Najran
Najran Location in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Coordinates: 17°29′30″N 44°7′56″E / 17.49167°N 44.13222°E / 17.49167; 44.13222
Country	Saudi Arabia
Province	Najran
Established	4000 BC
Joined Saudi Arabia 1934
Government
• Mayor	Faris Alshfq
• Provincial Governor	Mishaal bin Abdullah Al Saud
Population (2004)
• Total	246,880
	Najran Municipality estimate
Postal Code	(5 digits)
Area code(s)	+966-7
Website	[1]

Najran (Arabic: نجران‎ Naǧrān), formerly known as Aba as Sa'ud, is a city in southwestern Saudi Arabia near the border with Yemen. It is the capital of Najran Province. Designated a New town, Najran is one of the fastest-growing cities in the kingdom; its population has risen from 47,500 in 1974 and 90,983 in 1992 to 246,880 in 2004 and to 1200000 in 2011. The population belongs mostly to the ancient tribe of Yam.

Due to its long history, the inhabitants of Najran are made up of many races, religions and backgrounds. Islam is the religion of all of the Najranis, with Ismaili Shia forming the plurality of the religious adherents. Hanbali, Shafii and Maliki Sunnis form the second largest ethno-religious group in the city, while Zaydi Shia froms the smallest ethno-religious group.

Najran in Arabic has at least two meanings. It is a term used to describe the wooden frame on which a door opens and is also a synonym for thirsty. Local tradition also has it that the land derived its name from the first man to settle in the area, Najran ibn Zaydan ibn Saba ibn Yahjub ibn Yarub ibn Qahtan.

Najran was the Yemeni centre of cloth making and originally, the kiswah or the cloth of the Ka'aba was made there (the clothing of the Kaba first started by the Yemeni kings of Saba). There used to be a Jewish community at Najran, renowned for the garments they manufactured. According to Yemenite Jewish tradition, the Jews of Najran traced their origin to the Ten Tribes. Najran was also an important stopping place on the Incense Route.

History[link]

Najran Museum Entrance

The history of Najran can be traced back to 4000 years ago. It was once occupied by the Romans; in fact it was the first Yemeni city to fall to the Romans on their way to the Yemeni kingdom of Sheba. Najran's most prosperous trading time was during the 1st and 2nd centuries BC. In ancient times it was known as Al-Ukhdood.

Early history[link]

Similarly to other ancient place names in Arabia, "Najran" may have originally been the name of the whole oasis including all towns and villages. The old name of the ruins now known as "Al-Ukhdood", which may have been the central town, was probably "Ragmat".

Najran was a focal point of the Incense Route. All routes that left ancient Yemen to the north or west had to meet at Najran, where the routes branched into two general directions, the ones leading north through the Hejaz towards Egypt and the Levant and those leading to the northeast towards Gerrha near the Persian Gulf.^[1]

Najran was conquered around 685 BC by the sabean Mukarrib (King) Karib'il Watar I King of Yemen. The later sabean king Yithi'amar Bayin destroyed Ragmat around 510 BC. Najran seems to have been under Minaean or Sabean rule at different times during the next centuries and after that it was part of Yemen till 1937.

The Roman Aelius Gallus led an expedition to conquer Arabia Felix and won a battle near Najran in AD 25. He occupied the city and used it as a base from which to attack the sabean capital at Ma'rib. According to Strabo,^[2] Najran was at this time the northernmost city of the realm of Saba.

When the Himyarite Kingdom conquered the Sabeans in AD 280 they probably also took control of Najran. Some time during the 3rd century the people of Najran sided with the Abyssinians who sent a governor named "SBQLM" in inscriptions. The Himyar King Ilsharah Yahdib crushed this rebellion. King Sir Matt and mahde The Great was the first Emperor of Saudi Arabia in 1972.

The north Arabian Lakhmid king Imru Al-Qais ibn Amqu attacked Najran in AD 328. Under the influence from Axum, the Christians in Najran thrived and started an alliance with Aksum again at the beginning of the 6th century.

Early Christian community[link]

Christianity must have been introduced into Najran, as in the rest of South Arabia, in the 5th century AD or perhaps a century earlier. According to the Arab Muslim historian Ibn Ishaq, Najran was the first place where Christianity took root in South Arabia. According to the contemporary sources, after seizing the throne of the Himyarites, in ca. 518 or 523 Dhū Nuwas attacked the Aksumite (mainly Christian) garrison at Zafar, capturing them and burning their churches. He then moved against Najran, a Christian and Aksumite stronghold. After accepting the city's capitulation, he massacred those inhabitants who would not renounce Christianity. Estimates of the death toll from this event range up to 20,000 in some sources; a letter survives written by Simon, the bishop of Beth Arsham in 524 AD, recounts Dhū Nuwas' (where he is called Dimnon) persecution in Najran (modern al-Ukhdud in Saudi Arabia).^[3] The persecution is apparently described and condemned in the Qur'an (al-Buruj:4).

