The historical and scientific importance of al Awabi
Published: 03:06 PM,Jun 08,2021 | EDITED : 07:06 PM,Jun 08,2021
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The Wilayat of Al Awabi is one of the wilayats of the South Al Batinah Governorate, and it was named “Sony” after the western mountain overlooking it, called Mount Sony. ‘Sony’ was used in ancient times and continued until the Yaariba Era until its eventual change to Al Awabi.
The Wilayat of Al Awabi is located in Al Hajar Al Gharbi, near to Nakhl, Wadi Al Maawil, Al Jabal Al Akhdhar and the Wilayat of Al Rustaq. It is about 156 kilometres from the capital, Muscat.
There are 32 villages that falls under the Wilayat of Al Awabi namely: Al Awabi, Al Rami, Al Walija, Al Dhahir, Tawi Al Sih, Al Rajma, Falaj Bani Khuzair, Subaikha, Al Mandhur, Al Baramiyah, Ghaz Al Muhainiah, Al Hajeer, Halhal, Dhahrat Al Dhawahir, Stal, Misfat Al Hatatlah, Saniba, Shuwa, Thuqb, Al Hajar, Misfat Al Shraiqiyeen, Hadas, Al Houdaina, al Muhasana, al Alia, al Markh, Ain Karfas, Saqr, Sahkoon, al Dukm and al Dar.
Al Awabi has a long history and a wide scientific standing as it gave birth to many imams and scholars, including Imam al Warith bin Kaab al Kharousi, whose origin is from the village of Al Hajar, Imam Al Salt bin Malik al Kharousi, from the village of Stal, Imam Azzan bin Tamim al Kharousi, from the village of Al Misfah, and Imam Khalid bin Mohammad al Kharousi, From the village of Al Hajeer, Imam Khalid bin Saud al Kharousi from the village of Al Hajeer, the poet Shaikh Salem bin Ghassan al Lawah al Kharousi, the author of Diwan Al Lawah, from the village of Thuqb, the poet Shaikh Saeed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Ghashari al Kharousi, the author of Al Ghashari Diwan, and the poet Shaikh Abu Bakr Ahmed bin Saeed Al Satalli al Kharousi, the author of Al Satalli’s Diwan.
As a result of the historical legacy of the wilayat, the pen and the inkwell (used as an emblem for the wilayat) represent an indication of the scientific and historical standing. One of the most important cultural phenomena that define al Awabi is rock writing, which is a unique cultural art that has its own features and characteristics. Through rock writing, the most important events and issues are recorded. It includes various aspects of life in previous eras, and it was considered as a big book that preserved many events and news of the past decades. These writings include many important events related to the history of the wilayat.
The Wilayat of Al Awabi, like the rest of the wilayats of the Sultanate, hosts many archaeological and historical spots that bear witness to the civilisation and heritage of this wilayat, which is one of the treasures of the Governorate of South Al Batinah, including the forts scattered in the wilayat. The most important of which is the Al Awabi Fort, which some call “the Western House” and the Al Fawq House. It is located at the entrance to the Wadi Bani Kharous from the western side. It controls the entrance to the wilayat and the main point of distribution of the Al Awabi Falaj. It was the headquarter of the governor and was built in the early thirteenth century AH.
The fortress of Salut, which is located at the top of a mountain overlooking the falaj of the village of Stal in Wadi Bani Kharous, and the fortress of Wadi Arak, which is located in the village of Subaikha in the western mountain before the entrance to the village Bani Kharous, from the east bank, opposite the Al Awabi fort.
There is also the Dam Tower, which is a circular tower built on a small hill and is approximately ten meters high from the surface of the earth. It was built of stones, the Omani sarooj, and the Al Hajeer Fort, which is two separate buildings located in a mountainous plateau that rises from the surface of the earth by about (250) metres.
There are a number of ancient mosques in the wilayat, the most important of which is the Al Ghamama Mosque, which is located in the village of Al Hajar in Wadi Bani Kharous and was built by Imam Al Warith bin Kaab al Kharousi and was recently restored. Al Hasha Mosque, which is located in the village of Al Alia in Bani Kharous and has been renovated to preserve its modern architectural character in addition to three old mosques located in Salut in the village of Stal.
There are also a number of ancient houses in the wilayat like Bait al Ras, which is located in the village of Al Alia and Bait al Sarooj in Al Alia and the House of Al Misfah fortress, which is located in the village of Misfat Al Shraiqiyeen and the House of Al Walija, which is a large house in the Al Walija area, and the Al Khatma house in Al Alia.
