Hejaz

What links here Related changes Page information
Created by Ajay Kumar
Last edited September 28, 2023

About: the geographical and historical region

For other uses, see Hijaz Mountains.

other uses

Template:Use mdy dates

Hejaz

[[File:|250x250px|frameless|center]]

Islam's holiest site, that is Al-Masjid al-Haram, which surrounds the Kaaba (middle), in Mecca. Mecca is the city of Muhammad's birth and ancestry, and an annual point of pilgrimage for millions of Muslims.
Settlement type Region
Country India
State
District
Subdivision

The Hejaz (Template:IPAc-en, also Template:IPAc-en; Template:Lang-ar, Template:IPA) is a region which includes the majority of the west of Saudi Arabia, which includes the cities of Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, Tabuk, Yanbu, Taif and Baljurashi. It is thus known as the "Western Province",[1] and is bordered in the west by the Red Sea, in the north by Jordan, in the east by the Najd, and in the south by the Region of 'Asir.[2] It is the most cosmopolitan region in the Arabian Peninsula. Its largest city is Jeddah, which is the second largest city in Saudi Arabia, with Mecca and Medina respectively being the fourth and fifth largest cities in the country.[3]

As the location of the cities of Mecca[4] and Medina,[5][6][7] respectively the first and second holiest sites in Islam, the Hejaz is significant in the Arabo-Islamic historical and political landscape. This region is the most populated in Saudi Arabia,[8] and Arabic is the predominant language, as in the rest of Saudi Arabia, with Hejazi Arabic being the most widely spoken dialect here. Some Hejazis are of ethnically diverse origins,[3] although the vast majority are of Arab origin.[9]

According to Islamic tradition, this region is the birthplace of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, who was born in Mecca, which is locally considered to have been founded by his ancestors Abraham, Ishmael, and Hagar.[10][11] The area became part of his empire through the early Muslim conquests, and it formed part of successive caliphates, first the Rashidun Caliphate, followed by the Umayyad Caliphate, and finally the Abbasid Caliphate. The Ottoman Empire held partial control over the area; after its dissolution, an independent Kingdom of Hejaz existed briefly in 1925 before being conquered by the neighbouring Sultanate of Nejd, creating the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd.[12] In September 1932, the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd joined the Saudi dominions of Al-Hasa and Qatif, creating the unified Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.[13][14]

Etymology

The name of the region is derived from a verb ḥajaza (Template:Lang), from the Arabic root ḥ-j-z (Template:Lang), meaning "to separate",[15] and it is so called as it separates the land of the Najd in the east from the land of Tihāmah in the west.

History

File:Hejaz Rail track laying near Tabuk 1906.jpg
Workers laying tracks for the Hejaz Railway near Tabuk, 1906

Prehistoric and ancient times

File:Al Ula (6708283401).jpg
The city of Al-'Ula in 2012. The city's archaeological district is in the foreground, with the Hijaz Mountains in the background.

One or possibly two megalithic dolmen have been found in Hejaz.[16]

The Hejaz includes both the Mahd adh-Dhahab ("Cradle of the Gold") (Template:Coord) and a water source, now dried out, that used to flow Template:Convert north east to the Persian Gulf via the Wādi Al-Rummah and Wādi Al-Bātin system. Archaeological research led by of Boston University and the University of Qassim indicates that the river system was active in 2500–3000 BCE.[17]

According to Al-Masudi the northern part of Hejaz was a dependency of the Kingdom of Judah,[18] and according to Butrus al-Bustani the Jews in Hejaz established a sovereign state.[19] The German orientalist Ferdinand Wüstenfeld believed that the Jews established a state in northern Hejaz.[20]

The northern part of the Hejaz was part of the Roman province of Arabia Petraea.[21]

Era of Saleh

Template:Main

File:Qasr al Farid.JPG
The rock-carved Qaṣr Al-Farīd at Al-Ḥijr (Hegra) or Madāʾin Ṣāliḥ ("Cities of Saleh")

