With its farms, springs, volcanoes, and forts, Khaybar combines historic charm and breathtaking landscape on a unique piece of land in the Madinah region in Saudi Arabia.
Khaybar, which used to be home to more than three hundred running springs, was a significant economic hub in the Arabian Peninsula due to the abundance of its natural resources, including wells and impenetrable fortifications.
Asharq Al-Awsat toured its most prominent castles and forts, which have witnessed many important events throughout history since its establishment by the Amalekites, an Arab tribe that has died out.
The name Khaybar was mentioned in the book of the Assyrians as one of the areas captured by the Babylonian King Nabonidus, and he ruled over it between 555 and 538 BC. Some evidence and archeological findings indicate that humans have inhabited the area since the Stone Age.
According to Saifi al-Shalali, who does research on Khaybar's history, the city was known as Hijaz’s periphery in the past. Indeed, Said bin Muhammad bin Ahmed al-Afghani, author of the book “Arab Markets in Jahiliyya,” says it was the financial center of the Arabian Peninsula. Its economic importance stemmed from the expansion of its agricultural land and its abundance of water. It was a fertile ground for thousands of palm plantations.
Khaybar was also famous for its famous market (Nattah Khaybar Market), classified as one of the twelve most important Arab markets during the Jahiliyya period (pre-Islamic Arabia). All kinds of goods from all over the Arabian Peninsula were available, including all sorts of weapons, textiles, carpets, animal products such as margarine and honey, household utensils and other items.
The primary commodity, simultaneously a currency and a commodity, was dates. Trade in this market was conducted either with the coins available at the time or through bartering for and with dates.
The market would boom in the summer, date season, when most Arab merchants would meet to exchange their goods for dates.
Shalali says there is reason to believe that humans have inhabited it for tens of thousands of years, like tools made of stone that seem to date back to the Stone Age found by archaeologists.
Khaybar was known by its rugged terrain, and this is what drew the humans who settled there years ago. This is also what encouraged its early inhabitants to build many forts to protect it against invasions. The most prominent of which is the fortress of Al-Qamus, which stands like a ship in a sea of palm trees that surround it from all sides. Other forts in Khaybar are distinguished by their geographical location and strength including Al-Saab Bin Muadh Fort, Al-Qalaa, Quilah, Aby, Al-Nizar, Al-Watih and Al-Salalim.
