The Governorate Of Sa’ada
The Governorate of Sa’da lies in the north of the Republic of Yemen,
boarding Saudia Arabia 243km From Sana’a.
The Governorate has a variety of relief: high mountains to the north and
west such as Khawlan, Baqim and Razih mountains, 2,800m above sea-level,
which are linked to the Juma’aeh mountain chain. In Razeh mountain
range. Jabal Hurum, which has the highest peak, with Jabal Al-Nadheer,
Jabal Qal’a Sahar and Jabal Al- Sama’a the next highest peak (on Sana’a
there is a castle built by Imam Ahmad which is located parallel to Al-Sunnara
Castle to the west). The Hamdan Bin Zaid Mountains .eg. Barash Mountain
which ranges between 2000-2800m. The mountain ranges are interested by a
number of wadis the most important of which are wadi Saqain, Nnushour,
Badr, Dhamad and Alaf, as well as Wadi Abdayn at Khaniq Strait, where
there are remains of the Himyrite Khaniq Dam, which kept existence until
9th century AD.
Sa’da Flatland(Qa’a)
The Flatland of Sa’da is amongst the most fertile in Yemen with farmers
growing black Grapes, pomegranates, peaches apricots figs and other.
Fruit at high altitudes (1800 meters above sea level ), it is one of the
highest flatlands in Yemen. Juma’a encloses the area and Ghamar
mountains from the north and west and from the south Sahar mountains,
while from the east the Hamdan mountains.
Eastern Sa’da
High mountains and inner deserts characterize this part of the
Governorate, with a number of a valley streams flowing through to the
Empty Quarter desert.
The climate
The climate of Sa’da is generally moderate in summer with the
temperature ranging from 10-26 degrees and cold during the winter with
temperature ranging during the night from 16- zero degree C during the
night and early morning.
Population Activities
Most of the Inhabitations of Sa’da are engaged in agriculture and
livestock with a minority, working as craftsmen and traders.
Handicrafts
Sa’da is famous for its good-quality iron, traces of which can been seen
in various parts of the Governorate, and some its people still work in
the mining of iron-ore from the mountains. They melt it in primitive
furnaces to make tools, due to its high quality, and despite the
availability of imported iron in the markets. Dagger Blades from Sa’da
were sought after. The iron is also used in the manufacture of ploughs,
and leather tanning tools. Other handicrafts include:
Leather good, ornaments, Sa’da is an important center. Sa’da is also
famous for domestic utensils made from palm leaves and clay. The
residents of Sa’da are very skillful in the making of kitchen-ware from
stone extracted from the Razih Quarries. Such stones are called Harradh
and the utensils made from these stones are very popular and are
called”Al Maqla Al-Sa’di, Al-Hardha Al-Sa’diyya, meaning Sa’da frying
pan”.
The markets:
There are a number of weekly markets held in different parts of the
Governorate on different days, the most important being Al-Tallh, 10km
to the north of Sa’da, which is held every Saturday, and is considered
to be the biggest market in Yemen.
Archaeological and tourist Sites in Sa’da
As the relief in Sa’da vary so does the living of the population, there
are mountains, towns, plains, and grass lands such as the eastern region
of Sa’da. According to this natural, human, cultural and historical map
as of prehistoric times until now and can be summed up as follows:
Sa’da City:
The Administrative Center of Sa’dah Governorate:
A historical Outlook:
Sa’da is located to the east of Archaeological Mount Talmuss on which is
Tamulss fortress that was built by Yaali Bin Omer Bin Zaid and is
overlooking Sa’dah and its Mikhlafs as well as Wadi Gharaz, Wadi Rahban.
It has been destroyed later and renovated by Imam Yehya Bin Hamzah who
constructed control towers and at present there are only some remains.