Saudi Arabia's and Hejaz's first World Heritage Site that was recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is that of Al-Hijr. The name Al-Ḥijr ("The Land of Stones" or "The Rocky Place") occurs in the Qur'an,[22] and the site is known for having structures carved into rocks, similar to Petra.[23][24] Construction of the structures is credited to the people of Thamud. The location is also called Madāʾin Ṣāliḥ ("Cities of Saleh"),[25][26][27][28][29][30] as it is speculated to be the city in which the Islamic prophet Saleh was sent to the people of Thamud. After the disappearance of Thamud from Mada'in Saleh, it came under the influence of other people, such as the Nabataeans, whose capital was Petra. Later, it would lie in a route used by Muslim Pilgrims going to Mecca.[21][31][32][33]

Era of Abraham and Ishmael

According to Arab and Islamic sources, the civilization of Mecca started after Ibrāhīm (Abraham) brought his son Ismāʿīl (Ishmael) and wife Hājar (Hagar) here, for the latter two to stay. Some people from the Yemeni tribe of Jurhum settled with them, and Isma'il reportedly married two women, one after divorcing another, at least one of them from this tribe, and helped his father to construct or re-construct the Ka'bah ('Cube'),[34][35][36] which would have social, religious, political and historical implications for the site and region.[10][11]

For example, in Arab or Islamic belief, the tribe of Quraysh would descend from Isma'il ibn Ibrahim, be based in the vicinity of the Ka'bah,[37] and include Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttalib ibn Hashim ibn Abd Manaf. From the Period of Jāhiliyyah ('Ignorance') to the days of Muhammad, the often-warring Arab tribes would cease their hostilities during the time of Pilgrimage, and go on pilgrimage to Mecca, as inspired by Ibrahim.[36] It was during such an occasion that Muhammad met some Madanis who would allow him to migrate to Medina, to escape persecution by his opponents in Mecca.[38][39][40][41][42][43]

Era of Muhammad

Template:Main

File:MasjidNabawi.jpg
Muhammad's Mosque in Medina, his place-of-residence after the Hijrah (Migration) from Mecca, 2010

As the land of Mecca[4] and Medina,[5][6][7] the Hejaz was where Muhammad was born, and where he founded a Monotheistic Ummah of followers, bore patience with his foes or struggled against them, migrated from one place to another, preached or implemented his beliefs, lived and died. Given that he had both followers and enemies here, a number of battles or expeditions were carried out in this area, like those of Al-Aḥzāb ("The Confederates"), Badr[44] and Ḥunayn. They involved both Makkan companions, such as Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib, Ubayda ibn al-Harith and Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, and Madani companions.[5][42][43][45][46] The Hejaz fell under Muhammad's influence as he emerged victorious over his opponents, and was thus a part of his empire.[10][38][40][41][47][48][49]

Subsequent history

Template:Further

File:Codice Casanatense Arabian Merchants.jpg
Hejazi Arabian merchant and wife (Códice Casanatense, c. 1540)

Due to the presence of the two holy cities in the Hejaz, the region was ruled by numerous empires. The Hejaz was at the center of the Rashidun Caliphate, in particular whilst its capital was Medina from 632 to 656 ACE. The region was then under the control of regional powers, such as Egypt and the Ottoman Empire, throughout much of its later history. After the Ottomans lost control of it, Hejaz became an independent state.

Brief independence

Template:Main

After the end of the Ottoman suzerainty and control in Arabia, in 1916, Hussein bin Ali became the leader of an independent State of Hejaz.[50] In 1924, Ali bin Hussein succeeded as the King of Hejaz. Then Ibn Saud succeeded Hussein as the King of Hejaz and Nejd. Ibn Saud ruled the two as separate units, known as the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd from 1926 to 1932.

