Tihamah

Al Hudaydah

The Tihama coastal plain is situated between the Sirat mountain range in the east and the Red Sea in the west and extends from the border of Saudi Arabia in the north to the Gulf of Aden in the south.

Al-Hodeidah Governorate constitutes part of this plain from Luhayya in the north to Khawkha in the south. The population concentration mostly center at the foothill east of this plain or around the fishing villages on the Red Sea in the west or along the wadis crossing the plain like Wadi Mawr in the north, Wadi Sordud and Wadi Siham in the middle.

Wadi Zabid and Remaa’ in the south and the small towns stretching on the two sides of the pilgrimage and trade route.

Climate :

The climate is semi-equatorial (humid and hot in the summer and moderate in the winter). The highest temperature is 40C in Summer and 24 in winter. The monsoon rains coming from the Indian Ocean moderate the heat of summer.

 

Population Activity:

 

Most people of Tihama Plain work in agriculture, cattle breeding and fishing, with a few others working in trade. They are famous for growing cotton, tobacco, banana, palm trees, grains and vegetables as well as Arabian jasmine and Kadhi in certain areas. 

Most important Historical and Tourist Places in Al –Hodeidah:

Al Hudaydah City 

It is one of the Yemeni ports famous for the export of coffee beans during 7^th 18^th and 19^th centuries. It was mainly reputed as a port for the export of pearls extracted from the sea rocks. It has also a unique architectural design characteristics of the coastal towns of the Red Sea like Al-Luhayya, Jeddah and Aqaba.

The real boom for the city didn’t begin until the construction of its modern port in the second half of 20^th century. Today it is the capital of Al –Hodeidah Governorate. The Yemenis call it “ Bird of the Red Sea “

Most important Tourist Sites: 

They include the old town and the spectacular fishing market. There are also a number of beautiful beaches like Al-Katheeb Irj nearby to Hodiedah.

Bayt Al-Faqih 

It is the second most important town in the Governorate situated on the pilgrimage and trade route across Tihama plain. It is 50 km south of Al-Hodeidah city on the modern Al-Hodeidah –Taiz road.

The town of Bayt Al-Faqih was named after the wise man Ahmed Ibn Al-Aujail who lived in the 7^th AH (13^th century AD). This town is the center of Al-Zaaraneeq tribes that attained fame in modern history. In the vicinity of Bayt Al-Faqih are beautiful places such as Al-Tayef, 20km to the west, an old port used for the export of salt, cereals and fish.

Most of the population of Bayt Al-faqeeh work in the weaving industry renowned for the manufacture of head-cloth, as well as silver and gold jewelry.

There are a number of fertile wadis around Bayt Al-faqeeh such as Wadi Al-Jah and Wadi Al-Lawiya. Palm trees, tobacco, cotton, Arabian Jasmine, cereals and sesame are grown in this area. Bayt Al-Faqeeh is characterized by its unique architectural design which uses red cooked bricks for building and its facades are decorated with geometrical and botanical forms of high aesthetically value.

Of its outstanding features is the fortress located amid the town market in which the Friday beautiful souq of Bayt Al-Faqih is held every week, it is important and one of the most beautiful Tihama Souqs in general in the area to the south of Hodeidah. I t was established in the early 18^th century AD as a trading point for coffee which the caravans used to carry either to Hodeidah Seaport or Mokha. Also there were in the town the widest activity for the trade of the famed Yemeni Coffee Traders from Egypt, Syria, Constantinople, Morocco, Iran, India and Europe.

Zabid:

Zabid used to be called Al Haseeb in attribution to Al Haseeb Bin Abd Shams Bin Wayil Bin Al Ghawth, Bin Saba. The new name prevailed it due to its existence in Wadi Zabid . Zabid is located Tihamah Plain which made it a conjuncture point amongst the Tihamah cities on one hand and the other Yemeni cities on the other hand. It is between two Wadis from south Wadi Zabid and Wadi Rema’a from the north. It is located on a medium hill of Wadi Zabid which made it moderate in air and less humid because of its being away from the foothills by 25km and the sea by the same distance.

