Al-Muraikhi clarifies the content of “Islamic inscriptions on Jabal Ad-Dharwa – Najran”

Researcher Dr. Maslah bin Kamikh Al-Muraikhi completed a book in the scientific series published by the Saudi Society for Archaeological Research, entitled “Islamic Inscriptions from Mount Ad-Dharawa – Najran”, which has a 112-page booklet. The researchers believe that it dates back to the second and third centuries AH and includes 26 inscriptions by a family member, written in a simple cursive Kufic script, on pages of “Jabal al-Dharwa”. Located to the southeast of the center of “Sakam” in the Najran region, these inscriptions highlight the importance of the site as one of the important settlements in the Arabian Peninsula and the strategic importance of the site as a crossroads of trade and pilgrimage routes.

At the beginning of the book, the researcher introduces the importance of inscriptions as an important and indispensable source for historical research, as they have important connotations and indicators for determining the characteristics of civilized settlements and understanding various aspects of the development of human life affairs.

The study presents the study of reading these inscriptions, analyzing their linguistic and religious content, linking them together, understanding their era and the relationship between their owners, as well as the representation of this group in terms of language structure, calligraphic features. And famous names such as: Dawood bin Suleiman bin Yazid, Al-Rabi’ bin Abdul-Wahhab and Al-Haytham bin Bishr bin Yazid, Ali bin Yazid, Al-Furat, Muhammad bin Dawood, Rajeel. , Umm Jafar bint Muhammad bin Suleiman, Saad bin Yazid and Zayed bin Abdul Rahman.

The Mount Atawa inscriptions share many religious formulas and invocations with other commemorative inscriptions in the Arabian Peninsula, but they are unique in some linguistic structures and unique formulas that have not been mentioned before in other inscriptions. For example, the inscriptions include, but are not limited to: “O God, protect so-and-so from all harm, protect him from all dangers, and grant him religious security and physical health.” “O God, bless so-and-so, forgive his past and future sins, and help him in the affairs of this world and the next.” “O Lord, let so-and-so live happily and let him be martyred.” “O Lord, forgive me and do not punish me.”

The site includes many inscriptions written by women, which are of historical significance and symbolize the popularity of women’s writing profession at that time, their role in society and the superior skills reflected in the quality of their handwriting, as well as the high culture evident through the use of complex language structures and appropriate religious forms.

The researchers explain that the large number of commemorative inscriptions with historical content in a particular site attests to its importance, as it was often located in settlements or on both sides of trade or pilgrimage routes and their tributaries and stations. Undoubtedly, trade and pilgrimage routes played a prominent role in the emergence and prosperity of many commercial cities.

There is evidence that Najran was one of the most important ancient commercial centers in southern Arabia and a crossroads of several trade routes. Especially the “Incense Road”, which has occupied a prominent position since ancient times since the first millennium BC, for many reasons, the most important of which is: its mild and fertile atmosphere. Its land, abundant water sources and advantageous geographical location have, throughout history, been a land route for cultural, civilizational and economic contacts and exchanges between all parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Starting from the southernmost tip of the Arabian Peninsula, passing through “Najran”, two branches are divided at “Bir Hima”, one of which leads to the northeast of the Arabian Peninsula, passing through the village of Al-Aflaj, then Al-Yamamah, then Al-Jarha, and then walk along the east coast to Mesopotamia, and the other goes from “Bir Hima” through the “Tathleeth region” to the northwest; until it reaches Yathrib, from there to Al-Ula, then Petra, until Gaza and the Nile Valley.

The importance of this road has been growing since the first millennium BC, when goods transported from the southern Arabian Peninsula had global commercial value and demand for them increased in the markets of the ancient world. After the advent of Islam, the road did not lose its importance. It became the main route for pilgrims to the holy places in the Arabian Peninsula.

It is noteworthy that the Antiquities and Museums Department (now the Heritage Administration) has discovered nearly 200 Islamic inscriptions in the Najran region, the oldest of which dates back to 190 AH and the most recent to 1180 AH.