Najran Province Explained

Najran
Official Name:منطقة نجران
Settlement Type:Province
Seat Type:Capital
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Saudi Arabia
Seat:Najran
Parts Style:para
P1:8
Area Total Km2:149511
Population As Of:2010 census
Population Total:505,652
Population Density Km2:auto
Postal Code Type:ISO 3166-2
Postal Code:10
Leader Title:Governor
Leader Name:Jiluwi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed bin Jiluwi Al Saud[1]
Leader Title2:Vice Governor
Leader Name2:Turki bin Hathlul bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Najran (Arabic: نجران ) is a province of Saudi Arabia, located in the south of the country. It has an area of 149,511 km². Its capital is Najran.

Najran is inhabited by the Yam tribe. A significant percentage of the province's inhabitants are Shia Ismaili.[2] The current governor of the region is Prince Jiluwi bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Etymology

Similar to other ancient place names in Arabia, Najrān may have originally been the name of the whole oasis including all towns and villages. The old name of the ruins now known as "al-Ukhdūd", which may have been the central town, probably corresponds to Ramat.

Geography

Najran contains three geographical areas. First, the flat area which lies in the middle of Najran. It has several valleys, the most famous of them being Najran’s valley. Second, the mountainous area which is in the west and the north. There the weather is moderate in summer. It has several parks shaded by nabk trees. It has important governorate centers: Habuna governorate, Badr El-Junoob governorate and Yadmah governorate. Many of the mountains are distinguished by granite rocks, where marble and granite are quarried,. Third, the sandy area which lies in the east and is a part of the Empty Quarter. It is extremely rich in oil and water.

Governorates

Najran Valley Dam

Najran Valley Dam is considered to be one of the most important civil places in Najran Region because of its position and scenery. It is 35 km from Najran town. On this dam, there is a road 4.5 meters wide. It was built from concrete blocks, and has a system of water pipes which keeps the water cold.

As-Saud Waterfall

As-Saud Waterfall is located in Najran, and can be seen from a considerable distance away.

Governors of Najran

Religious groups in Najran

Najran, a fertile valley in what is now southwestern Saudi Arabia at the foot of mountains bordering the vast stretch of desert known as the Empty Quarter, was traditionally home to Christian and Jewish communities, in addition to Sulaymani Ismailis and Zaidis. Christians have been absent from Najran for some centuries, and the remaining Jewish community is Yemenite Jews that migrated to Najran and have left in 1949, following the establishment of the state of Israel. Najran's Zaidi community in 2008 numbers around 2,000.[3]

The 2004 Saudi census put the number of inhabitants in Najran at around 408,000. Sulaymani Ismailis, widely believed to constitute a large majority of the Najrani population, share an identity based on historical, cultural, and religious roots. In Najran city, the Khushaiwa compound, with its Mansura mosque complex, is the spiritual capital of the Sulaymani branch of the Ismaili sect, one of two major strands of contemporary Ismailism. Most Ismailis in Najran belong to one of two tribes: Yam and the Hamdan. There are also some Sunnis of the Yam tribe, both recent converts as well as those who have adhered to Sunni Islam for centuries.[3]

Ancient Christian community

See main article: Christian community of Najran. Najran is known for being home to an ancient settlement of Christians in the Arabian peninsula. They signed the "Najran Pact" in the 7th century with the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, promising them fair treatment as "protected subjects" (dhimmi) of the newly conquered territories. The village is now abandoned.[4]

Culture

Cuisine

The local dishes in Najran include:

Folk arts

Najran has some folk arts including traditional clay techniques. The houses are built of light tan clay in the shape of a rectangle. On the other hand, Najran has different kinds of traditional dance. For example, Al-Zamil which is an enthusiastic kind of poetry refers to special occasion in which so many men share together in the middle of a circle formed by old men. The stanzas of Al-Zamil are chosen carefully to express the subject for the occasion. Furthermore, Al-Zamil is considered to express emotions, and some time for apologies. Al-Razffah describes a dance which is used for wedding, or for happy occasions. Choirs come into rows and they sing poetry. Al-Razffah has a special time and special voice. Between the two rows two men meet each other and they dance in specific movements holding stilettos or sticks in their hands. Also there is another art that is (Laa'bat Ateran) done by black men.

Mass shootings of Ethiopian refugees

Since 2014, refugees have been killed after crossing the Saudi border by the Saudi Border Guard. Since 2023, at least several hundred Ethiopian refugees have been killed at the border between Yemen and the provinces Jazan, Asir, and Najran. The Saudis also used explosive weapons.[5] [6]

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.e-najran.gov.sa/English/News/Pages/nwz1013.aspx Najran Official page
  2. Web site: 'Strong Foundations'? The Imperative for Reform in Saudi Arabia. FRIDE (Spanish Think-tank organization). 15 April 2012. Ana Echagüe. Edward Burke. 1–23. June 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194738/http://edoc.bibliothek.uni-halle.de/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/HALCoRe_derivate_00003652/Strong%20Foundations.pdf. 29 October 2013.
  3. Web site: The Ismailis of Najran. Human Rights Watch. 16 April 2012. September 2008.
  4. Book: Frankfurter, David . 1998. Pilgrimage and holy space in late antique Egypt. 388 . BRILL . 978-9004111271 .
  5. Web site: 2023-08-21 . Saudi Arabia: Mass Killings of Migrants at Yemen Border . 2023-08-21 . Human Rights Watch . en.
  6. News: Beaumont . Peter . 2023-08-21 . ‘Fired on like rain’: Saudi border guards accused of mass killings of Ethiopians . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-08-21 . 0261-3077.