Al-Hawtah الحوطة | |
|---|---|
Town | |
| Hawtat al-Faqih Ali حوطة الفقيه علي | |
  Al-Hawtah Location in Yemen | |
| Coordinates: 14°23′0.96″N47°23′56″E / 14.3836000°N 47.39889°E | |
| Country |  Yemen |
| Governorate | Shabwah |
| District | Mayfa'a |
| Established | 1372 |
| Founded by | Ali Muhammad bin Omar al-Habani al-Khawlani |
| Population (2004) | |
• Total | 10,000 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (Yemen Standard Time) |
Al-Hawtah, [a] also known as Hawtat al-Faqih Ali, [b] is a village in east-central Yemen. It is located in Shabwah Governorate. [1]
Al-Hawtah was founded in the 14th century, [1] specifically in 727 AH (1372 CE) by scholar and jurist Ali Muhammad bin Omar al-Habani al-Khawlani according to Yemeni sources. [2] The name "al-Hawtah" literally translates to "village" or "small settlement," while "al-Faqih Ali" is meant to honor the town's founder. [3] Historically, the town had once acted as the main urban area and commercial hub of eastern Yemen, [1] and a bridge for trade with western Yemen. [4] Regional tribes and trade caravans from many areas, including al-Bayda, Marib, Najran, Beihan and Hadhramaut, would gather at the town's famous marketplace during an annual event commemorating the birthday of al-Khawlani. [1] [5] Products traded in the marketplace were mostly livestock and foodstuffs. [4]
Asides from trade, the town also attracted a reputation for peace and harmony since its inception; [2] those entering the town were required to forfeit their weapons at its entrances, ensuring safety. [5] This made it a prominent meeting point where regional tribes would sign peace agreements and treaties. [1] This peace was maintained throughout its history by scholars, preachers, and the overall religious environment, and allowed al-Hawtah to remain most untouched by conflict, which was historically abundant the between tribes of Shabwah. [4]
Al-Hawtah's status as a trading hub had ended by the late 1950's as dirt roads had been built in the area and cars began replace camels as transport. [6] Due to its location upon a river bank, the town has been prone to flash floods, the worst of which occurred in 1996, destroying large amounts of farmland and houses, and killing around 30 locals. [5]
Al-Hawtah is located in Mayfa'a district of central Shabwah Governorate. It is consists of towering houses built into a cliffside of large mountains, [7] and is situated on the Wadi Amqayn river banks. These banks provide the town with an abundance of fertile soil. Al-Ittihad described the landscape as "reminiscent of a masterpiece painted by a skilled artist." [4]
Al-Hawtah had a population of over 10,000 according to a national census in 2004, making it the fifth-largest settlement in Shabwah at the time. This figure has likely risen since then due to high annual birth rates and marriage rates among the local youth. The local population are predominantly members of the al-Faqih Ali tribe. [4]