Ajman (tribe)

Al-'Ajman or al-'Ijman (Arabic: العجمان‎‎, singular "Ajmi") is a tribal confederation in northeastern Arabia, with members spread across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, U.A.E. and the Kuwait.

Etymology

The word "Ajman" literally translates to unarabic, stemming from a known attribute of a forefather who had a heavy tongue that made his speech less parsed in Banu Yam's standards. Yam is one of the most if not the most well versed Arabic tribe. Ajman and Almurrah and other various Yami tribes share a common stock proven by genetic studies. The genetic homogeneity is unrivaled by any other Arabian tribe. The tribe was pivotal in the history of the Arabian peninsula. It had contributed significantly to the rise and demise of the various Saudi states. This amongst others has resulted in a smear campaign that tried to undermine its ethnic purity. Amongst the smearing widely quoted was the writing of some political rivals, that claim a Persian descent.

History

The 'Ajman were noted for their strength in battle and were important players in the wars and politics of eastern and central Arabia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Their most famous leader (or shaikh) during the 19th century was Rakan bin Hithalayn, who is still well known in Arabian tribal lore,[1] and who was noted for his poetry as well as aptitude in battle against the Ottoman Turks. The 'Ajman, however, were defeated by Faisal ibn Turki, the second Imam of the Second Saudi State, who later married into the tribe. Later on, they supported the cause of the Saud al-Kabir branch of the Al Saud against their cousin Abdul Aziz ibn Saud, the founder of Saudi Arabia.

A section of the Ajman led by Dhaydan ibn Hithlayn joined the Ikhwan movement in 1912, providing military support for Ibn Saud, but later rebelled against him. The Ajman and their allies from the tribes of Utaybah and Mutayr were defeated by Ibn Saud in 1929 in the Battle of Sabilla, which put an end to the Ikhwan rebellion.

Nearly all the Ajman have abandoned nomadic life and have settled in the Persian Gulf states, particularly the eponymous Emirate of Ajmana member in the United Arab Emirates. There are also many in Saudi Arabia. Their main tribal territory is Joudah, also known as Wadi el-Ajman ("the valley of the Ajman"), located on the road between Riyadh and Dammam.

Ajman attacked Sobyie tribe in 1764 who had to call Ibn Saud to protect them from Ajman tribe. Ibn Saud responded immediately and killed 50 and captured 240 persons of Ajman. Rakan bin Hithalayn sent two of his sons to Banu Yam in Najran asking them for help. Najran was such nightmare for Ibn Saud that time. Sheikh Hassan bin Hebat Allah was the religious leader of Yam and he responded to Ajman and called for the general mobilization to AD'deryah in Riyadh with 500 men on 500 black horses (one of their techniques in war). Yam reputation was terrifying every single tribe at that time which pushed Qahtan tribe to build an alliance with them. Yam arrived in Riyadh and joined Ajman and moved to Adderyah. Ibn Saud had 3700 men but Sheikh Muhammed bin Abdulwahab warned Mohammed bin Saud and ask him to make peace with Yam but he fought them and was defeated. Yam killed about 390 men and captured 220 men and got the Ajman prisoners back from Ibn Saud. Ibn Saud had to make peace with Yam so that Yam will go back to Najran and Ajman will stay in Najd under Yam's full protection. Ibn Saud knows that Yam keep their word and fight for it so that he was not worry about them when they made peace. This battle named Al-Ha'ir (الحائر).

References

  1. ↑ Mustafa Al Labbad (27 January 2016). "The new Saudi power triangle". Al Monitor. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.