EnglishThe tribes
living near these regions were fluctuating between Syria and Iraq, whereas those living inside Arabia
were disunited and governed by tribal conflicts and racial and religious disputes.
They had neither a king to sustain their independence nor a supporter to seek advice from, or
depend upon, in hardships.
The rulers of Hijaz, however, were greatly esteemed and respected by the Arabs, and were
considered as rulers and servants of the religious centre. Rulership of Hijaz was, in fact, a mixture of
secular and official precedence as well as religious leadership.
They ruled among the Arabs in the
name of religious leadership and always monopolized the custodianship of the Holy Sanctuary and
its neighbourhood. They looked after the interests of Al-Ka‘bah visitors and were in charge of putting
Abraham’s code into effect. They even had such offices and departments like those of the
parliaments of today.
However, they were too weak to carry the heavy burden, as this evidently
came to light during the Abyssinian (Ethiopian) invasion.
The Sealed Nectar