and automobiles move on the road without the driver touching the steering. It has been observed that the vehicles are moved towards Madinah, and locals believe that Jinn are present in the place. The valley is surrounded by hills on three sides and is shaped like an egg. It offers a breath-taking view with no habitation and clear blue sky. It is renowned as Wadi Al-Jinn or Wadi Al-Baidah.
Wadi-e Jinn in Quran
The history of Wadi-e Jinn lies in the oldest scriptures of Islam that prove the existence of Jinn in the valley. The Quran has mentioned Jinn about 29 times. It has many stories related to them. It is believed that they are invisible creatures that coexist with humans, but they live separately. They are made of smokeless fire and can fly as well.
Wadi e jinn history in Islam
According to a hadith, Hazrat Dawood R.A reported from Amir who had asked Alqamah about the presence of Ibn Masood with Allah’s Messenger PBUH on the night of the Jinn. Alqamah replied in a negative tone and told him that they were once in the company of the Prophet SAW, whom they lost after a while. They searched for him in the hills and valleys but found no sign of him. They spent the night in utter devastation and anticipated that either Prophet SAW was murdered or taken by Jinn.
At dawn, they saw the Prophet coming from the direction of Cave Hira. On being asked of his whereabouts for the entire night, he replied that a requester came on behalf of Jinn, and he went with him to recite Quran for the community. The Prophet then showcased the traces of their trails and cinders.
On asking PBUH about their endowment, Jinn got the reply that every bone on which anyone would recite the name of Allah would have provision for them. The moment it should fall on their hands, it would be covered with epithelium, and the excreta of camels would be the food for their animals.
Calling Jinn their brothers, the Messenger of Allah instructed everyone to not perform ‘Istinja’ (the act of cleaning using sandstone, toilet paper or a clean stone, as a replacement of water, to clean the front and back part of the body after excreting) with any of the mentioned things because they were the food items for Jinn.
Another tale tells that once upon a time Allah’s Messenger SAW was passing through the Wadi-e Jinn Madinah valley and encountered a Yahudi, who asked him to perform or show a miracle. Upon asking what miracle he wanted to see, Yahudi pointed to a tree and asked the Prophet to call it towards him. The moment Prophet PBUH laid his eyes on the tree, it started rambling towards him, making the Yahudi accept Islam in that instant.
There are many more Wadi-e jinn hadith and verses in the Quran. Therefore, among the believers of Islam, Wadi Jinn is a sacred valley that stands as a symbol of great devotion for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). They believe in the presence of Jinn in the valley, and they are the reason behind unnatural activities in the place. Locals have even claimed to have stayed in the area after sunset and heard voices saying, “You don’t belong here. This is our place.”
Scientific theory behind Wadi-e Jinn
A lot of people went to explore the valley and experience the truth behind stories and folktales. Travelers went there out of curiosity to try out the place by turning off the ignition and putting the car in neutral mode. Their car started moving, and that too in the upward direction, leaving them confused and bewildered. Cars have been reported to move as fast as 120km/hr without any human driving them.
A few experiments also involve pouring water on the road. People have observed that it moves upward in direction rather than flowing down the slope. Geological experts call this phenomenon ‘reverse gravity’. It is a natural phenomenon that occurs in rocky mountains. According to Wadi e jinn scientific reason there are high magnetic forces that attract cars and wheels offering efficiency in the movement. Scientists have tried to solve the Wadi-e Jinn mystery and claimed that similar activities take place in other regions of the Kingdom, including the southern parts of Najran and Asir.
Another theory explains that places with high magnetic fields create an optical illusion in the mind and eyes. It happens due to the landscape, which makes downhill appear uphill. Hence, a lot of researchers believe that the downhill slope is illusioned to be an uphill slope. It bewilders people when a car or water appears to be rolling up the hill when in reality, it is moving in the downward direction. There are many theories, and while scientists probe it further, the valley is a popular site of attraction in Madinah.
Suggested Read: Top 10 Tourist Places To Visit In Madinah
Magnetic Valley, Madinah FAQs
How long is the Wadi-e Jinn stretch?
The mysterious activity of moving cars without drivers happens over a stretch of 14 km-15 km in the valley of Wadi-e Jinn.
Who can go to Wadi-e Jinn?
Anyone travelling to Saudi Arabia can visit the place around Madinah and explore its wonders.
How long does it take to reach Wadi-e Jinn from Madinah?
It is about a half an hour ride from the city where people can enjoy a panoramic view of nature.
Are there any places to eat in the valley?
The mysterious stretch of the valley does not have any habitation. Therefore, one must carry food and drinks with them.
What is the best time to visit the valley?
Early sunrise scenes are a sight to behold in the valley. Since it is an open road, one must visit it after or before noon time to avoid the scorching heat. If the weather is good, anytime is suitable to pay a visit to this beautiful place.
