Sabalan, Safad

Coordinates: 33°0′42″N 35°20′29″E / 33.01167°N 35.34139°E / 33.01167; 35.34139
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Sabalan
سبلان
Village
Etymology: Neby Sebelan; the prophet Sebelan[1]
1870s map
1940s map
modern map
1940s with modern overlay map
A series of historical maps of the area around Sabalan, Safad (click the buttons)
Geopolitical entity
Mandatory Palestine
SubdistrictSafad
Date of depopulationOctober 30, 1948[3]
Area
[4]
 • Total1,798 dunams (1.798 km2 or 444 acres)
Population
 (1945)
 • Total70[2]
Current LocalitiesNone

Sabalan (

1948 Palestine War
.

History

According to Muhammad Fahour, a former resident of Sabalan, the village was founded during the French campaign in Syria (1798–1801) when Suleiman al-Bahiri, an Egyptian officer from Egyptian, decided to escape to Palestine after Napoleon declared war on Egypt. Following a recurrent dream he had, he decided to settle on Mount Sabalan.[5]

In 1881, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) described 'Neby Sebelan' as "a village, built of stone, surrounding the tomb of the Neby Sebalan; containing about 100 Moslems; on top of high hill, with figs, olives, and arable land. There are four good springs to the east, besides cisterns."[6][7] Some believe Sabalan is supposed to be Zebulun, the son of Jacob, while others claim he was a da'i ("missionary") who joined the Druze religion and helped promote it in the region.[8] Archaeological artifacts, namely rock-cut tombs are located near the tomb.[9] A population list from about 1887 showed 'Nebi Abu Sebalan' to have about 75 inhabitants; all Muslims.[10]

British Mandate era

In the British Mandate period, it had a circular plan with most of its houses being closely clustered together. Because of the steep slopes that surrounded Sabalan, the village was only able to expand on its northwestern end.[7] Although the tomb of Nabi Sabalan was sacred to the Druze,[9] at the centre of the village stood a mosque.[7]

In the 1922 census of Palestine Sabalan had a population of 68; all Muslims,[11] increasing in the 1931 census, to 94 Muslims, living in 18 houses.[12]

By 1945 the population was 70 Muslims,[2] and the village consisted of 1,798 dunams of land, according to an official land and population survey.[4] Of this, a total of 421 dunams were used for cereals; 144 dunams were irrigated or used for plantations,[13] while a 14 dunams were built-up (urban) areas.[14]

1948, aftermath

On October 30, 1948, during the

Jewish localities were built on village lands,[9] According to Palestinian historian, Walid Khalidi, "Only one village house and a well remain." The remaining house is occupied by the Druze guards and caretakers of the Nabi Sabalan tomb and new buildings were constructed to accommodate pilgrims and visitors.[9] In 1965, Druze youth activists led by the poet Samih al-Qasim protested the confiscation of the lands surrounding the tomb by the Israeli government, which declared them "state lands".[15] The Druze religious leadership established Eid al-Nabi Sabalan (Feast of the Prophet Sabalan) in 1971.[8]

Today, the lands of the village, including the holy shrine, were annexed to the Druze town of Hurfeish. A neighborhood for released soldiers was built there.

References

  1. ^ Palmer, 1881, p. 92
  2. ^ a b Department of Statistics, 1945, p. 10
  3. ^ Morris, 2004, p. xvii, village #62. Also gives cause of depopulation as "?"
  4. ^ a b c Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 71
  5. ^ "Remembering Sabalan". Zochrot.
  6. ^ Conder and Kitchener, 1881, SWP I, p. 199
  7. ^ a b c Khalidi, 1992, p.489.
  8. ^ a b Swayd, 2006, p.140.
  9. ^ a b c d Khalidi, 1992, p. 490
  10. ^ Schumacher, 1888, p. 191
  11. ^ Barron, 1923, Table XI, Sub-district of Safad, p. 41
  12. ^ Mills, 1932, p. 110
  13. ^ Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 120
  14. ^ Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 170
  15. ^ Firro, 1999, p.182.

Bibliography

External links
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