Al-Kharj
Al-Kharj is a meeting point of important valleys of Ariz Al-Yamama. There is a big garden in Najd that is known as Garden of Sabha (Wadi al-Sahba) as well as there are vast agricultural oases in the region. Al-Kharj is a basket of foodstuff since ancient times. It lies southeast of Riyadh, the national capital, at a distance of "60" kilometer surrounded by mountain of Bilal ( Asnan-e-Balalah and Umme Shual in North, Al-Bayaz and Hareesan in South, Ariz Al-Yamama (Taweeq) in West and sand of Dahna (Remal-u-ddahna) in East at the end of Rawza-al-Tawazzuhiya on the stretch of Wadi al-Sahba. Its total range is 150 k m from East to West and 130 k m from North to South.
Designation
According to linguistic definition, Al-Kharj is the name of a valley that has no exit and it is proved to be true for province as the valleys that are located in it head to east in the Garden of Sabha (Wadi al-Sahba) which is separated by sand of Dahna (Remal-u-ddahna. Another meaning of Al-Kharj is Al-Gallah which is taken out of soil. Allah Almighty Says in the Holy Quran: "أم تسألهم خرجاً فخراج ربك خير" (Or is it that you (o Muhammad) ask them for some wages, but the recompense of your Lord is better".) And Khiraj is applicable to Kharj. However, it has been an agricultural area since ancient times; Al-Kharj has been name of this territory since the days of Jadees.
This province has been called Jaww- Al-Yamamah and Jaww- Al-Kharj both but the latte became famous. The population of Al-Kharj is estimated around 40000 people. Al-Kharj is made up of a number of separate small towns. The largest town is " Al-Seeh". Other towns are as below mentioned:
1-Al-Dalem 2- Najan 3- Al-Yamamah 4- Al-Salmiyah 5- Al-Hayathim 6- Al-zabiah 7- Al-hazm 8- Al-ain 9- Mawan 10- Al-nasifa 11- Al-Rafia 12- Al-Badiah 13- Al-barrah 14- Al-rafayeh 15- Al-bad al-qadeem 16- Al-bad al-jadeed 17- Maqboolah 18- Al-waseeti 19- Al-shukrah 20- Sumaih
Importance of Al-Kharj (In old days and modern era)
Archaeological research conducted in Al-Kharj with the aim to find out human settlement in the region, found many things that indicate that human had lived in the region since ancient times as remnants of human settlement, which have been found in various places of the province, date back to the fifth millennium BC as the region was fertile where tribes of Tasm and Jadis had roamed, their civilization prevailed in the region and then collapsed and replaced by Al-Hanfiyoon who came to the region and settled there and then came Al-Hanfiyoon from Najd family and settled there, the region was called Jaw-al-Khazarim (Al-Khazramah).
In the first battle after conquering Riyadh King Abdulaziz fought Ibn-e- Rushaid in Al-Kharj under the wall of Al-Dalam. The battle ended in the victory of King Abdulaziz and Ibn-e- Rushaid fled Al-Kharj declaring his defeat. When Islam began to extend its wing, the companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace and mercy of Allah be upon him) went to the cities of Persian as well as Roman empires carrying the light of Islam, so they came to this city also as Jaww- Al-Khadharim and its surrounding cities were under the leadership of Hawza Bin Ali Al-Suhaimi Al-Hanfi who was residing in Jaww- Al-Khadharim (old name) and Jaww- Al-Kharj (new name). Prophet Muhammad (peace and mercy of Allah be upon him) sent a delegation to him as he sent to kings and leaders and wrote to him as he wrote to Caesar and Kisra. When Hawza Bin Ali died, Sumamah Bin Asaal Al-Hanfi took over rein and latter converted to Islam (The story of his conversion to Islam is well-known). Quresh disapproved his conversion. Sumama stopped the supply that was going to Quresh from Al-Kharj, so the Quresh wrote to Prophet Muhammad (peace and mercy of Allah be upon him) requesting his mediation in this respect. So Sumamah accepted their demands after Prophet Muhammad (peace and mercy of Allah be upon him) has ordered him to do so. In the time of Abu Bakr Al-siddeeque's caliphate (May Allah be pleased with him) some people of Banu Hanifa had apostatized under leadership of Musailma Al-kazzab, but latter they had been crushed by the armies of Allah. At that time, these territories were under the rule of Sulait Bin Qais Al-Ansari (one of the Banu Najjar clan) who was among those who fought Battle of Badr, and then when a delegation of Banu Hanifa including Mujaah Bin Murarah Al-Hanfi visited Abu Bakr Al-siddique (May Allah be pleased with him), he granted Mujaah Bin Murarah Al-Hanfi Al-Hazrama (Al-Kharj) and when Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) took over Khilafah, Mujaah Bin Murarah came to him as chief of his tribe, and Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) granted him a spring called Al-zaba.
Muawiya (May Allah be pleased with him) felt agricultural importance of this territory, so he sent thousands of farmers from Sham to Al-Kharj with the aim to take care its agricultural oases and reclamation of land. After that, Abdulmalik Bin Marwan sent Aal-e-Abi hafsa to al-kharj to be settled there and take care of its agriculture oases.
During 253-467 H periods Al-akheezaryoon ruled over Al-Kharj and made Al-Khazram their base. And in 1157 H Imam Mohammed bin Saud bin Muqrin, and Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab made an agreement to help Islam by forming a state based on Islam and Quran. Al-Kharj had joined first Saudi state in the era of Imam Abdulaziz Bin Muhammad Bin Saud in 1190 H and in 1240 H it was under the rule of Imam Turkey Bin Abdullah in second Saudi state.
In 1253 H Al-Kharj base (Al-Dalam) was the capital of second Saudi state as Imam Faisal Bin Turkey stayed there for some time and sent his delegations to different cities and countries, due to which hostile forces felt that this territory, which Imam Faisal Bin Turkey made a base for all of his battles, is imposing threat to its security, so they sent their troops to this territory. Despite long distance and difficulties of journey, the armies reached Al-Kharj and seiged Al-Dalam. Between 1307 – 1309 H Abd-ur-Rahman Bin Faisal was recognized as Imam, so the people of Al-Kharj rushed to him congratulating and pledging allegiance to him, and when King Abdulaziz conquered Riyadh in Shawwal in 1319 H, the people of Al-Kharj visited him and pledged allegiance to him.
In 1320 H in the month of Rabiulawwal, Ibne Rasheed came to Al-Kharj to fight with King Abdulaziz, and the first battle occurred between King Abdulaziz and Ibne Rashid in Al-Dalam. King Abdulaziz defeated Ibne Rashid in this battle which proved to be beginning of victories of King Abdulaziz and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia became united at his hand (May Allah bless his soul).