Ta'if

Ta'if (الطائف aṭ-Ṭā’if) is a city in Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia at an elevation of 1,879 m (6,165 ft) on the slopes of Sarawat Mountains (Al-Sarawat Mountains). It has a population of 521,273 (2004 census). Each summer the Saudi government and royal family move from the heat of Riyadh to Ta'if, the unofficial summer capital. The city is the centre of an agricultural area known for its grapes, pomegranate, figs, roses and honey.

Ethnography

The inhabitants of Ta'if are largely made up of Saudi Arabians who are Hanbali and Maliki Sunnis. There are also significant foreign populations, primarily from Asia, Turkey, and other Arab countries.

History

Early history

In the 6th century the city of Tā'if was dominated by the Banu Thaqif tribe, which still lives in and around the city of Taif today.

The town is about 100 km (62 mi) southeast of Mecca. The walled city was a religious centre as it housed the idol of the goddess Allāt, who was then known as "the lady of Tā'if." Its climate marked the city out from its dry and barren neighbours closer to the Red Sea. Wheat, vines, and fruit were grown around Tā'if and this is how the city earned its title "the Garden of the Hejaz".

During the Year of the Elephant, this city was involved in the events.

Both Ta'if and Mecca were resorts of pilgrimage. Ta'if was more pleasantly situated than Mecca itself and the people of Ta'if had close trade relations with the people of Mecca. The people of Ta'if carried on agriculture and fruitâ€'growing in addition to their trade activities.

620â€"632: Muhammad's era

630: The Battle of Hunayn and Islamization

In 630, the Battle of Hunayn took place at Hunayn, close to this city. Shortly after that, the unsuccessful Siege of Ta'if took place. The city was assaulted by catapults from Banu Daws, but it repelled the attacks. The Battle of Tabouk in 631 left Tā'if completely isolated, so members of Thaqīf arrived in Mecca to negotiate the conversion of the city to Islam. The idol of Al-lāt was destroyed along with all of the other signs of the city's previously pagan existence.

1517: Surrender to the Ottoman Empire

On 17 July 1517 the Sharif of Mecca capitulated to the Ottoman Sultan Selim I. As a sign of this, he surrendered to him the keys of the Islamic cities of Mecca and Medina. As part of the Hejaz, Ta'if was also given over to Ottoman control.

1802â€"1813: Retaking by the Saudi and reconquest by the Ottomans

The city remained Ottoman for a further three centuries, until in 1802, when it was retaken by rebels in alliance with the House of Saud. The Saudis massacred the entire male population of the city to intimidate the citizens of Mecca. These forces then proceeded to take Mecca and Medina. The loss was keenly felt by the Ottoman Empire, which viewed itself as the protector of the Holy Cities. The Ottoman sultan, Mahmud II, called upon his nominal viceroy in Egypt, Muhammad Ali, who launched an attack on the Hejaz and reconquered Ta'if in 1813.

1813: Johann Ludwig Burckhardt

In 1813, the Swiss traveller and orientalist Johann Ludwig Burckhardt visited Ta'if. He has left an eyewitness account on the city just after its recapture by the Muhammad Ali, with whom he obtained several interviews while he was there. Burckhardt says that the wall and ditch around the city had been built by Othman el Medhayfe. There were three gates and several towers on the city walls, which, however, were weak, being in some places only 45 cm (18 in) thick. Burckhardt says that the castle had been built by Sharif Ghalib. He notes the destruction of the city caused by the conquest of 1802. Most of the buildings were still in ruin while he was there, and the tomb of Abdullah ibn Abbas â€" cousin of Muhammad and ancestor of the Abbasids â€" had been severely damaged. He also records that the population of the city is still mostly ThaqÄ«f. In terms of trade, the city was an entrepôt for coffee.

1843: Building works in the 19th century

The castle and military barracks in Ta'if were repaired by the Ottomans in 1843, a hükûmet konağı â€" mansion for government business â€" was built in 1869, and a post office was established sometime later.