Imam Nashwan Bin Saeed Al Himiari said in his second part of Shams Al
Illom Scroll about the name of Sa’dah, Sa’dah is a town for Khawlan Bin
Amro and was named Sa’dah because a King of Himyar built a high castle
and once seen by the king he said it has been elevated and hence came
the name, Sa’dah in Arabic is also straight pipe and Sa’dah is an
adjective for a willowy woman. In pre-Islamic era it used to be named
Jom’a i.e. a mixture of people from different tribes. There are no sound
proofs about who founded Sa’dah but the ancient Yemeni Geographer Al
Hamdani recounted that Hajar Bin Rabiah Bin Saad Bin Khawlan left Sirwah
towards the north and passed by the field of Sa’dah that was lightly
settled and founded the town. There are inscriptions speaking about the
town of Khawlan Al sham and that is Sa’dah and there are other
inscriptions in the name of Rahban because Sa’dah is located directly to
the north. Those inscriptions date back to before the 4th century AD. It
is also noted through follow-up of the inscriptions events which refer
to old Sa’dah as existent before the Birth of Jesus and persisted alive
till 1138 AD when it was taken by Imam Ahmed Bin Salman and destroyed it
and many of its inhabitations left for various places as for the town of
Sa’dah it was established by Imam Alhadi Bin Alhasan Bin Alkasim Alrasi
Who came to Sa’dah in 284 Hegira= 897 AD and disseminated his invitation
and with it knowledge and justice prevailed and wrote many books
available till the moment effective. Furthermore, he built his famous
mosque named Al adi Mosque. He continued his call for 14 years till he
passed away in 911 AD and his burial was conducted in front of Al Hadi
Mosque in front of the Prayer direction vestibule. Sa’Adah through
history remained as strong source for manufacture and agriculture for it
used to manufacture iron as recounted that Sa’dah included many Iron
furnaces and the iron leftovers are still around Sa’dah. Also the Iron
Melting Furnaces besides manufacture of tools, minted the different
coins and quarries are still existent to the East of Alba Mount
overlooking Sa’dah from the East of Alba Mount overlooking Sa’dah from
the east and in Al danah near the area of Majz Jomah.
The city is surrounded by a fortified wall considered and is one of the
tourist attractions of Yemen similar to Sana’a Wall but Sa’dahj Wall is
still intact with all its components. It is built of mud bricks in a
wavy manner interspersed 52 towers and four Gates:
1)Najran 2) Swedan 3)Mansourah and Hamdan in side the wall are 16
staircases the wall measures: 3.326 m in length 8m height from the
outside and 6m from the inside the thickness at the ground is 5m and as
the top 3.5m it is in an excellent condition even though it was built in
the 16th century.
Architectural Style:
The city of Sa’dah is distinguished for its architecture style which is
like of old Sana’a to a great extent whilst there is another style
prevalent in Sa’dah and Eastern Yemen and it is the Mud Bricks Style
which is constructed according to stages with determined heights in the
from of Belts. Thisstyle is noted in many villages of Sa’dah
Governorate.
Al-Hadi Mosque dates back to the 9th century and is considered one of
the oldest and most beautiful mosques in Yemen. It contains tomb and
domes, the most important of which is the tomb of Al-Hadi Yahia Bin Al-Husain
founder of the Zaidite dynasty in the 3rd Hegira century (9th century
AD). Sa’dah town is famous and Al Hadi mosque were famous in addition to
other mosques as schools used for theological studies, which gave the
city an acadimic aura which is comparable to that of Sana’a , Zabid,
Tarim,Dhamar, Jiblah and Al hadi mosque is still possessing many
invaluable manuscripts and references books.
Sa’dah attractions include Moslem graveyards located close to the city’s
wall and are unique in that the stones are engraved with the names of
the deceased, the date of death, his virtues, prayers and verses from
the Holy Quran, even some poetry, let alone that Sa’dah is considered an
Exemplary Yemenite Islamic town.
Beautiful Villages Surrounding Sa’dah:
Scattered around Sa’dah and in parts of Qa’a Al-Hosn and Sa’eed, united
by the distinguished architectural style of Sa’dah which is built by mud
bricks surround by gardens of grapes, pomegranates, fruits.Worthy of a
special mention are the villages of Al-Talh, Al-Abdainn and Rahban.
