[Emirates 24/7] Some abandoned buildings and undeveloped areas in the holy city of Makkah have been possessed by jinns (genies) with incidents of stone thrown at people from abandoned houses, according to eyewitness reports.A report in Arab News said residents had to vacate these buildings and houses after supernatural forces scared them .
Majdi Habeeb, a resident of Makkah, told the newspaper that there are rumours that these forces either attacked the residents or frightened them by making noises and causing fires till they leave the place.
Another resident Turki Al Hussein said: "The other day, I saw my neighbour and his family leaving their old house at midnight. They were in a bewildered state. When I asked them why they were leaving, they said people would not believe them if they gave the real reason. When some of the neighbours entered the house, stones were hurled at them. There were also some big cats and birds such as owls hovering above their head. They also heard some strange noises and that forced them to run away from the house."
The house has been abandoned by residents.
Muhammad Al Suhali, Director of Islamic Studies Centre at Umm Al Qura University in Makkah, said jinns do things like scaring people as it's confirmed by the Holy Koran.
"There are believers and non-believers among the jinns. Those who cause trouble include both Mohammedan and infidel jinns. There could also be differences in the types of harm caused by them. There are jinns who set fires inside a house or those who make frightening noises in order to create panic and confusion," he said.
But people also alleged that some property developers are spreading these rumours in order to reduce prices and then buy them at lower rates. A real estate company official told Arab News that some businessmen were exploiting the situation to reduce the prices of buildings and plots of land.