The temperature over there might range between 30-33C in the Summer. Zabid in ancient times was settlements for some tribes, the most important of which is the Ash’er tribe. It began to rely on Grazing, then Agriculture. The existence of Wadi Zabid alongside the city and the affluence of water which are of the necessary factors for any population concentration made it persist.

The rainwater was not the sole supply for this town but there were many fountains and small brooks from which sweet water runs so as to meet the needs of the human being in addition to the wells spread everywhere.

One Photo

Zabid gate

Pre-Islamic Zabid:

There are spread about relics all over town amongst of which is the archaeological site at the northern direction of the city which is a hill with an area of 47sqkm known as the Kassar Site in which there are some black pottery fragments which date back to the Himyarite Era. The city needs an overall excavation so as to obtain results through which we can trace the lost rings of the history of this city which was of magnificent status during the Islamic Era.

Zabid mosque

Islamic Zaibid:

At the onset of the Islamic Era Zabid was the main city of the Ash’er tribe to which the reverenced disciple Abu Mousa Al Asharri belongs who came to the prophet peace be upon him the eighth year Ah to announce his embrace of Islam. This was an opening for a new era for Zabid, in the round from the city at its center there rose the ASH’ER MOSQUE WHICH WAS BUILT BY Abu Mousa Al Ashaari during the 8^th year Ah till this town was adopted by Mohammed Bin Zayad, the founder of the Zaiydite dynasty as his capital (819 AD-1018AD)

Zabid remained along the Islamic era and the succession of the Islamic State reign a center of Knowledge and civilizing enlightenment on the level of the Islamic World due to its savants and religiously versed savants from all of the Muslim World till it was dubbed as the “ abode of Savants, Jurisprudence, Good Doing, Fortune and Success “ The proof for its knowledgeable and religious importance during the Islamic Era is reflected by the 236 religious institution represented in mosques and schools .

The other domains were also made viable in civilization terms, architecture, industry, commerce, agriculture, forts, fortresses, citadels, and walls etc. Zabid combined the architectural splendors in many domains along the succession of its rule by the different dynasty each of which added some of its special affinities in the different domains. The most important dynasties which ruled Zabid and took it as capital are:

Zabid is about 100km south of Al-Hodeidah on the highway to Taiz, it sits in –between mountain and sea flanked by two great wadis, Wadi Zabid to the south and Wadi Rima’a to the north. It dates back to 204 AH (819 AD) the date of its foundation by Prince Mohammad Ibn Ziyad on the orders of the Abbaside Caliph Al-Mamoun.

The town is circular in shape but bigger in yore centered by the old souq. It was surrounded by a wall of four gates; some of them are still remaining. They are:

The town was divided into 4 sections, each is inhabited by traders, scholars, dignitaries and artisans.

The town has 29 mosques and 53 Koran schools, the most famous of which are Al-Asha’ir mosque built by Abu Musa Al-Asha’airi in the 8^th year AH and Zabid’s Grand Mosque that dates back to the year 798 AH (16^th century AD) during the rule of Sultan Amer Ibn Abdul Wahab Al –Tahiri. The two mosques were rebuilt and expanded during successive periods of time.

The town of Zabid is one of the most famous religious and scientific centers not only of Yemen, but also all over the Islamic world. The first educators of Al-Azhar University of Egypt came from Zabid. The schools OF Zabid taught the interpretations of all Islamic sects; Shafie’, Maliki, Hanfi, Hanbli and Ismaeli Some of these schools, bearing their original names, still stand. Another landmark of Zabid is the old souq which wad divided into sections on the basis of the type of craft or product sold the old souq is one of the most important sites of the town.

Zabid was a center for the weaving –dyeing and tanning industries, The facades of houses tell a story of a glorious past. The dazzling richly ornamented walls alters, pedestals, pillars and wooden gates reveal the aesthetics aspects of architecture. The grandeur of construction can be seen in the surviving structures Al Nassir Palace, Nassir citadel and tower.

The private libraries of Zabid still contain many rare manuscripts and books in various sciences. Algebra was invented by a scholar from Zabid. There are a number of tombs of the followers of Ismaeli sect visited by many people especially from India.

Since Zabid was a capital of several successive Dynasties an important center from time to time: Several locations around it were connected to it, among them.