Sharhabil Yafar
| Sharhabil Yafar | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King of Saba', Dhu Raydan, Hadramawt, Yamnat and their Arabs, on Tawdum and Tihamat | |||||
| Reign | 428–457 CE | ||||
| Predecessor | Sharhabil Yakkuf
| ||||
| Died | c. 465 Yemen | ||||
| |||||
| Father | Abu Karib | ||||
| Religion | Judaism | ||||
Sharhabil Yafar (Arabic: شرحبيل يعفر) also known as 'Amr Mawthaban ibn Tubba' al-As'ad[1][2] was a Himyari king who ruled between the years 428 until 457 CE. He was the youngest son of Abu Karib As'ad, and he shared power with his brother Hassan Yuha'min in 425 CE.[3] Sharhabil is generally remembered for his contributions towards the historic Marib Dam.[3]
Biography
Not much is known about Sharhabil Yafar in his early life. However, there are inscriptions which attribute the reparations of Marib Dam to him.[3] In the year 454 AD, Sharhabil spent a large sum of money on the dam's reparations, which ended a few months later in 455 AD.[3] It is likely that Sharhabil Yafar was also an adherent to Judaism as it was the official state religion of Himyar after the rule of Abu Karib.[2]
The dispute of Hassan and 'Amr in Arabian folklore
The Arabian traditions relate that Hassan Yuha'min was resented by the tribal leaders after he refused to share any of the war booty with them, and so the tribal leaders pressured Sharhabil (known as 'Amr in the legend) to kill his brother, and he would be made ruler as a replacement. 'Amr eventually agreed, but a noble of Himyar named Dhu Ra'yn disagreed with the plan, and he urged 'Amr not to carry it out, but he was merely ignored. 'Amr then waited for Hassan to fall asleep, before stabbing him to death.[2][4]
When 'Amr had been made the new ruler back in Yemen, he was inflicted with permanent insomnia as a divine punishment for the murder of his brother. After finding out the cause of his insomnia, 'Amr sentenced the nobles of Himyar who had encouraged him to commit the murder to death. When the executioner came to Dhu Ra'yn, he told 'Amr that he was the only one who did not encourage him to kill Hassan. 'Amr suddenly remembered, and he set Dhu Ra'yn free.[4]
Shortly after, 'Amr died, and his nephew Tubba' ibn al-Hassan took the throne.[4] Another version of the story has the throne being usurped by a pagan ruler, Dhu Shanatir, after the demise of 'Amr.[4][2]
The incident gained 'Amr the nickname Mawthaban because he committed the act of wathaba which means to spring upon; in this case he sprang upon his brother Hassan and stabbed him to death.[4] Some historians have suggested that the legendary story could in fact be partly true, and is possible evidence that Sharhabil Yafar had murdered his own brother.[5]
See also
References
- ^ The History of Al-Tabari: The Sasanids, the Lakhmids, and Yemen. SUNY Press. p. 184-186. ISBN 9780791443569.
- ^ a b c d "إسلام ويب - البداية والنهاية - ذكر أخبار العرب - قصة تبع أبي كرب- الجزء رقم3". www.islamweb.net (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-01-01.
- ^ a b c d "DASI: Digital Archive for the Study of pre-islamic arabian Inscriptions: Epigraph details". dasi.cnr.it. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
- ^ a b c d e Umair Mirza (1998-01-01). History of Tabari - Volume 5.
- ISBN 978-0-19-027753-6.