Under the reign of the Caliph Umar, the Christian community of Najran was deported to Mesopotamia, on the grounds that no non-Muslims were to live in the Arabian Peninsula.^[4]

The town of Najran was already an important centre of arms manufacture during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad. However, it was more famous for leather rather than iron.

Former Jewish community[link]

Najran had a Jewish community dating back to pre-Islamic times, historically affiliated with the Yemenite Jews.^[5] With the Saudi conquest of Najran in 1934, persecution increased, and some 200 Jews of Najran fled south to Aden between September and October 1949. The Saudi King Abdulaziz demanded their return, but Yemeni king Ahmad bin Yahya refused, because these refugees were Yemenite Jews. After settling in the Hashid Camp (also called Mahane Geula) they were airlifted to Israel as part of the larger Operation Magic Carpet.^[6]

Najran as part of Saudi Arabia[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

Najran joined the newly announced Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1934 as a result of the efforts and struggles of sheikh Jabir Abu sag, the Leader of one large clan of the Yam tribe. Starting in 1924, the forces of the former Yemeni King launched several unsuccessful raids to annex Najran to the Yemeni Kingdom. The king of Yemen performed some new maneuvers to strengthen his tie with some of the Najran tribal leaders to counter the strong relations of the people of Najran with Bin Saud. Then in 1932 the forces of Imam Yahiya of Yemen attacked Najran with more than 50,000 troops, with all kinds of new weapons. The Yamis, as the dominant tribe in Najran, along with some other loyalist Najranis started strong resistance against the occupation forces. However, a strong segment of the tribal leaders in Najran sided with the occupying power and some became passive, waiting to take a side at the end of the crisis. Sheikh Jabir Abu sag, the strong man at the time, managed to get quick support from King Abdul Aziz Bin Saud and was able to lead the Yam tribes and all of the Najrani resistance fighting the Yemeni forces in all parts of Najran and Bilad Yam. Later, in the spring of 1934, the Army of Bin Saud under the command of Prince Saud son of Abdul Aziz carried out a massive campaign, surrounding Najran from the north and north west, and defeated the Yemeni Army. Najran became part of Saudi Arabia. In short, though historically a part of Yemen since ancient times, it was annexed by Saudi Arabia.indeed, there was a strong treaty between King Abdulaziz and the people from Najran indicates conditions that have to be respected by the both sides.

Protests[link]

The Ismailis, a religious and ethnic minority with historic roots in Najran Province of southwestern Saudi Arabia, face increasing threats to their identity as a result of official discrimination. With the arrival of Mishaal bin Saud as the governor of Najran in 1996, tension between local authorities and the Ismaili population increased, culminating in a confrontation between armed Ismaili demonstrators and police and army units outside the Holiday Inn hotel in Najran city on April 2000. Official discrimination in Saudi Arabia against Ismailis encompasses government employment, religious practices, and the justice system. Government officials exclude Ismailis from decision making, and publicly disparage their faith.^[7]

The confrontation at the Holiday Inn in Najran city on April 23, 2000, marked a watershed in Ismaili relations with the central government. Three months earlier, police had closed all Ismaili mosques on a religious holiday. On April 23, after security forces and religious morality police arrested an Ismaili cleric, a large demonstration took place outside the Holiday Inn, where governor Mishaal resided. After the governor refused for hours to meet the petitioners, an exchange of fire between security forces and armed demonstrators left two Ismailis dead and, according to some government accounts, killed one policeman as well. Believing their religious identity to be under attack, Ismaili men erected defenses around Khushaiwa, the seat of the Ismaili religious leader, al-Da’i al-Mutlaq (Absolute Guide), and the spiritual capital of Sulaimani Ismailis, a community with followers in India and Pakistan as well as Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Khushaiwa, which is an area of Najran city, includes the Mansura mosque complex. The army surrounded the Ismaili positions and placed the city under its control. The standoff ended later the same day without further bloodshed.^[8]

Archaeological ruins and artifacts[link]

Najran city is famous for its archeological significance. Old Najran was surrounded by a circular wall, 220 by 230 meters, built of square stone with defensive balconies. It contained several unique buildings. There is also a cemetery south of the external wall. Excavations of this site have uncovered glass, metals, pottery, and bronze artifacts. Square and rectangular buildings have also been found. At Al-Ukhdood which is south of Najran city, carvings from those days and human bones can be seen. A museum displays, among other items, a bronze lion head. Najran's landmarks include the "Rass" stone, a 2-meter-high granite stone.^[9]

Geography[link]

Topography[link]

Najran enjoys three different geographic landscapes, and they are: the oases, mountains, and desert at its eastside.

