Banu Amela
Encyclopedia
The Banu Amela (Arabic: بنو عامله) a South Arabian tribe that migrated from the towns of Bardoun, Yarim
, Mayrayama and Jibla
in the central highlands and the Raimah region in Yemen (Jabalan Al Ardaba, Jabalan Al Raymah).
They trace their genealogy back to Amela bin Saba'a bin Yashjeb bin Ya'arib bin Qahtan who left Yemen after the 4th destruction of the Marib Dam
around 200 B.C. They dwelled in Syria settling the southern highlands and eastern valley of modern Lebanon
.
The Banu Amela helped liberate their land form the Crusaders during the Ayubids and the Mamlukes era, when the last city, Tyre, was regained on May 19, 1291 A.D. The Mamlukes seized power afterward and persecuted those who opposed them, or belonged to a different religious sect than theirs (Mamlukes were Sunni Muslims).
Many areas that had Banu Amelas residing in them lived through a number of upheaval and civil unrests, such as those surrounding Tripoli
and the region of Kisrwan in Mount Lebanon. As a result, many of them fled to the south, into areas such as Jezzine
, or the east, into the Bekaa Valley. One of their prominent clergymen during that time, Shamseddine was persecuted and eventually killed by the Mamluks in 1384 A.D., later to be named the 'First Martyr.'
They played an important role in the history of ancient and modern Lebanon. During the Ottoman rule (ca. 1517-1918), they established autonomy in their areas to the extent of having their own flag (tricoloured: red-symbol of Imam Hussein's martyrdom; black-symbol of their mourning of Hussein, and; green-the symbolic colour of Islam
) and army, which fought against the Ottoman regional rulers in northern Palestine
and Damascus
.
after World War I, Lebanon became part of that mandate, which established modern day Republic of Lebanon in 1920 by including south Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and north Lebanon to form the country.
Banu Amel in the South Lebanon Governerate resented the French rule on their territory, especially the establishment of French government offices and military bases, considering it an encroachment on their historical autonomy. Guerrilla war ensued, leading many people and prominent resistance figures to ally themselves with the Druze
of Lebanon and neighbouring Syria around the Houran region along the Golan Heights area.
Adham Khanjar
, one of the most historical figures during this conflict found a close alliance with Sultan Basha Al-Atrash who offered help and sometimes refuge for Khanjar and his followers. The great revolt of 1925 - 1927 succeeded in driving French forces from the Jabal Druze and became a symbol of Syrian and Lebanese common objections to the mandate and all that it represented.
Also, many religious figures played an important role in deciding the fate of this revolt against the French. The Ulema
-religious scholars-advocated and worked for unity between Lebanon and Syria, since they were opposed the Greater Lebanon idea, which was believed to be carved out of Bilad al-Sham, or Grand Syria. Some scholars, such as Sayyed Abdul Hussain Sharaffedine issued a Fatwa
for Jihad
against the French. The Ulema
(in Arabic 3olama2) and the leaders in the South met in 'Wadi El Hujay' on the 24 of April 1920 to authorize Sayyed Sharafeddine, Sayyed Muhsen Al Amine and Sayyed Abdel Hussain Noureddien to discuss the future of Jabal Amel
and its people with King Faisal in Damascus.
Many revolts broke out as a result beginning from the 1920s until the French departure, and a number of brigades were formed by Banu Amela to fight against the French. These were led by Adham Khanjar, Sadeq Hamzeh and Muhammad Ahamad Bazzi brigades. One of the most important events in the course of this revolt occurred in 1936 when the town of Bint-Jbeil carried a great fight against the French, which later was described as a unionist one for the sake of unity with Syria. People who were killed in that event were considered martyrs of the Syrian unity.
This status had very much to do with the historical alliance the French compacted with the Maronites in Lebanon, and the fact that most of development projects took place in Beirut or the regions surrounding it, which somewhat had a positive outcome since many active young people travelled abroad looking for better opportunities. In the 1960s and 1970s West Africa received the bulk of emigrants from South Lebanon, especially the Senegal
, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leon, Cameroon
, and Zaire
, therefore providing them with opportunities to build wealth and political connections that persists until today.
Later on, in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s new emigration destinations included the U.S, Canada, and many parts in South America such as Venezuela
, Argentina
, Brazil
, and Uruguay
.
, Hizbullah, and the Social Democratic Movement (led by Kameyl Al-As'aad).
Traditional families: Farhat, Ibrahim, Al-As'aad, Al-Saghir, Mugniyeh, Berro, Khalil, Beidoon, Sweidan, Wehbe, Zalzali, Hariri.