Forts and Castles Of Sa’dah
Sa’dah Governorate was a cross point for trade caravans across different
historical epochs whether Ollibanum and perfumes caravans at the time
before Christ or the caravans from the As’ad route, or the proprietors
of the elephant route which passed by a series of towns and hills during
the pre-Islamic era, and is also a route for pilgrims since Islam. The
construction of forts and castles, therefore, seemed necessary to
protect the travelers. Some were built close to Sa’dah such as
Al-Sinarah , Sama’a fort, Tulmus fort and Al –Abla fort, Razeh fortress
“humrum” to the north west of Sa’dah 60km away. The most important of
the forts and castles is” Om Laila”, sixty kilometers to the north-west
of Sa’dah at Baqim , Juma’ah. Old Yemeni inscriptions confirm that this
is a most significant archaeological site and contains stone paved
roads, reservoir, grain stores and defense constructions such as towers
and fortified walls, with only one wall leading to its beautiful scenery
from all around which await the visitor.
Rock Drawings and Primitive Paintings
Sa’da is an area, which boasts a large collection of ancient paintings
and signs dating back to the Hunter Gatherers Society. In the mountain
area many of the caves and rocks are full of inscriptions and paintings
of goats, hounds, cows, snakes, plant and geometrical shapes. The two
areas rich in such drawings are Al-Khaza’in, 15km to the north –west of
Sa’da at Om Lailai and Musalhaqat 20km to thenorth west of Sa’dah.
Al- Khazain Rocky Graveyard
Fifteen kilometers to the northwest of Sa’da is the Rocky Graveyard.
This graveyard is carved in the mountain and resembles a vault. It has a
square door leading to rooms, each about 20 square meters. The rooms are
similar to those at Shibam Kawkaban, Dhofar Al-Malik , Wadi Dhaher and
Shibam Al-Gharras.Al-Alkhaza’in there is a reservoir eight meters deep
and 4 meters wide.
Other places worth visiting Haidan Baqim Wadi Nashur Razeh Saqin Wa’ela
Sehra Ghuraz and Al-Buqa’a.
The Most Important Tourist Areas in Sa’dah Governorate
Haydan, Baqim, Wadi Nushur,Razih,Saqain,Waylah,Sahar,Gharaz,Albouqa
Customs, Traditions and Folklore
Sa’da is rich in its art, folklore dances and music, with some of its
residents having traditions found nowhere else. For example, the male
residents on the outskirts of Sa’da Governorate wear wreaths of flowers
around their heads and their hair is grown down to their shoulders. This
part of Sa’da has retained a life-style, which has not been affected by
time.
Al-Buqa’a, a crossing point for Saudi Arabia, is located to the north
–east of Sa’adah.
The most important mountains and forts in Sa’dah Governorate:
The western chain of mountains: From the south begin the mountains of
Khawlan Bin Amir and are elevated 2800m above sea level and they are Al
Karb ,AlMuftah, Marran, Al Jomah,Haydan, Wair. Almanar and Hayash
Mountans.
The chain Of Joma’ah Mountains and they are :
Asim Mountains, Khonfaar,Sham ,Darbain,Aswad Mountain,Qatabir,Marra
Mountain,Al Qarad ,Om Laila which is an archaeological Mountain,
Shida,Al Irr and Munabah Mountain.
The Chain of Eastern Joma’ah Mountains and they are :
Sanhan Al Sham, Baqim,Abu-Al-Hadeed and Sorom Mountains.
Razih Mountains include:
Ghamir ,Hurrum( on which is the Hurum fortress) 2800m above sea level
and it is the highest mountain in Razih. To the west of Razih there are
Al Nadheer, Al Qalah and Al Dhaiah Mountains.
Jibal Sahar, then Al Sama on which is Al Sama Fortress and it is
paralleling Al Sinnarah Fortressto the west.
Tulmuss Mountain, it is one of Sa’dah’s Archaeological sites.
Al Abla Mountain, on it there is a historical fort, Dhofar
Mountain,Kablan Mountain and the prominent mount north of Sa’dah is
Walaan.
Hamdan Bin Zaid Mountains: The most important which are:
Jabal Bbarsh (pyramidal in form),Ammer mountains, Wadaah Mountains.
Wayilah Mountains, their elevation ranges between 2000-2800m above sea
level,Amalisah mountains,Ashash mountains,Raawom,Fard Mountains.
Source: National Information Center, Sana'a
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