Beautiful Egypt 89 – «The Arab Peninsula» January 4, 2014

   Many happy returns on the occasion of Christmas which Eastern Christians will celebrate within a few days! On that day, angels chanted, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Likewise, we beseech God to grant everybody happiness. May peace overwhelm Egypt, the Middle East, Africa and the four corners of earth.

   In the previous article, we tackled the etymology of the word “Arab” and its meaning. We reviewed it in some olden Babylonian, Assyrian, and Persian writings. Additionally, we dealt with its synonyms in Hebrew, Greek, and Roman literature, as well as those included in the ancient civilizations of the Arab peninsula. So, let us continue talking about the Arab peninsula.

Geography of the Arab peninsula

   The Arab peninsula is the largest peninsula in the world. Desert constitutes most of its area. It is bounded by the Arab Gulf (aka. Persian Gulf, Bitter Sea, and East Sea) from the East. It overlooks the Indian Ocean from the south where the Erythraean Sea attaches Africa to the coasts of the peninsula. Geographers are undecided about the north. Some of them considered lower Euphrates its northern border, and the Palestinian coast its northwest. Others considered it an imaginary line that stretched eastward from the edge of Aqaba Gulf till the mouth of Euphrates.

Partitions of the Arab Peninsula

First: Greeks and Romans

   Greeks and Romans divided the Arab peninsula into three sections, namely, Arabia Fekix (Fortunate Arabia), Arabia Deserta (Arab Desert), and Arabia Petraea (Stony Arabia).

Arabia Felix

   This is the current Yemen which originally means prosperity and happiness. Arabs were only known by the name “Arabia Felix”. Dr. Jawwad Ali writes, “Greeks and Romans knew the Arab peninsula only by the name Arabia Felix.” This part was famous for its history and civilization, which we indicated in the previous article. Historians doubted if this part had to do with the Arabs. Some of them counted it independent from the other parts, while others considered it part of the so-called Arab peninsula. Another group severed it from the Arabs altogether. 

Arabia Deserta

   It included Rub’al-Khali (Quarter of Emptiness), al-Aqhaf (the Dunes), ad-Dahna, Najd, Hejaz, and Tihamah. Arabia Deserta is the biggest part of the peninsula. It is of an arid nature. Due to this aridity, it had no population. Some historians maintain that inhabitants of this region are the tribes that migrated from Arabia Felix , the Levant and others. They are the nomads who lived in the desert.

Arabia Petraea (Stony Arabia)

   According to Gustave Le Bon, this part is located between Palestine and the Red Sea and the region called Nabataea which capital is Petra (stone). That region remained void of population until Yemeni tribes migrated to it. Other historians believe that Nabataea differs from Arabia due to the difference in civilization and creed.

Second: Other Historians’ Divisions

This includes five partitions:

First: Najd: it is bounded by the Levant from the north, Yemen from the south, Hejaz from the west, and al-Orud from the east.

Second: Hejaz: it stretches from Aqaba northward to Tihamah southward. It includes cities like Mecca, Yathripa, and al-Tai’f.

Third: Tihamah: it is located between Yemen, Hejaz and the Red Sea.

Fourth: Yemen: it is located between Hejaz and Najd northward, al-Orud eastward and the Red Sea westward. It has a fertile soil.

Fifth: al-Orud: it stretches through al-Yamama, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar peninsula, and al-Ihsa’ until the borders of Persia. It is adjacent to the Arabian Sea, to the east of the peninsula.

   This division, however, does not include the vast desert and most of Arabia Petraea, thus making the Arab peninsula Arabia Felix only.

Reading and Writing

   The Arabic language spread long ago. Historical references present us with renowned figures in the field of literature and oration, such as, Hanifs, Mandaics, Christians, and Jews.

   It came to pass that al-Multamis gave his book to a servant from al-Hirah, and the servant read it. Al-Multamis recounts, “I once found a shepherd watering his herd from al-Hirah River, and I asked him if he could read. He answered in the affirmative. So I asked him to read.” Likewise, Zayd al-Abbadi Abu al- Sha’er said that tutors in al-Hirah used to visit children at home to educate them. Moreover, historians wrote about Laqit bin Ya’mor of Ayad who used to work as a writer and translator from Arabic to Persian and vice versa at Khosrow’s court. He wrote a poem to his people, warning them against an attack planned by Khosrow:

Laqit does hereby send regards

To those who call themselves Ayads.

   Some of the people of al-Anbar used to write in Arabic. Likewise, dwellers of al-Naqirah (a village affiliated to Ayn al-Tamr) taught their children reading and writing in churches. Also, Yemenis educated their children. Moreover, some of Jahiliyyah poets were literate, such as, Suwayd bin al-Samit, of Aus, al-Zabraqan bin Badr, and Ka’b bin Zuhayr bin Abu Sulma, and Ka’b bin Malik al-Ansari.

Religions in the Arab peninsula

   Historians maintain that the Arab peninsula had a multiplicity of religions. It had paganism, hanifism, Judaism, and Christianity.

Paganism

   Paganism spread throughout the Arab peninsula. In effect, Arabs had many idols, like, al-Fils in Oman, Arthal in al-Yamama, Rahman in Sana’a, al-lat in al-Tai’f, al-Uzzah, and Manat in Yathripa, Mecca, and others. The most important of these idols was Hubal. It was brought by Amr bin Luhayy, chief of Khuza’a. It was worshipped by the people of Mecca, then Hejaz, after which idols spread everywhere.

Totemism

   Totemism is an Indian word that means a symbol that is revered by some tribes. A totem can be an animal or a plant which is said to protect its worshipper. It is so greatly revered that it cannot be touched. Nor can its name be uttered. An ostrich would be called “al-Muhallah”, the lion “Abu Harith”, the fox “bin Awa”, the leopard “Um Amer”, and so forth. These animals were neither killed nor eaten. No harm would touch them. Moreover, they would be buried while conducting special rituals.

Zoroastrianism

   Zoroastrianism is an ancient Persian creed that revered fire. Hence, it only impacted the Arabs who lived close to Persia. Likewise, it impacted the Arabs of Iraq, Bahrain, and the neighboring regions adjacent to the Arab Gulf coast. It also spread in Yemen when the Persians occupied it.

   Many happy returns to Egyptians… Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center