Page 20 - Arabian Studies (V)

10 Arabian Studies V
journey usually consists of between 35 and 45 km., which is the
distance between Wadi ’l-Qura and al-Hijr. The distance today
between al-Hijr and al-‘Ula consists of 22 km., and 18 km. between
al-‘Ula and al-Mibyat.
It seems clear to us from all this that Qurh or Wadi ’l-Qura, as it
is sometimes called, is not al-‘Ula, but that it lies further south, at a
distance of a half day approximately according to an expression
used by Arab travellers. Hence, we are able to say that the ancient
Islamic site which lies to the south of al-‘Ula, at a distance of
eighteen kilometres, and which is known in the surrounding area as
al-Mibyat, is without doubt the remnant of Qurh, the centre of
Wadi ’l-Qura. As we know the linguistic meaning of al-Khuraybah,
which is given to the ruins of Dedan, we also find that al-mabit in
Arabic means ‘the place where people spend a night or more’.88
Seemingly, the pilgrims from al-‘Ula used to stay at this place, on
the return route from Mecca. However, this name was given to this
site in more recent times and that is why it is not traceable in Arabic
sources. Doughty, who explored the archaeological sites in that
region in 1876-7, was informed about al-Mibyat, and from what he
was told he wrote the following:
The villagers and nomads spoke to me of ruined site in these
parts, el-Mubbiat. This is a plural word, and may signify the sites
of several ruined hamlets in one oasis. They say buried treasures lie
there, and it was of old a principal town. That ground, six miles
from el-AUy [al-‘Ula], is a plain of the acacia trees, separated from
W.Kurra [Wadi ’l-Qura] by a narrow train of the mountain: it is a
loam and clay bottom crusted with salt. Incense is found there, and
human bones as at Medain [Mada’in Salih], and potsherds and
much broken glass in rings, “as it were of women’s bracelets”.
There are ruined clay buildings, and a few of clay and stone; but as
Salih told me, faithfully, there are neither chambers hewn in the
rock nor engraved inscriptions.’ Doughty adds that some Walad
‘All Beduins had found some gold coins bearing the inscription in
Kufic script—‘There is no God but the Lord’. He mentiones that
the site was also known as ‘Wahlby’, and it is my opinion that the
name is derived from al-Mawahib (sing. Mawhubi) which is a
branch of the Baliyy tribe which resides in that region; However,
this name is no longer used. Doughty knew about Qurh and the role
it played in medieval times, but he thought it was ‘Korh’ which he
situated above Medina, to the south of ‘Hedieh’ (Hadiyyah).89
Hadiyyah lies on the pilgrimage road at about 165 km. from
al-‘Ula. He does not give any reference to support his claim, and
there is no Qurh or Korh traceable in Arabic sources in that area.
The ruins of al-Mibyat are also mentioned by Jaussen and