Sharhabil Yakkuf (Arabic: شرحبيل يعفر) also known as Šaraḥbiʾil Yakûf[1] and credited in Arabian folklore as Tubba' ibn al-Hassan, was a Himyari king who ruled between the years 465 until 480 CE.[2] He succeeded Sharhabil Yafar in kingship, although a portion of his first year of rule was with the regent 'Abd-Kulal due to health complications.[3]
| Sharhabil Yakkuf | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King of Saba', Dhu Raydan, Hadramawt, Yamnat and their Arabs, on Tawdum and Tihamat | |||||
| Reign | 465–480 CE | ||||
| Predecessor | Sharhabil Yafar | ||||
| Successor | Marthad'ilan Yu'nim | ||||
| Died | c. 480 Yemen | ||||
| |||||
| Father | Hassan Yuha'min | ||||
| Religion | Judaism | ||||
Not much is known about his family. Arabian genealogy books assign him as the son of Hassan Yuha'min and the half-brother of Marthad'ilan Yanuf. During his rule, Sharhabil's sons, Abu Shamir Nawaf, Ma'dikarib Yun'im and Lakhni'ah Yanuf I, assisted him in his campaigns and conquests against other domains in Arabia.[4][5] Additionally, he is the first Himyarite king recorded in history to have persecuted adherents to Christianity in his realm.[6]
Biography edit
Sharhabil Yakkuf al-Himyari took the throne in 465 CE, sometime after the demise of his predecessor (and uncle) Sharhabil Yafar.[4] His first year of rule was with the regent, Abdul Kulal ibn Muthawwib, as Sharhabil Yakkuf suffered from issues relating to his health both mentally and physically.[3] Around the year 474 CE, Sharhabil and his two sons confronted and attacked various Arabian tribes, such as the Tayy, conquering them and capturing their people.[7] Sharhabil and his sons also took several camels from the tribes as war booty.[7]
Persecutions of Christians edit
During the reign of Sharhabil Yakkuf, a Christian missionary named Azqir arrived in Najran to spread the message and religion of Christianity.[8][9][10] He earned the hostility of some of the people, and was subsequently arrested by the local authorities. Then, King Sharhabil was told that Azqir had been preaching a "new religion".[9] Azqir was put on trial at court, where the king was not impressed by his preaching.[11] Under the advice of some Rabbis who were present in the court, Azqir was executed.[8][9][12] Some reports state that at least 38 other people of the Christian faith including monks and priests were executed as well.[13] The incident is dated to between the years 470 to 475 CE.[13] The execution of Azqir was likely not due to religious motives and instead due to political motives; it was likely to stop the spread of Byzantine influence to Najran.[10][9] The Himyarites saw the efforts of missionaries as potential ways to spread the influence of Byzantium to their territories, and hence they executed Azqir, whom they suspected to have had Byzantine leanings.[10]
See also edit
- Dhu Nuwas, another Himyarite ruler who came at a later date and also persecuted Christians in Najran.
- List of rulers of Saba and Himyar
References edit
- ^ "La dynastie de Šaraḥbiʾil Yakûf et la documentation épigraphique sud-arabe". omnia.college-de-france.fr. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
- ^ Johnson, Scott Fitzgerald (21 March 2024). The Oxford Handbook of Late Antiquity. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-027753-6.
- ^ a b Umair Mirza (1998-01-01). History of Tabari - Volume 5.
- ^ a b "DASI: Digital Archive for the Study of pre-islamic arabian Inscriptions: Epigraphs". dasi.cnr.it. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
- ^ "DASI: Digital Archive for the Study of pre-islamic arabian Inscriptions: Epigraph details". dasi.cnr.it. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
- ^ Manuscripts, British Museum Department of Oriental Printed Books and; Wright, William (1877). Catalogue of the Ethiopic Manuscripts in the British Museum Acquired Since the Year 1847 (in Amharic). British Museum.
- ^ a b "DASI: Digital Archive for the Study of pre-islamic arabian Inscriptions: Epigraph details". dasi.cnr.it. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
- ^ a b "Christianity in South Arabia. By Dr. Arthur Jeffery". www.answering-islam.org. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
- ^ a b c d Beeston, A.F.L. (2005). "The Martyrdom of Azqir". Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies: 113–118. ISSN 0308-8421. JSTOR 41223858.
- ^ a b c Mitchell, Robbie (2022-08-26). "The Himyarite Kingdom's Bloody Conversion to Judaism: Passion or Ploy?". Ancient Origins Reconstructing the story of humanity's past. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
- ^ "Beeston - Martyrdom of Azqir | PDF | Religious Belief And Doctrine | Ancient Mediterranean Religions". Scribd. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
- ^ Ethiopia, Everything. "Sewasew | Gädlä Azqir (ገድለ አዝቂር)". en.sewasew.com. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
- ^ a b "Historical Timelines | الجداول الزمنية | سيرة نجران". shuhada-najran.com. 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2024-03-21.