The area also abounds with beautiful and picturesque tourist attractions, engraved by nature without human intervention due to its geographical location and beautiful climate. The wilayat has great tourism potentials that made it a stop for visitors who come to it during vacations and official holidays to enjoy the contents of these tourist components.
The Wilayat of Al Awabi is located in Al Hajar Al Gharbi, near to Nakhl, Wadi Al Maawil, Al Jabal Al Akhdhar and the Wilayat of Al Rustaq. It is about 156 kilometres from the capital, Muscat.
There are 32 villages that falls under the Wilayat of Al Awabi namely: Al Awabi, Al Rami, Al Walija, Al Dhahir, Tawi Al Sih, Al Rajma, Falaj Bani Khuzair, Subaikha, Al Mandhur, Al Baramiyah, Ghaz Al Muhainiah, Al Hajeer, Halhal, Dhahrat Al Dhawahir, Stal, Misfat Al Hatatlah, Saniba, Shuwa, Thuqb, Al Hajar, Misfat Al Shraiqiyeen, Hadas, Al Houdaina, al Muhasana, al Alia, al Markh, Ain Karfas, Saqr, Sahkoon, al Dukm and al Dar.
Al Awabi has a long history and a wide scientific standing as it gave birth to many imams and scholars, including Imam al Warith bin Kaab al Kharousi, whose origin is from the village of Al Hajar, Imam Al Salt bin Malik al Kharousi, from the village of Stal, Imam Azzan bin Tamim al Kharousi, from the village of Al Misfah, and Imam Khalid bin Mohammad al Kharousi, From the village of Al Hajeer, Imam Khalid bin Saud al Kharousi from the village of Al Hajeer, the poet Shaikh Salem bin Ghassan al Lawah al Kharousi, the author of Diwan Al Lawah, from the village of Thuqb, the poet Shaikh Saeed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Ghashari al Kharousi, the author of Al Ghashari Diwan, and the poet Shaikh Abu Bakr Ahmed bin Saeed Al Satalli al Kharousi, the author of Al Satalli’s Diwan.
As a result of the historical legacy of the wilayat, the pen and the inkwell (used as an emblem for the wilayat) represent an indication of the scientific and historical standing. One of the most important cultural phenomena that define al Awabi is rock writing, which is a unique cultural art that has its own features and characteristics. Through rock writing, the most important events and issues are recorded. It includes various aspects of life in previous eras, and it was considered as a big book that preserved many events and news of the past decades. These writings include many important events related to the history of the wilayat.
The Wilayat of Al Awabi, like the rest of the wilayats of the Sultanate, hosts many archaeological and historical spots that bear witness to the civilisation and heritage of this wilayat, which is one of the treasures of the Governorate of South Al Batinah, including the forts scattered in the wilayat. The most important of which is the Al Awabi Fort, which some call “the Western House” and the Al Fawq House. It is located at the entrance to the Wadi Bani Kharous from the western side. It controls the entrance to the wilayat and the main point of distribution of the Al Awabi Falaj. It was the headquarter of the governor and was built in the early thirteenth century AH.
The fortress of Salut, which is located at the top of a mountain overlooking the falaj of the village of Stal in Wadi Bani Kharous, and the fortress of Wadi Arak, which is located in the village of Subaikha in the western mountain before the entrance to the village Bani Kharous, from the east bank, opposite the Al Awabi fort.
There is also the Dam Tower, which is a circular tower built on a small hill and is approximately ten meters high from the surface of the earth. It was built of stones, the Omani sarooj, and the Al Hajeer Fort, which is two separate buildings located in a mountainous plateau that rises from the surface of the earth by about (250) metres.
There are a number of ancient mosques in the wilayat, the most important of which is the Al Ghamama Mosque, which is located in the village of Al Hajar in Wadi Bani Kharous and was built by Imam Al Warith bin Kaab al Kharousi and was recently restored. Al Hasha Mosque, which is located in the village of Al Alia in Bani Kharous and has been renovated to preserve its modern architectural character in addition to three old mosques located in Salut in the village of Stal.
There are also a number of ancient houses in the wilayat like Bait al Ras, which is located in the village of Al Alia and Bait al Sarooj in Al Alia and the House of Al Misfah fortress, which is located in the village of Misfat Al Shraiqiyeen and the House of Al Walija, which is a large house in the Al Walija area, and the Al Khatma house in Al Alia.
The area also abounds with beautiful and picturesque tourist attractions, engraved by nature without human intervention due to its geographical location and beautiful climate. The wilayat has great tourism potentials that made it a stop for visitors who come to it during vacations and official holidays to enjoy the contents of these tourist components.