Sariya al-Jabal: A Remarkable Case of Telepathy

By Kamal Ghazal

In the year 645 AD (23 AH), during the reign of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab, the second Caliph of Islam, a fascinating incident occurred that many today would recognize as an early historical account of telepathy, the ability to transmit thoughts or knowledge across vast distances without the use of the five senses.

This extraordinary event is famously known as the story of "Sariya al-Jabal"  meaning "Sariya of the Mountain."

The Incident

Sariya Ibn Zunaim Ibn Abdullah Al-Du'ali was a respected commander leading a Muslim army during the Islamic conquests of Persia. 

One day, as Sariya’s forces were engaged in a fierce battle near the gates of Nahawand (in modern-day Iran), the Muslim army found itself at a critical disadvantage: they were trapped in low ground while the enemy forces controlled the higher ground, a tactical nightmare.

At that very moment, thousands of kilometers away in Medina, Caliph Omar Ibn Al-Khattab was delivering the Friday sermon (khutbah) from the pulpit of the Prophet Muhammad's Mosque. In the midst of his speech, Omar suddenly cried out, seemingly out of nowhere:

"O Sariya! The mountain! The mountain! Beware !"

The congregation was puzzled by his sudden outburst. Some turned to Omar and asked: "What are you saying? " Omar simply responded, "Something was placed upon my tongue," meaning he spoke involuntarily.

Later, it was revealed that Sariya and his men, during the heat of battle, had heard a mysterious voice shouting: "O Sariya! The mountain!" Acting swiftly, Sariya led his men to seize the high ground. This strategic move turned the tide of battle, leading to a swift and decisive Muslim victory.

When Sariya returned to Medina, he confirmed the astonishing event: he had indeed heard a voice warning him to take the mountain, at precisely the time Omar had uttered those words during the sermon.

Cultural Notes

Sariya is the name of the Muslim commander.

Al-Jabal means "the mountain" in Arabic.

The phrase "Sariya al-Jabal" roughly translates to "Sariya, to the mountain!", a warning or command.

This story has long been interpreted by Islamic historians and scholars as a remarkable example of spiritual telepathy — a deep, unseen connection between two souls, transcending time and space.

Telepathy and Science

While Western scientific study of telepathy did not formally begin until 1882 with the work of Frederic W. H. Myers, who coined the term telepathy, the idea of mind-to-mind communication has fascinated humanity for centuries.

Modern theories suggest that emotional bonds, such as those between lovers or close companions, may enhance telepathic sensitivity. Some researchers propose that the human brain, through its electromagnetic activity, could theoretically support such connections producing "beta waves" during wakefulness, "alpha waves" during meditation, "theta waves" during deep relaxation, and "delta waves" during deep sleep.

However, with the growing interference of artificial electromagnetic waves in our modern environment, it is believed that natural human telepathic abilities, if they ever existed strongly, have significantly weakened, making true telepathic experiences increasingly rare.