Hejaz is a historical region of the Arabian Peninsula that includes the majority of the western region of Saudi Arabia, covering the cities of Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, Tabuk, Yanbu, Taif and Al Bahah. It is thus known as the "Western Province",[Mackey, p. 101. "The Western Province, or the Hejaz..."] and it 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 Greater Yemen.
As the location of the Holy city of Mecca
According to Islamic tradition, this region is the birthplace of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, who was born in Mecca, which was founded by his ancestors Abraham, Ishmael, and Hagar.[ (Pbk. ed.)] In September 1932, the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd joined the Saudi dominions of Al-Ahsa Oasis and Qatif, creating the unified Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.[Al-Rasheed, M. A History of Saudi Arabia. Cambridge, England, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2002. ][A Brief overview of Hejaz - Hejaz history ]
Etymology
The name of the region is derived from a verb
ḥajaza (حَجَز), from the Arabic root
ḥ-j-z (ح-ج-ز), meaning "to separate",
and it is so called as it separates the land of the
Najd in the east from the land of
Tihamah in the west.
History
Prehistoric and ancient times
One or possibly two
dolmen have been found in Hejaz.
The Hejaz includes both the Mahd adh-Dhahab ("Cradle of the Gold") () and a water source, now dried out, that used to flow north east to the Persian Gulf via the Wadi Al-Rummah and Wadi al-Batin system. Archaeological research led by of Boston University and the University of Qassim indicates that the river system was active in 2500–3000 BCE.
According to Al-Masudi the northern part of Hejaz was a dependency of ancient Israel,[Ibn Khaldun, "Kitāb al-ʿIbar wa-Dīwān al-Mubtadaʾ wa-l-Khabar", Dar Al-Fikr publication. Beirut. 1988. volume 2 page 342] and according to Butrus al-Bustani the Jews in Hejaz established a sovereign state.[al-Bustani, Butrus. "Daerat Al-Maaref". Dar Al-Marifa Publication. Beirut. volume 11 page 672] The German orientalist Ferdinand Wüstenfeld believed that the Jews established a state in northern Hejaz.[Wolfensohn, Israel. "Tarikh Al-Yahood Fi Belad Al-Arab". Al-Nafezah Publication. Cairo. 2006. page 68]
in 2012. The city's archaeological district is in the foreground, with the
Hijaz Mountains in the background.]]
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. The
Adnanites were a tribal confederation of the
Ishmaelites Arabs, who trace their lineage back to
Ishmael son of the
Islamic prophet and
patriarch Abraham and his wife
Hagar through
Adnan, who originate from the Hejaz.
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
Kaaba,
which would have social, religious, political and historical implications for the site and region.
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,Karen Armstrong (2025). 081296618X, Random House Publishing. 081296618X
File:Saudi arabia makkah - panoramio (10).jpg|Muslims pilgrims surrounding the Maqam Ibrahim (Station) of Ibrahim (Abraham) near the Kaaba in 2008
File:Hajr Ismail, Makkah.jpg|The Hijr Ismail where Isma'il (Ishmael) and Hajar (Hagar) dwelt
Era of Shuaib
The
of the
Bible lived in Hejaz.
, who is revered as a prophet by both Muslims and
Druze,
was from this community,
who are also known as the
Aṣḥāb al-Aykah ("Companions of the Wood").
The historical area of Midian roughly corresponds to what is now
Tabuk Province of Tabuk.
Also, the northern part of the Hejaz was part of the
Roman province of
Arabia Petraea.
Era 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
Quran,
and the site is known for having structures carved into rocks, similar to
Petra.
Construction of the structures is credited to the people of
Thamud. The location is also called
Madāʾin Ṣāliḥ ("Cities of Saleh"),
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.
Era of Muhammad
As the land of Mecca[ Witness Pioneer "Pre-Badr Missions and Invasions"] The Hejaz fell under Muhammad's influence as he emerged victorious over his opponents, and was thus a part of his empire.[Holt (1977), p. 57][Lapidus (2002), pp. 31–32]
File:Place of Birth of Hazrat Muhammad SAW near Masjid ul Harram Makkah Mukarma - panoramio.jpg|Makkah Al Mukarramah Library near the Sacred Mosque. Because it is believed to be built on the spot where Amina bint Wahb gave birth to Muhammad, it is also known as Bayt al-Mawlid (House of the Birth).
File:MasjidNabawi.jpg|Muhammad's Mosque in Medina, his place-of-residence after the Hegira (Migration) from Mecca. Muhammad is buried underneath the Green Dome.
Subsequent history
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 Common Era. 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
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.
In modern Saudi Arabia
On 23 September 1932, the two kingdoms of the Hejaz and Nejd were united as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Culture
Religion
The cultural setting of Hejaz is greatly influenced by Islamic culture, 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.