In modern Saudi Arabia

Template:Main

On 23 September 1932, the two kingdoms of the Hejaz and Nejd were united as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.[51] This day is commemorated as the Saudi National Day.[52]

Culture

File:1قرية ذي عين.jpg
The village of Dhi 'Ain in Al-Bahah Province

Religion

The cultural setting of Hejaz is greatly influenced by that of Islam, especially as it contains its 2 holiest cities, Mecca and Medina. Moreover, the Quran is considered the constitution of Saudi Arabia, and the Sharia is the main legal source. In Saudi Arabia, Islam is not just adhered politically by the government but also it has a great influence on the people's culture and everyday life.[53][54] The society is in general deeply religious, conservative, traditional, and family-oriented. Many attitudes and traditions are centuries-old, derived from Arab civilization and Islamic heritage.

Cuisine

Hejazi cuisine has mostly Arabian dishes like the rest of Saudi Arabia, Some dishes are native to the Hejaz, like Saleeg.[55] Other Dishes were imported from other cultures through Saudis of different origins, like Mantu (Template:Lang), Yaghmush (Template:Lang) and Ruz Bukhāri (Template:Lang) from Central Asia, Burēk (Template:Lang) and Šurēk Template:Lang and Kabab almīru (Template:Lang) from Turkey and the Balkans, Mandi (Template:Lang) and Mutabbag (Template:Lang) from Yemen, Biryāni Template:Lang and Kābli (Template:Lang) rice dishes from South Asia. Grilled meat dishes such as shawarma and kebab are well-known in Hejaz. The Hejazi dishes are known for their spice.

Geography

File:Harrat Khaybar Space.jpg
Harrat Khaybar, as seen from the International Space Station

The region is located along the Red Sea Rift. It is also known for its darker, more volcanic sand. Depending on the previous definition, the Hejaz includes some of the mountains of the Sarat range, which topographically separate the Najd from Tehamah. Bdellium plants are also abundant in the Hejaz. Saudi Arabia, and in particular the Hejaz, is home to more than 2000 dormant volcanoes.[56] Lava fields in the Hejaz, known locally by their Arabic name of ḥarrāt (Template:Lang, singular: ḥarrah (Template:Lang)), form one of Earth's largest alkali basalt regions, covering some Template:Cvt, an area greater than the state of Missouri.[57]

Flags

Cities

File:DL1W7080.jpg
The old city of Jeddah on the coast of the Tihamah

Al Bahah Region:

Medina:

Mecca Province:

Tabuk Region:

International touristic development

File:Al Wajh Beach.jpg
Beach promenade in Al-Wajh

As a component of Saudi Vision 2030, a touristic destination with an area of Template:Convert is under development,[64] between the towns of Umluj (Template:Coord) and Al-Wajh (Template:Coord), on the coast of the Red Sea. The project will involve "the development of 22 of the 90+ islands"[65] that lie along the coast to create a "fully integrated luxury mixed-use destination",[66] and will be "governed by laws on par with international standards".[67]

Demographics

The Hejaz is the most populated region in Saudi Arabia,[8] containing 35% of the population of Saudi Arabia.[68] Most people of Hejaz are Sunnis with a Shia minority in the cities of Medina, Mecca and Jeddah. Many consider themselves more cosmopolitan because Hejaz was for centuries a part of the great empires of Islam from the Umayyads to the Ottomans.[69] People of Hejaz, who feel particularly connected to the holy places of Mecca and Medina, have probably the most strongly articulated identity of any regional grouping in Saudi Arabia.[70]

Notable Hejazis

Template:Incomplete list

Al-Abwa'

