Hijaz: Difference between revisions

'''Ḥijāz''' (Arabic: {{ia|حجاز}}) is a land located at the West of [[Saudi Arabia]], having lotteral border with Red Sea. This land is the area where Islam emerged from and is regarded as the most important part of [[Arabian Peninsula]]. Having embraced the two cities [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]], it has always been significant in Islamic geography; many important events of newly established Islam and Shi'a had occurred there.

The word "Hijaz" means something standing between. It is said that this land was named Hijaz since it was positioned between "Najd" and "Tahama".

 

There are different ideas about width of Hijaz. Generally, it is 1200 kilometers from North to South, and it starts from Jordan and Saudi Arabia borders, stretching from Red Sea to "'Asir" region in South of Saudi Arabia. The area of this land is about 436,454 square kilometers. The important cities of Hijaz are [[Mecca]], [[Medina]], [[Jaddah]], [[Ta'if]], [[Tabuk]], and [[Yanbu']].

# Coastal plains of Red Sea by the name of Tahama.

Hijaz has a dry climate. Red Sea brings about humidity and fog in Tahama, and little precipitation in mountainous regions. There is no perennial river in Hijaz; nevertheless, but floods sometimes occur in its valleys after precipitation which result in great loss and damage. The plants growing after rain and floodwater are so much valuable for people of Hijaz.

Due to lack of rain, Hijaz does not have a rich agriculture. However, agriculture had always been present there, as [[Ta'if]] is known as one of the richest regions of Hijaz. Currently, thanks to the developing of science some dams and deep wells have been constructed, leading to the development of agriculture. Nowadays, planting grain, wheat, corn, and various vegetables is prevalent in the cities around Hijaz such as Ta'if, [[Jaddah]], [[Medina]], and Yanbu'. Medina is famous for its date. Animal husbandry is prevalent in mountainous regions and high plateaus.

 

[[Ka'ba]] played an important role in the economy of Hijaz. The importance of Ka'ba was raised after Islam, since millions of Muslim visit Ka'ba every year from different parts of the world, trading along with making [[Hajj]]. The adjacency of Mecca to Jaddah harbor has resulted in developing the trade of Jaddah.

Hijaz was the scientific center of [[Arabian Peninsula]] when [[Islam]] emerged. It had always have a fundamental role in preserving [[Islamic sciences]] and inheritances. During the time of Hajj, when Muslims assembled in Hijaz from different lands, scientific debates and meetings were held in Mecca. Scientific meetings in [[Masjid al-haram]] and [[Masjid al-nabiy]] constituted a significant part of the cultural and scientific activities. Many religious schools existed there whose purpose was to raise the importance of religious sciences and to teach [[Qur'an]] interpretation ([[tafsir]]).

Before Islam, there were two lifestyles in Hijaz, one was living in deserts, and the other was urbanity. Primitive lifestyle was more prevalent in Hijaz, for a vast part of it was dry and desert like the rest of the areas of Arabian Peninsula. Cities and villages were developed in fertile oases or on the way of caravans and rest positions. Great primitive tribes such as 'Adnan, Qahtan, and Qada'ah lived in Hijaz. [[Quraysh]] tribe lived in [[Mecca]], [[Thaqif]] tribe inhabited [[Ta'if]], and [[Aws and Khazraj]] tribes dwelled [[Yathrib]] (Medina).

 

Hijaz was the religious center because of Mecca and Masjid al-haram, and that is why it was so important. Yet worshiping idols was common before Islam; temples and their numerous idols were respected by Arabs.

After Islam emerged, Hijaz became more respectful and noteworthy. The Islamic government established by [[the Prophet (s)]] caused the whole Arabian Peninsula to get united. After the Prophet (s) passed away, caliphs focused their efforts on expanding governance of Islam over Arabian Peninsula and other regions. After [['Uthman b. 'Affan]]'s death, [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] became caliph. He moved the capital of the Islamic government to [[Kufa]]. At this point, many tribes migrated to Kufa. In 41/661, [[Mu'awiya]] became the ruler of Muslims. He then selected [[Sham]] as the center of his government and [[Dimashq]] (Damascus) was his capital.

