Determining the location of the historical Habashah market, one of the most important Arab markets in the pre-Islamic era and early Islam, was a major challenge and a source of disputes between experts and researchers that lasted for many years until a specialized Saudi research team was able to locate the market after research, field and archaeological studies that took about a year and a half.

The Habasha market is one of the monuments in the Prophet’s biography, and one of the most prominent in the Jahiliyyah period, as historical accounts indicate that the Messenger Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace) traded in it in buying and selling for the benefit of Mrs. Khadija (may God be pleased with her) before the prophetic mission.

In this regard, Yaqoot al-Hamawi, the author of (Dictionary of Countries), quoted in his text on the authority of Habashah what indicates the arrival of the Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, to this market, based on what Abd al-Razzaq mentioned on the authority of Umar on the authority of al-Zuhri, who said: (When the Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, reached his strength, And he did not have a lot of money. Khadija hired him for the Habashah market, which is the market in Tihama, and she hired a man from the Quraish with him).

The location of the historical Habasha market remained unknown in light of the difference and divergence of opinions about its occurrence in the Al-Ardiyat governorate of Makkah Al-Mukarramah or the Bariq governorate of the Asir region, according to some, or that the popular “Bani Issa market” in the “Sabt Al-Jara” center, whose history of its inception, which has passed for hundreds of years, is not known. It may be the Habasha market, according to some accounts.

Various scribbles and drawings still exist on the Habasha market site (Saudi Press)

Some other accounts also mentioned that the “Habasha” market is located in the chests of “Wadi Qanuna”, about 480 km from Makkah Al-Mukarramah to “Bani Issa Market” in Sabt Al-Jara, one of the largest markets in Tihama today.

Field visits and archaeological research

In an attempt to resolve the controversy and disagreement over the exact location of the market, the King Abdulaziz House, an institution specialized in serving the history, geography, literature and heritage of Saudi Arabia, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and the Saudi Heritage Authority, in October 2021, launched a team of scientists and researchers with the aim of determining the exact location. Habasha market, located in the "Tihama" area in the west of the Arabian Peninsula.

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After conducting in-depth research, field and archaeological studies in cooperation between #King_Abdulaziz_Dara, #Ministry_of_Culture and the Heritage Authority @MOCHeritage, a specialized research team was able to locate the historic Habashah market;

One of the most important Arab markets in pre-Islamic times and early Islam.

This is the story of that work.

pic.twitter.com/fQtOcQEbNg

- King Abdulaziz House (@Darahfoundation) February 5, 2023

The Saudi research team, through field visits, examined a number of sites where that historic market might exist, based on opinions based on historical sources and archaeological monuments, and those places were documented with aerial photography, in preparation for a scientific study to resolve the issue of the location of the market.

After a year and a half of research and field study, scrutiny of sources, archaeological survey, and after scientific discussion with those with opinions on the location of the market, the Saudi research team was able to determine the location of the historic Habashah market on the southern bank of the "Qanuna" valley.

The market is in the middle of a wide floodplain, bounded from the east by the “Al-Darba” mountains, and from the west by the “Al-Aram” mountains, at a distance of about 5 km. Water sources and pastoral cover, as the site of the market passes through the "Al-Janad" road, which is one of the most important landmarks in determining the location of the market.

Part of the remnants of the millstone that was used to grind gold in the past (Saudi Press)

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the Habashah market extended its history from the pre-Islamic era to the Islamic era, and it was held every year for 8 days at the beginning of the month of Rajab, and it remained in place every year until the year 197 AH.

The agency stated that the market represents aspects of economic, literary and cultural activity integrated with the historical "Okaz" market, which has been revived and has become a prominent cultural event in Saudi Arabia, which can be used in the scientific, cultural and tourism fields.

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The historical market was visited by famous historical personalities, such as the great companion Hakim bin Hizam, the ancient King of the Arabs, Mudad Al-Jarhami, the pre-Islamic poet, the owner of the illiteracy of the Arabs Al-Shanfari, and others.

The market was called Habasha because it used to include among its flanks, when it was established, various mixtures of those who used to descend to it in the past from various tribes for trading, arbitration, settling disputes, ransoming prisoners, or other purposes that were the causes of the large seasonal Arab markets.

The most important feature of the "Habashah" market is its location on the most important ancient trade routes from Yemen to Mecca and then the Levant. It is famous for trading gold, lead and antimony kohl, in addition to grains, dates and leather. Like other Arab markets, it was an important commercial station and a safe place for commercial caravans to settle.

To this day, the market still contains some monuments that bear witness to an era and a trading station known to the Arabs in the pre-Islamic era and Islam, such as the graves of the polytheists on which heaps of gravel gather, inscriptions on stones, and the remains of millstones that were used to grind gold.

The market was destroyed in the year 197 AH because it is the custom of the rulers of Mecca to send soldiers every year to protect the market, so the people of the market revolted against them and killed them, so the governor of Mecca consulted the jurists of Mecca, and they advised him to demolish it, so he sent a soldier, and they were killed in the market a great killing and buried in its cradle to our present time, according to Many historical novels.

Determining the location of the Habasha market was a matter of disagreement between researchers and experts (Saudi Press)

In this regard, Al-Azraqi mentioned in his book “Akhbar Makkah” about the Habashah market what it says: “Habashah Al-Azd market, which is in the homes of Al-Awsam from Baraq from Sadr Qanuna and Hali from the direction of Yemen, and it is from Makkah over 6 nights, and it is the last market that was destroyed from the pre-Islamic markets And the ruler of Mecca used a man to go out with him with a soldier, and they would stay there for 3 days from the first of Rajab in a row until the Azd was killed and a ruler over it from the Ghina tribe that was sent by Dawood ibn Issa ibn Musa in the year 197 AH, so the jurists of Mecca indicated to Daoud ibn Issa that it was destroyed and left to this day. With these markets, because they were not in the seasons of Hajj or in its months, but rather in Rajab.

Habasha market still contains some stones and antiquities (Saudi Press)

Commenting on the success of the Saudi research team in determining the location of the historical "Habasha" market, the researcher in Islamic and Saudi heritage, Bandar Al-Zahrani, says that resorting to science was the correct and only way to reach the site of the last Arab markets in the pre-Islamic era.

Al-Zahrani praised, in a statement to Al-Jazeera Net, the establishment of the King Abdulaziz House and its cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and the Heritage Authority, in order to assign a scientific team working to reach and locate the "Habasha" market, adding that this team was able to lay the correct foundations that eventually led to the site. The flour of the historic "Habasha" market.

The Saudi researcher considered that the various attempts that were made in the past to locate the market, although they did not finally resolve the matter, had a role in supporting the efforts of the research team, in addition to historical sources and narratives.

Al-Zahrani indicates that locating the Habasha market in a scientific way will support any new efforts to develop and revive this archaeological market, making it properly done, expecting that the coming period will witness serious steps to develop many historical and religious sites that the Kingdom abounds in.