Template:Further

Mecca

Pre–6th century CE

Since

Medina

Pre–6th century CE

Since

Ta'if

6th–7th centuries CE

Since

See also

Template:Portal Template:Div col

Template:Div col end

Explanatory notes

Template:Notelist

References

  1. ↑ Mackey, p. 101. "The Western Province, or the Hejaz[...]"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary{{#if:Hopkins|, Hopkins}. Merriam-Webster(2001). ISBN 0-87779-546-0
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925–1939: The Imperial Oasis{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Psychology Press(1983). ISBN 9780714632209
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Template:Qref
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Template:Qref
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Template:Qref
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Template:Qref
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Mecca: Islam's cosmopolitan heart. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  9. ↑ Nations Without States: A Historical Dictionary of Contemporary National Movements{{#if:Minahan|, Minahan}. Greenwood Press(1996). ISBN 978-0-313-28354-3
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources{{#if:Lings|, Lings}. Islamic Texts Society(1983). ISBN 978-0-946621-33-0
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Template:Cite encyclopedia
  12. ↑ [{{{url}}} Cradle of Islam: the Hijaz and the quest for an Arabian identity]. I.B. Tauris. (Pbk. ed.)
  13. ↑ Al-Rasheed, M. A History of Saudi Arabia. Cambridge, England, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Template:Verify source
  14. ↑ A Brief overview of Hejaz - Hejaz history Template:Webarchive Template:Verify source
  15. ↑ The Hejaz. The Geographical Journal({Template:Date).
  16. ↑ Megalithic Jordan: an introduction and field guide{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. ACOR(2008). ISBN 978-9957-8543-3-1
  17. ↑ Science Watch; Signs of Ancient River. The New York Times(1993-03-30). Retrieved 2014-06-25.
  18. ↑ Ibn Khaldun, "Kitāb al-ʻIbar wa-Dīwān al-Mubtadaʼ wa-l-Khabar", Dar Al-Fikr publication. Beirut. 1988. volume 2 page 342
  19. ↑ al-Bustani, Butrus. "Daerat Al-Maaref". Dar Al-Marifa Publication. Beirut. volume 11 page 672
  20. ↑ Wolfensohn, Israel. "Tarikh Al-Yahood Fi Belad Al-Arab". Al-Nafezah Publication. Cairo. 2006. page 68
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Saudi Aramco World (May/June 2001): Well of Good Fortune, Kesting, Piney. Retrieved 2014-04-07.
  22. ↑ Template:Qref
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Lonely Planet(2010-10-01). ISBN 9781741791457
  24. ↑ Al-Hijr Archaeological Site (Madâin Sâlih). UNESCO. Retrieved 2014-04-07.
  25. ↑ Template:Qref
  26. ↑ Template:Qref
  27. ↑ Template:Qref
  28. ↑ Template:Qref
  29. ↑ Template:Qref
  30. ↑ Template:Qref
  31. ↑ Madain Saleh: Arabia's Hidden Treasure – Saudi Arabia, Hizon, Danny. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  32. ↑ ICOMOS Evaluation of Al-Hijr Archaeological Site (Madâin Sâlih) World Heritage Nomination. World Heritage Center. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  33. ↑ Information at nabataea.net. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  34. ↑ Template:Qref
  35. ↑ Template:Qref
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Template:Qref
  37. ↑ Template:Qref
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah – The Life of Muhammad{{#if:Ibn Ishaq|, Ibn Ishaq}. Oxford University Press(1955). ISBN 978-0-1963-6033-1
  39. ↑ Islam: A Short History{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Random House Publishing(2002). ISBN 0-8129-6618-X
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Journeys in Holy Lands: The Evolution of the Abraham-Ishmael Legends in Islamic Exegesis{{#if:Firestone|, Firestone}. State University of New York Press(1990). ISBN 978-0-7914-0331-0
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 The History of al-Tabari Vol. 2: Prophets and Patriarchs{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. State University of NY Press(1987). ISBN 978-0-87395-921-6
  42. ↑ 42.00 42.01 42.02 42.03 42.04 42.05 42.06 42.07 42.08 42.09 42.10 42.11 42.12 Ar-Raḥīq Al-Makhtūm ("The Sealed Nectar")'{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Darussalam(2002). ISBN 9960-899-55-1