Although the capital in [[Umawi]] age was Sham and in [['Abbasi]] age was [[Baqdad]], it did not lower the importance of Mecca and Medina. Hijaz was a province under the control in Umawi and 'Abbasi ages, yet it still was significant and worthy in view of Muslims.

Medina was the center of Hijaz in Umawi age, and Mecca became the center of this land only during the time [['Abd Allah b. Zubayr]] was caliph (64/684-73/692).

In 145/762, Muhammad b. 'Abd Allah, well-known as [[Nafs Zakiyya]] whose ancestor was [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]], rebelled against [[Mansur al-'Abbasi]] in Medina. He took the control of Medina, Mecca, and Yemen, but he was defeated by 'Abbasid army after two months and a half and was killed. 'Abbasid rulers were famous for their cruelty with Imam 'Ali (a)'s family. Mansur had deprived Imam 'Ali (a)'s family from receiving properties. At the same time, Hijaz was experiencing poverty and misery. The poverty and other parameters resulted in the science being stagnant and disregarded; however, [[fiqh]] and [[hadith]] sciences were not influenced that much.

 

When 'Abbasids grew weaker and weaker, people in Hijaz began to rebell against the government. They were tortured by famine, hunger, and [[Qaramatah]] of [[Bahrain]] who attacked caravans of Ka'ba pilgrims. For a period of time, Hijaz was governed by a number of different rulers.

In 358/969, after Egypt was conquered by [[Fatimids]], Ja'far b. Muhammad b. Hasan, who was a grandchild of [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]], declared his independence in Mecca, and the name of Fatimi caliph was mentioned in the sermon (khutbah) of [[Friday Prayer]]. In 360/971, Tahir b. Muslim Husayni declared independence in Medina and made the sermon (khutbah) in Friday Prayer in the name of the Fatimi caliph, al-Mu'iz li-Din Allah. Therefore, some of Alawiyyun became rulers in Mecca and Medina. Because of the dignity (sharafat) of having relation with the Prophet (s), the rulers were named Sharif, and their government became known as Shurafa' (plural form of the word "sharif").

 

One of the notable measures taken by Ayyubids was guarding holy places against crusaders. In 577/1181, ruler of Kirk province (located in the East of Dead Sea) who was a crusader attacked Hijaz in order to expand the territory of crusaders, to attack holy places of Muslims, and to gain control over the marine lines where pilgrims of Ka'ba passed. In 578/1182, when crusaders' navy set out for Hijaz from 'Idhab harbor, Ayyubids defended the holy places.

In the first half of the seventh/thirteenth century, Ayyubids government collapsed and Banu Rasul (Rsulids) gained control instead of them. The rulers of Medina conformed to the orders of Banu Rasul kings. In 656/1258, 'Abbasids were thrown by Mongols, resulting in Banu Rasul ruling all over Hijaz.

In 1218/1803-1221/1806, [[Wahhabis]] attacked [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]]. Muhammad 'Ali Pasha was ordered by Sultan of Ottoman Empire to defeat them, they were defeated in 1233/1818. Hijaz was governed by [[Egypt]] until 1261/1845. After that, Ottoman Empire appointed rulers for Hijaz. In this age, the railway of Hijaz was constructed from Dimashq to Hijaz in order to make commuting easier for pilgrims.

In 1335/1917, Sharif Husayn b. Ali the ruler of Makkah took the power of Mecca from Ottoman Empire. He established an independent country which The Great Britain guaranteed its independence. At the same time, The Britain had promised the third Abd al-'Aziz, Ibn Saud, to support him in ruling the country. Therefore, Ibn Saud declared war against Sharif Husayn in 1343/1925 by attacking Hijaz. He conquered Mecca, Medina, and Jaddah, and then introduced himself as the king of Hijaz and [[Najd]]. He called himself officially the king of Saudi Arabia in 1932.