Abadir Umar Ar-Rida

Abadir Umar Ar-Rida also known as Fiqi Umar (probably fl. 13th century AD) was the most celebrated saint of Harar, Ethiopia. Abadir is the main figure in the Fath Madinat Harar, unpublished history of Harar in the 13th century AD. Here we are told that Abadir with several other saints came from Hijaz to Harar in 612H (1216 AD) where he was elected as sheikh by the surrounding tribes. In the following years he fought several battles against King Karbinal bin Mahrawal, his son Jurniyal, daughter Markanis and brother Sayadar. Abadir is also mentioned in the lists of amirs of Harar, first 391-405H (1000–1014), Second 405-411H (1014-1021 AD), Third 458-459H (1065-1067 AD).

The genealogy of Abadir (Fiqi Umar) lists twenty-four generation Abu-Bakar Al Saddiq and Abadir. In Harar, several songs in veneration of Abadir are still sung. Inside the walls of Harar not only in the tomb of Abadir visited by Harari and galla of the neighbourhood,but also the betta arrus where he is said to have married a Harari women.

The fame of Abadir extends far beyond the harari region in Muslim Ethiopia. Abadir is the ancestor of sheikhaal tribes.

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