Hejaz

The Hejaz (/hiːˈdʒæz, hɪˈ-/, also US: /hɛˈ-/; Arabic: ٱلْحِجَاز‎, romanized: al-Ḥijāz, lit. 'the Barrier', Hejazi pronunciation: [alħɪˈdʒaːz]) is a region in the west of Saudi Arabia. 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,"[1] and it is so called as it separates the land of the Najd in the east from the land of Tihāmah in the west. It is also known as the "Western Province."[2] 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 the 'Asir Region.[3] Its largest city is Jeddah, the second largest city in Saudi Arabia, with Mecca and Medina being the fourth and fifth largest cities respectively in the country.

This article is about the geographical and historical region. For the mountain region, see Hijaz Mountains. For other uses, see Hejaz (disambiguation).
Hejaz

ٱلْحِجَاز

Al-Ḥijāz
Above: Islam's holiest shrine, Al-Masjid Al-Ḥarām (The Sacred Mosque), which surrounds the Ka'bah (middle), in Mecca, land of Muhammad's birth and ancestry and an annual point of pilgrimage for millions of Muslims, 2010


Below: Map of the Hejaz showing the cities of Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, Yanbu'al-Bahr and Tabuk. The Saudi Arabian region is outlined in red and the 1923 Kingdom is in green.
RegionsAl-Bahah, Mecca, Medina and Tabuk

The Hejaz is significant for being the location of the Islamic holy cities of Mecca[4] and Medina,[5][6][7] the first and second holiest sites in Islam, respectively. As the site of the two holiest sites in Islam, the Hejaz has significance in the Arab and Islamic historical and political landscape. The Hejaz is the most populated region in Saudi Arabia,[8] containing 35% of the population of Saudi Arabia.[9] Arabic is the predominant language as in the rest of Saudi Arabia, with Hejazi Arabic being most widely spoken dialect in the region. Hejazi Saudis are of ethnically diverse origins.[10]

The region is the birthplace of the Islamic Ummah (Community) of Muhammad, who was born in Mecca, which is locally considered to have been founded by the Biblical figures Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael.[11][12] 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.[13] 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.[14][15]

The Hejaz is the most cosmopolitan region in the Arabian Peninsula.[10] People of Hejaz are of Arab tribes (Bedouin) and people of foreign ancestries (Urban).

Timeline

Prehistoric and ancient times
The city of AlUla 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 the Hijaz.[16]

The Hejaz includes both the Mahd adh-Dhahab ("Cradle of the Gold") (23°30′13″N 40°51′35″E) and a water source, now dried out, that used to flow 600 miles (970 km) 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 8000  BCE and 2500–3000 BCE.[17]

The northern part of the Hejaz was part of the Roman province of Arabia Petraea.[18]

Al-Hijr Archaeological Site
Main article: Mada'in Saleh
Al-Ḥijr or Madā’in Ṣāliḥ ("Cities of Saleh")

Saudi Arabia'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,[19] and the site is known for having structures carved into rocks, similar to Petra.[20][21] Construction of the structures is credited to the people of Thamud. The location is also called "Madā’in Ṣāliḥ" ("Cities of Saleh"),[22][23][24][25][26][27] as it is speculated to be the city in which the Islamic Nabī (Prophet) Salih 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.[18][28][29][30]

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'),[31][32][33] which would have social, religious, political and historical implications for the site and region.[11][12]

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,[34] 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 Ibrāhim.[33] It was during such an occasion that Muhammad met some Medinans who would allow him to migrate to Medina, to escape persecution by his opponents in Mecca.[35][36][37][38][39][40]

Era of Muhammad
Main article: Muhammad in Islam
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[41] and Ḥunayn. They involved both Meccan companions, such as Hamzah ibn Abdul-Muttalib, Ubaydah ibn al-Harith and Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas, and Medinan companions.[5][39][40][42][43] The Hijaz fell under Muhammad's influence as he emerged victorious over his opponents, and was thus a part of his empire.[11][35][37][38][44][45][46]

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 ACE. The region was then under the control of regional powers such as Egypt and the Ottoman Empire, throughout much of its later history.

