Ismaili leader passes away in Jeddah

By: Abdulali

NAJRAN, Saudi Arabia: An Ismaili grand religious scholar Sheikh Muhammad bin Ali Al-Gamali has died in Saudi city of Jeddah on December 6, Shaval 23 after a long illness.

Sheikh Al-Gamali, in his 70s, was one of the deputies of Ismaili Religious Authority in Najran, Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Hussein ben Ismail Al-Makrami. He was known with the title ‘Al-Mansob’. This title is specified for high rank deputies of Religious Authority in Ismaili sect.

It is worth noting that local Saudi media, as usual, ignored to give coverage to the death news of Sheikh Al-Gamali.

Najran region occupies the southern part of the Kingdom which is mostly covered by sand. The capital of the region is Najran which is divided into several districts such as Sharora, Habbona, Badr Al-Janub and Yedma. Ptolemy mentioned Najran with the name Nakra Metropolis or the city of Nakra. Similarly many Muslim historians like Al-Tabary and Al-Masudi, mentioned it with the same name. It was also called Al-Ukhdood.

Najran region is famous for its castles, palaces and ancient watch towers built in a unique local style such as the palace of old Governorate or the Al-Aan palace, Jabal As-Sabat palace and the Al-Hasha watch tower. Worth mentioning are several archaeological sites attributed to the South Arabian Civilization for example the sites of Shoaib, Ad-Duraib, Kabat Najran, and the famous ruins of Al-Ukhdoud.

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