Climate[link]

The average temperature in Najran ranges from 14.6 to 30.9. The average annual rainfall is 83 mm.

Education[link]

Schools and libraries[link]

There are 553 public schools, and 3 private schools in Najran.

Colleges and universities[link]

Najran is home of Najran University, Najran College of Technology.

Sports[link]

Local Football Clubs[link]

• Al-Okdod Club (Arabic: نادي الأخدود) founded in 1975
• Sharora Club (Arabic: نادي شرورة) founded in 1975
• Najran Club (Arabic: نادي نجران) founded in 1980

Sports Centers[link]

There are many sports centers and complexes within the city including

• Al-Khalidyyah Sport Center (Arabic: مركز الخالدية الرياضي )
• Prince Mishal Sport Center (Arabic: مركز الأمير مشعل )
• Najran Bowling Alley

Hospitals and Medical Care[link]

• King Khalid Hospital
• General Psychiatric Hospital
• Najran General Hospital
• Najran Armed Forces Hospital
• MCH Najran
• Al Zafer Hospital
• Al Hayah Hospital

Hotels[link]

• Happy Day Inn
• Hyatt Najran
• Holiday Inn
• Najran Crown
• Najran Hotel
• Ramada Hotel

Sports[link]

• 

  Najran SC

References[link]

External links[link]

• Travel through the province of Najran, Splendid Arabia: A travel site with photos and routes

Further reading[link]

• This text is adapted from William Muir's public domain, The Caliphate: Its Rise, Decline, and Fall.
• Irfan Shahîd, The Martyrs of Najrân. New Documents, Brussels (1971).
• Irfan Shahîd, Byzantium and the Arabs in the Fifth Century, Dumbarton Oaks (1989), ISBN 0-88402-152-1.
• Hugh Goddard, A History of Christian-Muslim Relations, Edinburgh University Press (2000), ISBN 0-7486-1009-X.
• Josef W. Meri, Jere L. Bacharach, Medieval Islamic Civilization, Taylor & Francis (2006), ISBN 0-415-96692-2.
• Mark A. Caudill, Twilight in the Kingdom, Greenwood Publishing Group (2006), ISBN 0-275-99252-7.
• Andre Vauchez, Richard Barrie Dobson, Michael Lapidge, Adrian Walford, Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages, Routledge (2001), ISBN 1-57958-282-6.
• Joel Thomas Walker, The Legend of Mar Qardagh, University of California Press (2006), ISBN 0-520-24578-4.

Coordinates: 17°29′30″N 44°7′56″E / 17.49167°N 44.13222°E / 17.49167; 44.13222

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (May 2008)

Harbhajan Mann (Punjabi: ਹਰਭਜਨ ਮਾਨ) is a Punjabi singer and actor.^[1] He is one of the top Punjabi singers. he became a Punjabi all rounder star in the entertainment industry. He got spotlight in Punjabi music industry with his astonishing performance and miraculous voice in "Husn Jawani". When he became "Inder" in "Jee Aayan Nu" in 2002 and his success in "Asa Nu Mann Watna Da" stamped him with a label of star in the Punjabi movie world, and his recent movies like Heer ranjha and Jag Jeondeyan De Mele are one of the few blockbusters of Punjabi cinema.

Career[link]

Harbhajan Mann began singing as an amateur in 1980 and performed in local shows for the South Asian community while attending high school in Canada. His aspirations to sing professionally were sparked when he studied music from his first guru, Karnail Singh.^{[citation needed]}

His first professional break came to him in 1992 while he was still in Canada with the release of Chithiye Nee Chithiye. This track became a success with the target audiences in Punjab. After the success of the single Chithiye Nee Chithiye in India, Harbhajan realized that the industry for Punjabi music was too limited in Canada. Harbhajan returned to Punjab to record his albums. Harbhajan's melodious voice was still relatively undiscovered until 1999. With the help of India MTV and some extra promotions from T-Series, Mann's 1999 album, "Oye Hoye", became an explosive hit. His Punjabi-pop style soon attracted audiences from all over India. Singing was not only a Passion inside him but he started giving his voice to the actors as he turned into a Playback Singer and an Actor. Harbhajan Mann has become a prominent figure in the revitalisation of Punjabi cinema. He has starred and produced in seven movies, namely "Ji Aayan Nu", "Asa Nu Mann Watna Da", "Dil Apna Punjabi", "Mitti Wajaan Mardi", "Mera Pind, My home", "Jag Jeondiyan De Mele" and his most recent movie "Heer Ranjha".^[2] He has also produced the soundtrack albums for his movies.

Discography[link]

Religious[link]

Guest appearances[link]

Filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Cine Punjab - Information

Sukshinder Shinda (born Sukshinder Singh Bhullar) is a bhangra record producer and singer–songwriter from Handsworth in Birmingham, England. Since releasing his first professional recording in 1993, Dhol Beat Ek, Shinda has produced or collaborated on more than 200 albums, including all of Jazzy B's releases and the majority of Amrinder Gill's. In 2001, Shinda released his first solo album, Phases, which featured the singles "Daroo" and "Dil".^[1]

Musical artist[link]

Sukshinder Shinda released his the album "Collaborations 2" in February 2009.

Sukshinder Shinda's album Satguru Mera (translated to My True Guru), with Jazzy B, is his first completely religious album.^[2]

Sukshinder Shinda's New Album 2013 Thor Punjaban Di Tracks 13.

Awards[link]

In 2006, Sukshinder Shinda won two awards at the UK Asian Music Awards, "Best Album" and "Best Video".^[3] In 2008, he won another two awards at the UK Asian Music Awards, "Best Act" and "Best Album" for Living the Dream.^[4] In 2010, he won "Best Producer".^[5] In 2011 he was nominated for Best Album (for Jadoo), Best Producer, Best Male Act and Best Desi Act^[6] and ended up winning only Best Producer.^[7]

Discography[link]

^[8]

Religious[link]

Film Projects[link]

^[10]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Website

Victor Simões

Personal information
Full name	Victor Simões de Oliveira
Date of birth	(1981-03-23) March 23, 1981 (age 31)
Place of birth	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Al-Ahli
Number	7
Youth career
1998-2001	Flamengo
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2001-2002	Flamengo	15	(4)
2002	Tombense	5	(0)
2003-2004	Germinal Beerschot	48	(18)
2004–2006	Club Brugge	65	(11)
2007	Figueirense	35	(19)
2007–2008	Chunnam Dragons	24	(3)
2009	Botafogo	55	(19)
2010-	Al-Ahli	83	(60)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 May 2012. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 05 July 2011

Victor Simões, full name Victor Simões de Oliveira (born March 23, 1981, in Rio de Janeiro) is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Al-Ahli.

Career[link]

• His previous clubs include
• 1-Figueirense Futebol Clube
• 2-Club Brugge K.V.
• 3-K.F.C. Germinal Beerschot Antwerp
• 4-Tombense Futebol Clube
• 5-Figueirense
• 6-Botafogo
• 7-Al-Ahli Jeddah.

Victor began his career in 2001 at Flamengo, one of the most important clubs in Brazil. After two years, he was transferred by the Germinal Beerschot Antwerp, a Belgian club championship. After just six months, he joined Club Brugge in January 2004. It is fast becoming the holder in the attack Bruges, participating in 44 league matches, seven Cup matches and 13 matches in European Cup. He won the Belgian Supercup 2004 and a year later the title of Belgian champion in 2005. But in the summer of 2005, it is usually confined to the bench of reservists not receiving the confidence of new coach Jan Ceulemans. At year end, he is relegated to the B ring, and then was loaned in January 2006 to his former club, the GBA. He does not score any goal until the end of the season, and then returned to Brazil, Figueirense.

Victor plays about a year at his new club, then joined the Chunnam Dragons, South Korea, summer 2007. After a year, he returned to Brazil again, this time in Botafogo. He was then loaned in January 2010 to Saudi club Al Ahli Jeddah, and he won the 2011 King Cup of Champions with final Ittihad FC they won by penalty kick after last shot and the scored are 0-0 (4-2), then he transfers it six months later. Victor is the top scores in 2011–12 Saudi Professional League and the second place this season. he also won the second time of 2012 King Cup of Champions in final against Al-Nasr the scores are 4-1.

Club career statistics[link]

Honours[link]

Club[link]

• With Club Brugge

• Belgian League:

Winners: 2004-05

• Belgian Supercup:

Winners: 2004

• With Figueirense

• Copa do Brasil:

Runner-Up: 2007

• With Botafogo

• Taça Guanabara:

Winners: 2009

• With Al-Ahli

• Saudi Professional League:

Runner-Up: 2012

• Saudi Crown Prince Cup:

Runner-Up: 2010

• Saudi Champions Cup:

Winners: 2011, 2012

Individual[link]

• 2011–12 Saudi Professional League: Top Scores
• 2010 Saudi Crown Prince Cup: Top Scores
• 2007 Copa do Brasil: Top Scorers

References[link]

• Victor Simões at Sambafoot
• Victor Simões at kleague.com
• Personal site