Brief independence
Main article: Kingdom of Hejaz

In 1916, Sharif Hussein ibn Ali proclaimed himself King of an independent Hejaz, as a result of the McMahon–Hussein Correspondence. The ensuing Arab Revolt overthrew the Ottoman Empire. In 1924, however, Ibn Ali was forced into exile by Ibn Saud of the Najd.

In modern Saudi Arabia
Main article: Regions of Saudi Arabia

At first, Ibn Saud ruled the two as separate units, though they became known as the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd. Later they were formally combined as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Cities
Workers laying tracks for the Hejaz Railway near Tabuk, 1906

Al Bahah Region:

Al Madinah Region:

Makkah Province:

Tabuk Region:

Geography
Harrat Khaybar 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 Hijaz. Saudi Arabia, and in particular the Hejaz, is home to more than 2000 dormant volcanoes.[53] Lava fields in the Hejaz, known locally by their Arabic name of ḥarrāt (حَرَّات, singular: ḥarrah (حَرَّة)), form one of Earth's largest alkali basalt regions, covering some 180,000 km2 (69,000 sq mi), an area greater than the state of Missouri.[54]

International tourism development

As a component of Saudi Vision 2030, a 28,000 square kilometer tourism destination is under development[55] on the Red Sea coast between the towns of Umluj (25.0500°N 37.2651°E / 25.0500; 37.2651) and Al-Wajh (26.2366°N 36.4689°E / 26.2366; 36.4689), in the northern section of the Hejazi coast. The project will involve "the development of 22 of the 90+ islands"[56] that lie along the coast to create a "fully integrated luxury mixed-use destination."[57] and will be "governed by laws on par with international standards".[58]

People of the Hejaz

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.[59]

Most people of Hejaz are Sunni of Maliki rite 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.[60]

Notable Hejazis
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Al-Abwa'

Pre-6th century CE

Since

Pre-6th century CE

Since

6th–7th centuries CE

Since

See also

Notes
  1. Quran: 7:73–79;[22] 11:61–69;[23] 26:141–158;[24] 54:23–31;[25] 89:6–13;[26] 91:11–15.[27]

