Whispers of Zaqqaq al-Jinn

In our modern era, with the advancement of construction, urbanization, scientific progress, increased education and literacy rates, and the rejection of superstitions and the supernatural, the stories of genies and magical beings have become strange and rare, with few believers and believers in their existence. However, as a native of Damascus, born and raised there for many years, the stories I heard from my father, grandfather, and their peers about astonishing supernatural events involving genies, especially the stories of the "Zaqqaq al-Jinn" alley, instilled a genuine sense of fear. I often wondered to myself, are these stories really true?

The answer to this question cannot be a definite "yes" or a definite "no." Naturally, if we delve into the history of a city that is considered one of the oldest in the world and the oldest capital, and if we examine it objectively and thoroughly, we will find that it is shrouded in mystery and surrounded by many mythical tales, despite what has been written about it. It is enough to ask ourselves how the Phoenicians, for example, were able to dominate the seas and navigate them despite the primitive state of navigation at that time. And how did they manage, according to numerous theories, to cross the Bering Strait and settle in North America, eventually becoming known as the Native Americans? The connections do not stop there; even the civilization of the Native Americans itself is a puzzle that has bewildered archaeologists throughout time. Could that civilization have been connected to genies?

It is said that the ancient Damascenes - or some of them - had a natural and ordinary coexistence with genies. In fact, their coexistence and familiarity reached a point where the genies dwelled and multiplied alongside them. Day after day, the genies had their own alley, later known as the "Zaqqaq al-Jinn" alley.

The TV series "Zaqqaq al-Jinn: Is it Truly Fictional?" revolves around the 1950s in one of the neighborhoods of Damascus, presenting a different kind of detective story. The story begins with the abduction of a child and the subsequent discovery of their lifeless body. Then a series of related crimes occur, involving the abduction and murder of both children and adults, indicating a connection between the crimes. The series also reveals a link between the crimes, as they are committed by a single person, the unknown criminal. As a result, the viewers find themselves curious to know the identity of the killer and their motives. In any case, the series "Zaqqaq al-Jinn" presents the idea of genies as a tangible and accepted reality, and goes even further by suggesting the presence of supernatural powers possessed by one of the residents of the neighborhood, Naji Abu 'Ayn Bayda, due to his mother's involvement in magic and sorcery, and his uncomfortable appearance. This leads to suspicions being raised against him, accusing him of dealing with genies and offering them victims in exchange for their assistance.

Legend of the Damascus "Zaqqaq al-Jinn" Neighborhood:

Imagine, dear reader, going out in the evening with your father or brother, under the cover of night and its darkness, climbing up any structure, whether a wall, rock, or tree. Then you hear voices emanating from among the towering trees in a land untouched by humans and never considered as a place to approach. Suddenly, your father approaches you cautiously and whispers in your ear, "These are the joys of the genies, my son. Be careful not to disturb their happiness."

As mentioned earlier, it has been said that some humans and genies in Damascus coexisted to the extent that their residential neighborhoods became intertwined. One house belonged to a human, while another house belonged to a jinn. Believe it or not, the stories speak of some genies being very kind to the people of Damascus, assisting them in various household matters.

Vengeful Features: Love in the Jinn's Manner

It is said that when a young jinn man went to propose to a jinn woman from his clan, she categorically rejected him, and all his subsequent attempts with her failed. He decided to secretly observe her and remained determined to achieve his goal. To his surprise, he discovered that the jinn woman he desired was in love with a human young man. Moreover, she would harm anyone who approached him, trying to appear to him in physical form to marry him and bear children with him. As a result, the jinn man went mad and decided to take revenge on humans. He began kidnapping and killing their children. However, one day he found his beloved jinn woman in a terrible condition, suffering from burns on her body.

When he rushed to help her, he learned that the humans had sought the help of a sheikh to free their son from her influence, and this sheikh had burned her to keep her away from him. Outraged, he sought out the sheikh and killed him. But it seems that the love of genies is not like human love. Our jinn protagonist did not abandon his beloved or take pleasure in her suffering. Instead, he took her, married her, and lived with her in the farthest corners of that land, where all other creatures who had suffered injustice and cruelty from humans sought refuge.

The story continues, stating that when some humans learned about what was happening, they started killing those who were hostile to them, attributing the incidents to the influence of genies and "Zaqqaq al-Jinn" alley. Perhaps this narrative formed the main foundation on which the TV series was based.

There are, of course, those who criticized and refuted these claims, considering them a form of madness. They believed that the story and its contents were merely fabrications created by orchard owners to scare thieves and prevent them from stealing the fruits. As for the stones and branches of the trees, they were a result of the location of the orchards, which were constantly exposed to strong winds, naturally carrying some branches and debris, along with the echoing sounds.

In conclusion, you might think twice before entering the "Zaqqaq al-Jinn" neighborhood today, as it is associated with genies and regarded as their territory. However, rest assured that if you were to visit it now, all you would see are tall buildings and wide streets. The traffic congestion and the bustling presence of people and busy car repair shops would bother you. And not for a moment would you think that this place was the subject of rumors, stories, and tales, inspiring television series. Therefore, whether this story is true or purely mythical, you will find everything imaginable in "Zaqqaq al-Jinn" except the genies.

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