1916â€"1924: The Arab Revolt and Hashemite control

Prior to the Arab Revolt, Ahmed Bey had been made the commander of Ottoman forces in Tā'if. He had under him a force of 3,000 soldiers and 10 guns of the mountain artillery. Ghalib Pasha, the governor of the Hejaz was also present in the city. In 1916, the Hashemites launched their revolt against the Ottoman Empire in Mecca in June. That city had fallen and then in July, Abdullah, the eldest son of the Hashemite leader and Sharif of Mecca Husayn ibn Ali, was sent with seventy men to Tā'if. Whilst his activities in the area aroused the suspicion of Ahmed Bey, Ghalib Pasha was unconcerned by so small a force. Abdullah secretly built up his army to 5,000 men. He then cut the telegraph wires to the city and then went on the attack. All Hashemite assaults on the city were repelled by the mountain guns, and both sides settled down to an uneasy siege. However, Hashemite guns were slowly brought up to Tā'if, and then the city held out a little longer; it finally surrendered on 22 September. The city thus later became a part of the self-proclaimed Hashemite Kingdom of Hejaz.

1924â€"present: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

1924: Conquest by the Ikhwan under Abdulaziz al-Saud

Ta'if did not remain in Hashemite hands for very long however. Tensions between the king of the Hejaz, Husayn ibn Ali, and Abdulaziz al-Saud, the sultan of Nejd, soon broke out into violence. Although hostilities were temporarily patched up in 1919, by September 1924 the then Saudi-sponsored Ikhwan (militia) under the leadership of Sultan bin Bajad and Khaled bin Luwai was ready to attack Ta'if. The city was supposed to have been defended by the king's son, Ali, but he fled in panic with his troops. 300 of them were slain by the Ikhwan in what became known as the Ta'if massacre. In 1926 Abdulaziz al-Saud was officially recognized as the new king of Hejaz. Ta'if remained a part of the Kingdom of Hejaz until Abdulaziz al-Saud unified his two kingdoms into one under the title of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932. The king himself was later to die in the city on 9 November 1953.

1940s: Modernization under the Saudis

Ta'if was still little more than a medieval city when the Saudis took control of it. However, they later embarked on a project of modernizing the city. Saudi Arabia's first public power generator was set up in Ta'if in the late 1940s. In terms of building roads to the isolated city, in 1965 the then King Faisal inaugurated the 54 mi (87 km) mountain highway between Mecca and Ta'if, and in 1974 the 400 mile Ta'if-Abhaâ€"Jizan highway was started. By the 1991 Gulf War, Ta'if was such a modern city in terms of communications that it was chosen as the site of the Rendon Group's television and radio network, which used to feed the news to Kuwait during the occupation of Kuwait by Iraq.

Places to see

• Al Rudaf Park: A large natural park in the south of Taif, where trees stand amidst magnificent weathered granite rocks. The site also has a small zoo.

• Wadi Mitna: Muhammed's sanctuary in 619 AD. Muhammed came here to gain support of the Hawazeen and the Tawfiq but was stoned by the tribes. He was later given sanctuary by his fellows in a small house now used as a mosque.

• Ta'if rose plantation. In the month of April the rose fields are filled with these small fragrant pink roses that are picked at dawn and later distilled into expensive ta'if rose oil. Ta'if perfume has been used in several luxury perfumes including Ormonde Jayne Perfumery, Chanel and Guerlain.

• Shubra Palace, the regional museum of Ta'if, located in a building of around 1900, which served King Abdul Aziz as a lodging in the 1930s at several places on this page about Taif.

• Rock-carving site: Located 40 km (25 mi) north of Taif, this was the site of the Okaz Souk, the largest and best known of the pre-Islamic souqs or gathering places. The souq was a scene for annual social, political and commercial gatherings. It was also the location of competitive recitation of poetry and prose. The buildings remain, including prominent outlines of walls of basaltic stone.