References
  1. Rutter, Eldon (February 1931). "The Hejaz". The Geographical Journal. 77 (2): 97–108. doi:10.2307/1784385. JSTOR 1784385.
  2. Mackey, p. 101. “The Western Province, or the Hejaz[...]
  3. Hopkins, Daniel J. (2001). Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary. p. 479. ISBN 0-87779-546-0. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  4. Quran 48:22–29
  5. Quran 9:25–129
  6. Quran 33:09–73
  7. Quran 63:1–11
  8. "Mecca: Islam's cosmopolitan heart". The Hijaz is the largest, most populated, and most culturally and religiously diverse region of Saudi Arabia, in large part because it was the traditional host area of all the pilgrims to Mecca, many of whom settled and intermarried there.
  9. "Saudi Arabia Population Statistics 2011 (Arabic)" (PDF). p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 15, 2013.
  10. Leatherdale, Clive (1983). Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925–1939: The Imperial Oasis. p. 12. ISBN 9780714632209.
  11. Lings, Martin (1983). Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources. Islamic Texts Society. ISBN 978-0-946621-33-0.
  12. Glassé, Cyril (1991). "Kaaba". The Concise Encyclopedia of Islam. HarperSanFrancisco. ISBN 0-0606-3126-0.
  13. Yamani, M. (2009), Cradle of Islam: the Hijaz and the quest for an Arabian identity, I.B. Tauris, ISBN 978-1-84511-824-2 (Pbk. ed.)
  14. Al-Rasheed, M. A History of Saudi Arabia. Cambridge, England, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2002.
  15. A Brief overview of Hejaz - Hejaz history
  16. Gajus Scheltema (2008). Megalithic Jordan: an introduction and field guide. ACOR. ISBN 978-9957-8543-3-1. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  17. Sullivan, Walter (March 30, 1993). "Science Watch; Signs of Ancient River". The New York Times. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  18. Kesting, Piney. "Saudi Aramco World (May/June 2001): Well of Good Fortune". Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  19. Quran 15:80–84
  20. Butler, J. W. S.; Schulte-Peevers, A.; Shearer, I. (October 1, 2010). Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula. Lonely Planet. pp. 316–333. ISBN 9781741791457.
  21. "Al-Hijr Archaeological Site (Madâin Sâlih)". UNESCO. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  22. Quran 7:73–79
  23. Quran 11:61–69
  24. Quran 26:141–158
  25. Quran 54:23–31
  26. Quran 89:6–13
  27. Quran 91:11–15
  28. Hizon, Danny. "Madain Saleh: Arabia's Hidden Treasure – Saudi Arabia". Retrieved September 17, 2009.
  29. "ICOMOS Evaluation of Al-Hijr Archaeological Site (Madâin Sâlih) World Heritage Nomination" (PDF). World Heritage Center. Retrieved September 16, 2009.
  30. "Information at nabataea.net". Retrieved September 17, 2009.
  31. Quran 2:127 (Translated by Yusuf Ali)
  32. Quran 3:96 (Translated by Yusuf Ali)
  33. Quran 22:25–37
  34. Quran 106:1–4
  35. Ibn Ishaq, Muhammad (1955). Guillaume, Alfred (translator) (ed.). Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah – The Life of Muhammad. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 88–589. ISBN 978-0-1963-6033-1.
  36. Karen Armstrong (2002). Islam: A Short History. p. 11. ISBN 0-8129-6618-X.
  37. Firestone, Reuven (1990). Journeys in Holy Lands: The Evolution of the Abraham-Ishmael Legends in Islamic Exegesis. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-0331-0.
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  40. Haykal, Husayn (1976), The Life of Muhammad, Islamic Book Trust, pp. 217–18, ISBN 978-983-9154-17-7
  41. Quran 3:110–128
  42. Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:57:74
  43. Witness Pioneer "Pre-Badr Missions and Invasions"
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  45. Holt (1977), p. 57
  46. Lapidus (2002), pp. 31–32
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  48. بـتـصـرف عـن مـجـلـة الأمـانـة الـعـدد عـشـرون شـوال 1419 تـصـدر عـن أمـانـة الـمـديـنـة الـمـنـورة إمـارة مـنـطـقـة الـمـديـنـة الـمـنـورة
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  54. "VOLCANIC ARABIA: It started with tremors". archive.aramcoworld.com. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
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  57. "Hospitality is 'anchor' of Red Sea project". January 27, 2019. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  58. "Saudi Arabia to allow women in bikinis at new beach resort". August 4, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
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  61. "The Infallibles Taken from Kitab al Irshad By Sheikh al Mufid". al-islam.org. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
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  63. Book of Genesis, Chapters 10, 11, 16, 17, 21 and 25
  64. 1 Chronicles, Chapter 1
  65. Ibn Hisham. The Life of the Prophet Muhammad. 1. p. 181.
  66. SUNY Press :: History of al-Tabari Vol. 39, The Archived September 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  67. "Adab of Islam". Masud. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  68. Maqsood, Ruqaiyyah Waris. "The Prophet's Family Line No. 4 – Amr (Hashim), the Founder of the Hashimites". Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood Dawah. Archived from the original on May 30, 2008. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
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  70. Jaffer, Masuma (2003). Lady Fatima Masuma (a) of Qom. Qum: Jami'at al-Zahra: Islamic Seminary for Women.
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Further reading
  • Mackey, Sandra (2002), The Saudis: Inside the Desert Kingdom, New York: W.W. Norton and Company, ISBN 0-393-32417-6 PBK, first edition: 1987. Updated Edition. Norton Paperback.
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