Prominent figures: Adham Khanjar
, Hassan Kamel Al-Sabbah
(inventor, born in Lebanon, lived and died in the U.S), the Sadr family (branched out into Iraq, Lebanon, and Iran) with famous religious figures in Iraq such as Muhammad-Baqir Al-Sadr who is known for his philosophic and economic writings, and Imam Sayed Musa Al-Sadr
, Sayed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, the founder of Amal and the Shia Supreme Council in Lebanon, Nabih Mustapha Berry speaker of the house and the head of Amal Movement. Latest very known person is Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah.
Yarim
-Geography:It lies in the heart of the Yemen Highlands, on an upland plateau dominated by the massif of nearby Mount Sumarah, which rises to about 10,000 feet above sea level.-History:...
, Mayrayama and Jibla
Jibla
Jibla is a town in southwestern Yemen, close to Ibb. It is located at around , at the elevation of around 2,200 meters. The town and its surroundings were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List due to its purported universal cultural value....
in the central highlands and the Raimah region in Yemen (Jabalan Al Ardaba, Jabalan Al Raymah).
They trace their genealogy back to Amela bin Saba'a bin Yashjeb bin Ya'arib bin Qahtan who left Yemen after the 4th destruction of the Marib Dam
Marib Dam
The Marib or Ma'rib or Ma'arib Dam blocks the Wadi Adhanah in the valley of Dhana in the Balaq Hills, Yemen. The current dam is close to the ruins of the Great Dam of Marib, dating from around the eighth century BC...
around 200 B.C. They dwelled in Syria settling the southern highlands and eastern valley of modern Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
Medieval History
Banu Amela were subject to many attacks waged against them by the crusaders in 1095 A.D. Many coastal cities successively fell in the Crusaders' hands, after witnessing many atrocities. But the villages were not subject to such mishandling since their inhabitants remained in them, and the Crusaders needed the local population to make use of the land in order to provide them with food and procurements.The Banu Amela helped liberate their land form the Crusaders during the Ayubids and the Mamlukes era, when the last city, Tyre, was regained on May 19, 1291 A.D. The Mamlukes seized power afterward and persecuted those who opposed them, or belonged to a different religious sect than theirs (Mamlukes were Sunni Muslims).
Many areas that had Banu Amelas residing in them lived through a number of upheaval and civil unrests, such as those surrounding Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
and the region of Kisrwan in Mount Lebanon. As a result, many of them fled to the south, into areas such as Jezzine
Jezzine
Jezzine is a town in Lebanon, located from Sidon and south of Beirut. Surrounded by mountain peaks, pine forests, and at an average altitude of 950 m , it is the main summer resort and tourist destination of South Lebanon...
, or the east, into the Bekaa Valley. One of their prominent clergymen during that time, Shamseddine was persecuted and eventually killed by the Mamluks in 1384 A.D., later to be named the 'First Martyr.'
They played an important role in the history of ancient and modern Lebanon. During the Ottoman rule (ca. 1517-1918), they established autonomy in their areas to the extent of having their own flag (tricoloured: red-symbol of Imam Hussein's martyrdom; black-symbol of their mourning of Hussein, and; green-the symbolic colour of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
) and army, which fought against the Ottoman regional rulers in northern Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
and Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
.
Under the French Mandate
When the French took their mandate from the League of NationsLeague of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
after World War I, Lebanon became part of that mandate, which established modern day Republic of Lebanon in 1920 by including south Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and north Lebanon to form the country.
Banu Amel in the South Lebanon Governerate resented the French rule on their territory, especially the establishment of French government offices and military bases, considering it an encroachment on their historical autonomy. Guerrilla war ensued, leading many people and prominent resistance figures to ally themselves with the Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
of Lebanon and neighbouring Syria around the Houran region along the Golan Heights area.
Adham Khanjar
Adham Khanjar
Adham Khanjar is a Lebanese Shia rebel who participated in an attempt to assassinate General Gouraud, the French High Commissioner in Syria and Lebanon.-Assassination Attempt:Khanjar joined a guerrilla band led by famous Syrian rebel Ahmed Mreywed...
, one of the most historical figures during this conflict found a close alliance with Sultan Basha Al-Atrash who offered help and sometimes refuge for Khanjar and his followers. The great revolt of 1925 - 1927 succeeded in driving French forces from the Jabal Druze and became a symbol of Syrian and Lebanese common objections to the mandate and all that it represented.
Also, many religious figures played an important role in deciding the fate of this revolt against the French. The Ulema
Ulema
Ulama , also spelt ulema, refers to the educated class of Muslim legal scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. They are best known as the arbiters of shari‘a law...
