The Sealed Nectar | Biography of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

by Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri

From 1300 to 620 B.C. Their nation was known as `Ma`iniyah’ during which their kings were called `Makrib Sheba’. Their capital was Sarwah, also known as Kharibah, whose ruins lie approx. 50 kms. north-west of Ma’rib, and 142 kms. east of San`a’. During this period, they began building the Dam of Ma’rib which had great importance in the history of Yemen. Sheba had so great a domain that they established colonies within and outside Arabia. 2. From 620 B.C. to 115 B.C. During this era, their nation was known by the name Sheba. They left the name Makrib and assumed the designation of Kings of Sheba. They also made Ma’rib their capital instead of Sarwah. The ruins of Ma’rib lie at a distance of 192 km east of San`a’. 3. From 115 B.C. until 300 C.E. During this period, the nation became known as Himyariyah the First after the tribe of Himyar conquered the kingdom of Sheba making Redan their capital instead of Ma’rib. Later on, Redan was called Zifar. Its ruins still lie on Mudawwar Mountain near the town of Yarim. During this period, they began to decline in trade and power that eventually led to their downfall. Their trade failed to a great extent: firstly, because of the Nabetean domain over northern Hijaz; secondly, because of the Roman superiority over the naval trade routes after the Roman conquest of Egypt, Syria and northern Hijaz; and thirdly, because of the inter-tribal warfare. Due to the three above-mentioned factors, the families of Qahtan remained disunited and scat...