History of the Province Before Islam city The province was the setting for the final days of the famous vagabond poet
Al-Shanfara. It also produced rulers who governed parts of
Oman and
Iraq. The area contains inscriptions in
Hebrew and others in the
Musnad script, in addition to the idol Dhu al-Khalasa of the
Daws tribe, and various other ancient
Arabian carvings, inscriptions, and writings scattered on rocks in the province's mountains and valleys.
Ancient Inhabitants of the Province The
Sarawat Mountains, which include the highlands of
Al-Baha, were once inhabited by the
Amalek a group from the
pre-Islamic extinct Arabs. They remained there until they were overpowered and displaced from the entire
Sarawat region by the
Ghatareef, descendants of Al-Harith bin Abdullah bin Yashkur bin Mubashir bin Sa‘b bin Dahman bin Nasr bin Zahran of the
Azd tribe. The Ghatareef then settled the
Azd in the
Sarawat.
Early Islamic History of the Province Governorate, near the historical site of Manhal, known for numerous early Islamic inscriptions in the
Kufic script. The province is known for producing many prominent
companions of the Islamic prophet
Muhammad, including
Abu Dhubyan al-A‘raj,
Malik ibn Awf, and
Abu Hurayra who is regarded as one of the most prolific narrators of
Hadith in the
Sunni tradition. Other notable companions from the area include
Tufayl ibn Amr. In the second half of 2023, a total of 150 archaeological artifacts were discovered at the site of
Al-Ma‘mlah in Al-Baha Province, including a pottery jar bearing early Islamic inscriptions.
The Province Before the Modern Era Before modern administrative organization, governance in the province was primarily based on tribal leadership structures in the province and served as the main authority. The
Zahran tribe had a single paramount sheikh representing all its clans, as did the
Ghamd tribe, both tribes were involved in battles against the
Ottomans, as documented by numerous historical sources and even
Ottoman manuscripts. Additionally, the province had many supporters of the religious reform movement led by
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, and Some groups in the province supported the
First Saudi state, particularly during its early formation.
Administrative Formation Stages Al-Baha Province was established as an independent administrative province during the reign of
King Faisal. Before that, it was known as the Emirate of Al-Dhafeer and was subordinate to that region since the time of
King Abdulaziz. Following a request from the people of Al-Dhafeer to relocate the administrative center, it was moved to
Baljurashi. Later, King Faisal appointed Saud bin Abdul Rahman as governor of[Baljurashi and authorized him to select a suitable location for a new regional emirate. He chose the village of
Al-Baha, located in the area of Bani Abdullah, approximately midway between the
Ghamd and
Zahran tribes. Consequently, the Emirate of Al-Baha Province was formally established, aligning with the administrative structure of other Saudi provinces. ==Overview==