• Turkish Fort: The remains of the fort are located near the Rock Carvings, legend has it that Lawrence of Arabia fought here in 1917. Many battles have been fought there and many graves can be found

• Nature reserve: Between Al Hada hospital and the Sheraton Hotel at the top of Al Hada mountain is a large nature preserve at an elevation of 2100 meters above sea level. Al Hada means "tranquillity", and this preserve of trees and plants offers a true respite. It is also good location to catch the sunset over the mountain.

• Al Shafa: A small village situated high upon the Sarawat mountains at an elevation of 2200 to 2500 meters above sea level, rich in agricultural products. The fruit gardens of Taif are located here. Great view for the camera buff and for those with an adventurous heart, try a camel ride.

When driving to Jeddah from Ta'if, non-Muslim travellers will have to use the non-Muslim bypass to get around Mecca, this adds about 70 mi (110 km) to the trip.

Climate

Taif has a mild desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh), with hot summers and mild winters. Temperatures are not as extreme in summer as for lower-lying regions of Saudi Arabia. Precipitation is low, but all months see some rain, with more rain in spring and late autumn than in other months.

Economics

Historically Ta'if grew roses, which were distributed throughout Central Asia.

List of inhabitants

The historically well known tribe of Thaqif still lives in and around the city of Taif. ‘Utaibah عتيبة Otaibah' (Arabic: عتيبة, also spelled Otaiba, Utaybah, "Otaibi" and Uteibah) is another Adnani tribe who still lives in Taif Bani Hareth is one of the Adnani Arabs tribes living around Taif in Saudi Arabia. The tribe is one of the biggest tribes in the area and occupies the full area between Taif and Al Qunfuthah in Saudi. Bani Adwan is one of the Adnani Arabs tribes living originally in the northern part of Ta'if, and in the southern part of Jordan. Thu Al issba'a Al Adwani (in Arabic) is a poet and a man of wisdom of the tribe In the pre-Islamic era. Furthermore, Banu Thabet are people descended from Thabit. The tribe is originally part of Otaibah clan.

Chieftains

During the pre-Islamic era, the city was populated by the tribe of Thaqif. The city had then the following chieftains:

• Urwah ibn Mas'ud
• Abd-Ya-Layl ibn Amr
• Uthman ibn Abu-al-Aas

and at least four others.

People born here

• Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, administrator
• Muhammad bin Qasim, the general who conquered the Sindh and Punjab regions along the Indus River
• King Faisal I of Iraq
• Naif bin Abdul Aziz
• Uthman bin Affan
• Mutlaq Hamid Al-Otaibi
• Sultan Sharif Ali, the 3rd sultan of Brunei Darussalam
• Hani Hanjour, 9/11 hijack pilot who crashed a plane into the Pentagon

People who lived in Ta'if

• Muhammad bin Qasim
• Uthman Ibn Affan the 3rd Rashidun (Rightly Guided Caliph) caliph born in Taif.
• Midhat Pasha (1822â€"1884), architect of the first Ottoman constitution who was strangulated in Taif.
• Muhammad Muhsin Khan
• Hadi Soua'an Al-Somaily (b. 1970) First Saudi Olympic medal winner.
• Addas â€" a young Christian slave boy who was the first person from the western province of Taif to convert to the religion of Islam.
• Abd Allah ibn Abbas died here
• Talal Maddah, an Arabic song icon who lived a great deal of time in this city. Also had performed concerts in it, worked in the post office in his early life. One of his remarkable song is a tribute to the city titled by "Jeena Min At Taif", in which he describes the beauty of both the city and its charming weather. Furthermore, Taif is flirted in other occasions and songs, for examples: "Ya Misafer Ala At Taif" by Abu Bakir Salim and others.
• Hugh Kennedy â€" The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates
• Martin Lings â€" Muhammad: his life based on the earliest sources
• John Lewis Burckhardt (Johann Ludwig Burckhardt) â€" Travels in Arabia; comprehending an account of those territories in Hedjaz which the Muslims regard as sacred, online version available free from the Gutenberg Project
• Michael Asher â€" Lawrence: The Uncrowned King of Arabia
• David Holden and Richard Jones â€" The House of Saud

See also

• Banu Jadhimah
• Taif Agreement
• 'Utaybah

References