Cuisine
Hejazi cuisine has mostly Arabian dishes like the rest of Saudi Arabia, Some dishes are native to the Hejaz, like Saleeg.
Geography
The region is located along the Red Sea Rift. It is also known for its Wareqan Mountain, more volcano 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.
File:1قرية ذي عين.jpg|The village of Dhi 'Ain in Al-Bahah Province
File:Taif Mountains (8355942584).jpg|Mountains near Taif, 2012
File:جبل أحد.jpg|Mount Uhud in the area of Medina
File:Harrat Khaybar Space.jpg|Harrat Khaybar, as seen from the International Space Station
Cities
Al Bahah Region:
Medina:
-
Al-Madīnah Al-Munawwarah (Medina)
-
Badr
[بـتـصـرف عـن مـجـلـة الأمـانـة الـعـدد عـشـرون شـوال 1419 تـصـدر عـن أمـانـة الـمـديـنـة الـمـنـورة
]
إمـارة مـنـطـقـة الـمـديـنـة الـمـنـورة
Mecca Province:
Tabuk Region:
]]
, located above sea level]]
Tourism
As a component of Saudi Vision 2030, a tourist destination with an area of is under development,
Demographics
The Hejaz is the most populated region in Saudi Arabia,
Notable people
-
Salih of Thamud
-
Shuaib of Midian
Al-Abwa'
Mecca
Pre–6th century CE
-
Qusai ibn Kilab ibn Murrah ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr ibn Malik ibn An-Nadr ibn Kinanah
[Book of Genesis, Chapters 10, 11, 16, 17, 21 and 25][1 Chronicles, Chapter 1] Chief of the Tribe of Quraysh, and an ancestor of Muhammad
-
Qusai's son Abd-al-Dar
-
Abd Manaf ibn Qusai, paternal ancestor of Muhammad
-
Abdul-Uzza, son of Qusai, and an ancestor of Barrah bint Abdul-Uzza
-
Hashim, son of Abd Manaf, paternal great-grandfather of Muhammad, and the progenitor of Banu Hashim in the tribe of Quraysh
-
Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim, paternal grandfather of Muhammad
-
Hubbah bint Hulail ibn Hubshiyyah ibn Salul ibn Kaʿb ibn Amr al-Khuzaʿi, wife of Qusai, and an ancestor of Muhammad
-
Atikah bint Murrah ibn Hilal ibn Falij ibn Dhakwan, wife of Abd Manaf, and an ancestor of Muhammad
Since
-
Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttalib ibn Hashim
-
Abu Bakr
-
Umar
-
Ali ibn Abi Talib,
-
Hamzah, son of Abdul-Muttalib, and a paternal uncle of Muhammad, and other Muhajirun
-
Abu Talib, son of Abdul-Muttalib,
-
Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim,
-
Khadija bint Khuwaylid
-
,
-
Umm Ammar Sumayyah bint Khayyat, wife of Yasir ibn Amir ibn Malik al-Ansi, believed to be the first martyr from the followers of Muhammad
-
Aminah
Medina
Pre–6th century CE
-
Salmah, daughter of Amr, wife of Hashim, and a great-grandmother of Muhammad
Since
-
Caliph Al-Hasan,
-
Caliph Umar II ibn Abdul-Aziz ibn Marwan ibn Al-Hakam ibn Abi al-'As ibn Umayyah ibn Abd Shams ibn Abd Manaf ibn Qusai, great-grandson of Umar ibn Al-Khattab
-
Al-Hasan of Basra
-
Muhammad al-Baqir ibn Ali Zaynul-Abidin, grandson of Hasan and Husayn the grandsons of Muhammad
-
Zayd ibn Ali Zaynul-Abidin ibn Husayn ibn Fatimah bint Muhammad, half-brother of Muhammad al-Baqir
-
Ansari women
-
Ja'far al-Sadiq ibn Muhammad al-Baqir
-
Malik the son of Anas ibn Malik ibn Abi Amir al-Asbahi (not Anas the companion of Muhammad)
-
Ali al-Rida ibn Musa al-Kadhim ibn Ja'far al-Sadiq
-
Fatima bint Musa ibn Ja'far al-Maʿsumah of Qom,
-
Abu Ali al-Hadi Muhammad al-Jawad ibn Ali al-Ridha
Ta'if
6th–7th centuries CE
-
Uthman ibn Affan
-
Urwah ibn Mas'ud,
-
Nafi ibn al-Harith, physician
Since
-
Sharif Ali ibn Ajlan ibn Rumaithah ibn Muhammad, son-in-law and successor of Sultan Ahmad of Brunei, father of Sultan Sulaiman, and a descendant of Muhammad
See also
Explanatory notes
Further reading
-
PBK, first edition: 1987.
External links