  43. ↑ 43.00 43.01 43.02 43.03 43.04 43.05 43.06 43.07 43.08 43.09 43.10 43.11 43.12 The Life of Muhammad. Islamic Book Trust.
  44. ↑ Template:Qref
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Template:Hadith-usc
  46. ↑ Witness Pioneer "Pre-Badr Missions and Invasions"
  47. ↑ Template:Cite encyclopedia
  48. ↑ Holt (1977), p. 57
  49. ↑ Lapidus (2002), pp. 31–32
  50. ↑ A History of the Arab Peoples{{#if:Hourani|, Hourani}. Faber & Faber(2005). ISBN 978-0-571-22664-1
  51. ↑ Template:Cite encyclopedia
  52. ↑ History of Saudi Arabia. ( The Saudi National Day 23, Sep ). Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  53. ↑ Saudi Arabia – Religion. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  54. ↑ Islam | The Embassy of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. www.saudiembassy.net. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  55. ↑ Saleeg — a Saudi dish that won't let you down. Arab News(2013-09-11). Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  56. ↑ The Tourists Guide To The 10 Amazing Volcanoes in Saudi Arabia. insidesaudi.com. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  57. ↑ VOLCANIC ARABIA: It started with tremors. archive.aramcoworld.com. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  58. ↑ Al-Baha City Profile. The Saudi Network. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  59. ↑ بـتـصـرف عـن مـجـلـة الأمـانـة الـعـدد عـشـرون شـوال 1419 تـصـدر عـن أمـانـة الـمـديـنـة الـمـنـورة إمـارة مـنـطـقـة الـمـديـنـة الـمـنـورة
  60. ↑ Brief about Ta'if City. Ta'if City. Taif Municipality. Retrieved 2016-04-26.
  61. ↑ Rābigh. GeoNames. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  62. ↑ Al-Juhfah | Hajj & Umrah Planner. hajjumrahplanner.com. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  63. ↑ Tabouk City Profile, Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Network. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  64. ↑ Construction underway on Saudi Red Sea project site. Zawya(27 February 2019). Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  65. ↑ Red Sea project master plan wins approval. The Saudi Gazette(17 September 2017). Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  66. ↑ Hospitality is 'anchor' of Red Sea project. Arab News(27 January 2019). Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  67. ↑ Saudi Arabia to allow women in bikinis at new beach resort. The USA Today(4 August 2017). Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  68. ↑ Saudi Arabia Population Statistics 2011 (Arabic).
  69. ↑ Brezhnev in the Hejaz. The National Interest({Template:Year).
  70. ↑ Divided We Survive: A Landscape of Fragmentation in Saudi Arabia. Middle East Brief({Template:Date).
  71. ↑ The Infallibles Taken from Kitab al Irshad By Sheikh al Mufid. Retrieved 2008-11-20.
  72. ↑ The Prophet's Line Family No 3 – Qusayy, Hubbah, and Banu Nadr to Quraysh, Maqsood, Ruqaiyyah Waris. Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood Dawah. Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  73. ↑ Book of Genesis, Chapters 10, 11, 16, 17, 21 and 25
  74. ↑ 1 Chronicles, Chapter 1
  75. ↑ 75.0 75.1 The Life of the Prophet Muhammad{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}
  76. ↑ SUNY Press :: History of al-Tabari Vol. 39, The.
  77. ↑ Adab of Islam. Masud. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
  78. ↑ 78.0 78.1 78.2 The Prophet's Family Line No. 4 – Amr (Hashim), the Founder of the Hashimites, Maqsood, Ruqaiyyah Waris. Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood Dawah. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  79. ↑ 79.0 79.1 79.2 79.3 79.4 79.5 79.6 A Shi'ite Anthology{{#if:Chittick|, Chittick}. SUNY Press(1981). ISBN 978-0-87395-510-2
  80. ↑ Lady Fatima Masuma (a) of Qom{{#if:Jaffer|, Jaffer}. Jami'at al-Zahra: Islamic Seminary for Women(2003)
  81. ↑ [{{{url}}} Islamic Medicine]. Goodword Books.
  82. ↑ Pusat Sejarah Brunei. www.history-centre.gov.bn. Retrieved 2016-08-23.

Further reading

  • The Saudis: Inside the Desert Kingdom{{#if:Mackey|, Mackey}. W. W. Norton and Company(2002). ISBN 0-393-32417-6 PBK, first edition: 1987.

Template:Commons category

Template:Saudi Arabia topics Template:Middle Eastern megaliths Template:Regions of the world Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Hejaz&oldid=431217"
Discover more