-religious scholars-advocated and worked for unity between Lebanon and Syria, since they were opposed the Greater Lebanon idea, which was believed to be carved out of Bilad al-Sham, or Grand Syria. Some scholars, such as Sayyed Abdul Hussain Sharaffedine issued a Fatwa
Fatwa
A fatwā in the Islamic faith is a juristic ruling concerning Islamic law issued by an Islamic scholar. In Sunni Islam any fatwā is non-binding, whereas in Shia Islam it could be considered by an individual as binding, depending on his or her relation to the scholar. The person who issues a fatwā...
for Jihad
Jihad
Jihad , an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihād translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad appears 41 times in the Quran and frequently in the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of God ". A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid; the plural is...
against the French. The Ulema
Ulema
Ulama , also spelt ulema, refers to the educated class of Muslim legal scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. They are best known as the arbiters of shari‘a law...
(in Arabic 3olama2) and the leaders in the South met in 'Wadi El Hujay' on the 24 of April 1920 to authorize Sayyed Sharafeddine, Sayyed Muhsen Al Amine and Sayyed Abdel Hussain Noureddien to discuss the future of Jabal Amel
Jabal Amel
Jabal Amel or Amil is a mountainous region of Southern Lebanon.The region is named after the Banu 'Amilah, a Yemenite tribe who, along with the kindred tribes of Hamadan, Lakhm, and Judham, settled in Syria, Palestine, parts of Jordan, and Lebanon. The area was known in ancient times as Jabal...
and its people with King Faisal in Damascus.
Many revolts broke out as a result beginning from the 1920s until the French departure, and a number of brigades were formed by Banu Amela to fight against the French. These were led by Adham Khanjar, Sadeq Hamzeh and Muhammad Ahamad Bazzi brigades. One of the most important events in the course of this revolt occurred in 1936 when the town of Bint-Jbeil carried a great fight against the French, which later was described as a unionist one for the sake of unity with Syria. People who were killed in that event were considered martyrs of the Syrian unity.
Following Lebanese Independence
After Lebanon gained its independence on November 22, 1943 and by the time French army withdrew its soldiers from Lebanon in 1946, the Lebanese National Pact, which is a notional and unofficial understanding, allocated the seat of Speaker of the Parliament to the Shia in recognition for their role demographically and politically, but they remained socially and financially marginalized.This status had very much to do with the historical alliance the French compacted with the Maronites in Lebanon, and the fact that most of development projects took place in Beirut or the regions surrounding it, which somewhat had a positive outcome since many active young people travelled abroad looking for better opportunities. In the 1960s and 1970s West Africa received the bulk of emigrants from South Lebanon, especially the Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leon, Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, and Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
, therefore providing them with opportunities to build wealth and political connections that persists until today.
Later on, in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s new emigration destinations included the U.S, Canada, and many parts in South America such as Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, and Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
.
Political Parties, Families, and Prominent Members
Some of the major political parties include: Amal MovementAmal Movement
Amal Movement is short for the Lebanese Resistance Detachments the acronym for which, in Arabic, is "amal", meaning "hope."Amal was founded in 1975 as the militia wing of the Movement of the Disinherited, a Shi'a political movement founded by Musa...
, Hizbullah, and the Social Democratic Movement (led by Kameyl Al-As'aad).
Traditional families: Farhat, Ibrahim, Al-As'aad, Al-Saghir, Mugniyeh, Berro, Khalil, Beidoon, Sweidan, Wehbe, Zalzali, Hariri.
Prominent figures: Adham Khanjar
Adham Khanjar
Adham Khanjar is a Lebanese Shia rebel who participated in an attempt to assassinate General Gouraud, the French High Commissioner in Syria and Lebanon.-Assassination Attempt:Khanjar joined a guerrilla band led by famous Syrian rebel Ahmed Mreywed...
, Hassan Kamel Al-Sabbah
Hassan Kamel Al-Sabbah
Hasan Kamel Al-Sabbah, sometimes referred to as Camil A. Sabbah, was an electrical and electronics research engineer, mathematician and inventor. He was born in Nabatieh, Lebanon. He studied at the American University of Beirut. He taught mathematics at Imperial College of Damascus, Syria, and at...
(inventor, born in Lebanon, lived and died in the U.S), the Sadr family (branched out into Iraq, Lebanon, and Iran) with famous religious figures in Iraq such as Muhammad-Baqir Al-Sadr who is known for his philosophic and economic writings, and Imam Sayed Musa Al-Sadr
Musa al-Sadr
For the Twelver Shī‘ah Imām, see Mūsá al-KāżimMūsá aṣ-Ṣadr , also Musā-ye Sader and Moussa Sadr), was an Iranian-Lebanese philosopher and Shī‘ah religious leader who disappeared in August 1978...
, Sayed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, the founder of Amal and the Shia Supreme Council in Lebanon, Nabih Mustapha Berry speaker of the house and the head of Amal Movement. Latest very known person is Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah.