Ajman (tribe)
Encyclopedia
Al-'Ajman or al-'Ijman are a bedouin
tribe of northeastern Arabia, with members spread across Saudi Arabia
, Kuwait
, Qatar
, and the U.A.E..
The tribe is an offshoot of the tribe of Banu Yam
, the principal tribe of Najran near Yemen
. The 'Ajman separated from Yam sometime in the 18th century, along with another sub-tribe known as Al Murrah
. Both tribes migrated towards the east, with the Ajman settling the region between al-Ahsa
and Kuwait
, and Al Murrah ending up roaming regions further south on the border of the Empty Quarter
desert. Unlike their parent tribe of Yam, who are predominantly Ismaili
Shi'as, the Ajman and Al Murrah are entirely Sunni.
The 'Ajman were noted for their strength in battle and were important players in the wars and politics of eastern and central Arabia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Their most famous leader (or shaikh) during the 19th century was Rakan ibn Hithlayn, who is still well known in Arabian tribal lore, and who was noted for his poetry as well as aptitude in battle against the Ottoman Turks
. The 'Ajman, however, were defeated by Faisal ibn Turki, the second Imam of the Second Saudi State
, who later married into the tribe. Later on, they supported the cause of the Saud al-Kabir branch of the Al Saud against their cousin Abdul Aziz ibn Saud, the founder of Saudi Arabia
.
A section of the Ajman led by Dhaydan ibn Hithlayn joined the Ikhwan
movement in 1912, providing military support for Ibn Saud, but later rebelled against him. The Ajman and their allies from the tribes of Mutair and Utaybah were defeated by Ibn Saud in 1930 in the Battle of Sbillah, which put an end to the Ikhwan rebellion.
Nearly all the Ajman have abandoned nomadic life and have settled in the Persian Gulf states
, especially Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Their main tribal territory is Joudah, also known as Wadi el-Ajman ("the valley of the Ajman"), located on the road between Riyadh
and Dammam
..
Bedouin
The Bedouin are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans, known in Arabic as ..-Etymology:...
tribe of northeastern Arabia, with members spread across Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
, Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
, and the U.A.E..
The tribe is an offshoot of the tribe of Banu Yam
Banu Yam
Banu Yam are a large tribe native to Najran Province in Saudi Arabia, and are the principal tribe of that area. They belong to the Qahtanite branch of Arabian tribes, specifically the group known as Hamdan, and are therefore native to southwestern Arabia....
, the principal tribe of Najran near Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
. The 'Ajman separated from Yam sometime in the 18th century, along with another sub-tribe known as Al Murrah
Al Murrah
The Al Murrah is a tribe descended from the well-known Banu Yam tribe. Al Murrah are a tribe of camel-herding nomads, recently some of them have taken up permanent settlement near to traditional Oasis. They exist in many places all over the Arabian Peninsula, but intensively in southern and eastern...
. Both tribes migrated towards the east, with the Ajman settling the region between al-Ahsa
Al-Hasa
Al-Ahsa is the largest governorate in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, named after Al-Ahsa oasis. The name Al-Ahsa is also given to the biggest city in the region, Hofuf. In classic Arabic, Ahsa means the sound of water underground. It has one of the largest oases in the world with Date Palms of...
and Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
, and Al Murrah ending up roaming regions further south on the border of the Empty Quarter
Empty Quarter
The Rub' al Khali or Empty Quarter is one of the largest sand deserts in the world, encompassing most of the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula, including most of Saudi Arabia and areas of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The desert covers some The Rub' al Khali or Empty Quarter...
desert. Unlike their parent tribe of Yam, who are predominantly Ismaili
Ismaili
' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
Shi'as, the Ajman and Al Murrah are entirely Sunni.
The 'Ajman were noted for their strength in battle and were important players in the wars and politics of eastern and central Arabia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Their most famous leader (or shaikh) during the 19th century was Rakan ibn Hithlayn, who is still well known in Arabian tribal lore, and who was noted for his poetry as well as aptitude in battle against the Ottoman Turks
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
. The 'Ajman, however, were defeated by Faisal ibn Turki, the second Imam of the Second Saudi State
Second Saudi State
The Second Saudi State existed during the 19th century when the rule of the House of Saud was restored to central and eastern Arabia after having previously been brought down by an Ottoman-Egyptian invasion in 1818...
, who later married into the tribe. Later on, they supported the cause of the Saud al-Kabir branch of the Al Saud against their cousin Abdul Aziz ibn Saud, the founder of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
.
A section of the Ajman led by Dhaydan ibn Hithlayn joined the Ikhwan
Ikhwan
The Ikhwan was the Islamic religious militia which formed the main military force of the Arabian ruler Ibn Saud and played a key role in establishing him as ruler of most of the Arabian Peninsula, in his new state of Saudi Arabia. The Ikhwan were made up of Bedouin tribes...
movement in 1912, providing military support for Ibn Saud, but later rebelled against him. The Ajman and their allies from the tribes of Mutair and Utaybah were defeated by Ibn Saud in 1930 in the Battle of Sbillah, which put an end to the Ikhwan rebellion.
Nearly all the Ajman have abandoned nomadic life and have settled in the Persian Gulf states
Persian Gulf States
Persian Gulf States can refer to:* Countries in the Middle East bordering the Persian Gulf and sometimes known as the Gulf States: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates....
, especially Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Their main tribal territory is Joudah, also known as Wadi el-Ajman ("the valley of the Ajman"), located on the road between Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
and Dammam
Dammam
Dammam is the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, the most oil-rich region in the world. The judicial and administrative bodies of the province and several government departments are located in the city. Dammam is the largest city in the Eastern Province and third largest in Saudi...
..