Al-Salamiyah

Government

Salamiyya (Arabic سلمية, DMG Salamiya, also Salamya or Salamieh ) is a city in the province of Hama in Syria. It is the center of the Syrian Ismailis.

Location

Salamiyya located 30 kilometers southeast of the provincial capital of Hama and 43 kilometers northeast of Homs, close to the secondary in this direction through the Syrian desert road to Resafa. At the central street crossing in the central city opens out only the coming of Hama traffic, while for the through traffic on the desert route a bypass consists of four kilometers from the east.

The city is located outside the old central Syrian arable levels. On the Jungsiedelland of Salamiyya is operated in the vast plains and on large parcels of land between flat island mountains of regenbewässerte cultivation of winter wheat in rotation with barley. By the middle of the 20th century was driven by diesel pump from the groundwater, the cultivation of cotton. 1965 were up Salamiyya 23 percent of the total acreage of cotton, the yield reached 90,000 tonnes, representing 20 per cent of the country's production. Uncontrolled irrigation declined in the following years, the groundwater level so that the largest part of the land were converted back to the original cultivation of cereals.

A few hills were reforested with conifers. Separated by one of these hills from the road to Hama, is on an old volcanic cone five kilometers northwest of the center are the ruins of the Ayyubid castle Schmemis ( Qalat aš - Šmemis ) from the 13th century to see. She can be reached at one of the road to Hama north branching paved side road from the town center. Salamiyya situated at an altitude of 450 meters, while the castle hill rises about 150 meters from the plane.

History

Salamiyya could the ancient Salamias or Salaminias correspond to a thriving city in the Byzantine period; However, the sources of that time do not allow precise conclusions. In the year 15 AH ( 636 AD), the region was conquered by the Muslim Arabs. In the 8th century, after the victory of the Abbasids, resided Salih ibn Ali ibn Abdallah al - Abbas and some of his descendants in the city. Saleh's son Abdallah, cousin of the first Abbasid caliph is said to have developed the irrigation system of the city. Salamiyya developed into an important commercial center.

In the early history of the Ismailis Salamiyya was of great importance: By the year 902, the city was the headquarters of the then fanatical Ismailitenbewegung; ( " the mission " ad - da'wa, simple) sent to Central Asia and North Africa were from here missionaries with their religious- political message. The Fatimid caliph al - Qa'im bi- amri ' llah was born 893 in Salamiyya. Around 900, the Ismailis of Salamiyya were attacked by the Qaramiten, a breakaway faiths and destroyed the city. After the conquest of Syria by the Mongols in 1260, the Ismailis took refuge in safe havens on the Jebel Aansariye. What remained was a small settlement, which was left entirely in the time of the Ottoman Empire.

From 1849 Ismaili settlers were allowed to settle again. The first settlers were families who were among the Hajjawis, one of the two split approximately in the 16th century, the main directions of the Ismailis. They moved initially the ruins Schmemis. Their fields and flocks of sheep they had to protect themselves by Bedouin tribes from frequent raids. The country was the settlers for free. In 1861 the castle was still inhabited, and Salamiyya had become despite ongoing attacks on a larger village; the fields were within a radius of about ten kilometers. Salamiyya was the only permanently inhabited place east of Hama, and 1869 Kafat ( about ten kilometers in the direction of Hama ) was founded. Other more preferred in the desert new settlements were abandoned at this time. According to the reports of travelers Salamiyya decreed in 1871 to his defense over 300 muskets and 100 riders. 1879 founded Circassians three villages a few kilometers north and cultivated good relations with the Ismailis. Most settlements of around took place in the 1880s. 1883 Salamiyya was included as a capital of a qada ' in the Ottoman administrative system.

The Ismailis completed a reasoned with the history of their religion, to return to their ancestral home. This explains the motivation for the acquisition of farmland on the edge of the desert steppe and the dynamic development of the settlement. The last major wave of settlers reached Salamiyya 1919. During the 20th century the city grew rapidly, from 6,000 inhabitants in 1945 to 30,000 inhabitants in 1965. In the area of Salamiyya lived around 1970 about 90,000 Ismailis.

Cityscape

In 1960, according to census Salamiyya 15,284 inhabitants in 1981 were 35 909 inhabitants counted. One estimate in 2003 called 87 732 inhabitants. For 2010, a total population of 113 411 inhabitants was calculated.

The vast majority of the population Salamiyyas committed to the Nizari Shia Islam. Salamiyya is thus the most important Ismailitenzentrum Syria and the Middle East. To Salamiyya farming is done using modern machines. Ismailis are generally considered quite wealthy, and strive to provide a good education for their children. A large area on the outskirts consists of mechanical workshops. Likewise busy is applied in a checkerboard pattern downtown. As a foundation, the city has no traditional souq, but a lively and well-maintained business district, and elegantly landscaped avenues as main roads.

Five miles out, near the road to Resafa, located on a small hill a revered of Ismailis and Sunnis pilgrimage. The holy place ( Maqām aš - Sayḩ Faraǧ Hayya ) has for believers blessing power ( baraka ) and is therefore sought to cure diseases or wish fulfillment. The rituals include animal sacrifices. The reason for the sanctity of the site will be understood by the two religious groups differently. For Ismailis affects a sacred serpent which encircles the patient at night. Sunnis venerate here the tomb of Shaykh Muḥammad Faraǧ, the ( Silsila ) is reduced from about 12 generations to ʿ Alī ibn Abī Taalib in a chain, and his daughter Bint Hayya.

Prince Aly Khan (1911-1960), the father of Karim Aga Khan IV, is buried in a mausoleum in Salamiyya. Muhammad al- Maghut (1934-2006), a Syrian poet, was born in Salamiyya.