Najran Region

17.49166666666744.132222222222Koordinaten: 17 ° 30 'N, 44 ° 8' O

Najran (Arabic نجران, sometimes Nadjran; altsüdarabisch ngrn ) is a province in south-western Saudi Arabia with 484 895 inhabitants ( as of 2010) and an area of ​​149 511 square kilometers.

In a large valley oasis is the capital of the same Najran. The province borders Asir in the west, to the Yemen in the south and the Rub al Khali in the east. In addition to the pastoral industry is grown in the oases wheat, millet and fruit.

The area is mentioned in the 7th century BC. At that time it was under the influence of the Sabeans of Ma'rib or the other South Arabian kingdoms. In the 5th and 6th century, it was a large Christian community.

The Christians of Najran

The Christians of Najran belonged to the Arab tribe of Banu 'l- Harith ibn Ka'b (also: Balharith ) and were particularly followers of the Monophysite Christianity. The wealthy and fertile Najran, led by the two major caravan routes, was the time of the Byzantine influence in the region ( 525-570 ) to the holy city of the Christian Arabs .. The Persian conquest of southern Arabia in the year 570, and the advent of Islam had major impact on the region. With Mohammed Christians reached in the year 631, a protection agreement in which they were allowed to practice their religion under payment of a tribute on. Under the Caliphate of Umar ( 633-644 ), they were expelled from Najran.