Heritage Commission documents Islamic inscription from 1st Hijri century on Darb Zubayda

RIYADH — The Saudi Heritage Commission has documented an early Islamic inscription at the site of Dhali’ al-Nis, south of the Samira governorate in the Hail region.Dating back to the first century AH, the inscription is located on one of the routes of the Kufan Hajj route, the Darb Zubayda (Zubayda Trail). The discovery was made during the commission’s ongoing efforts to preserve archaeological sites and highlight the rich cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia. The inscription is situated on the summit of a small mountain south of Samira, within one of the historical stations associated with the Kufan Hajj route. This reflects the site’s importance as a crossing point for pilgrims throughout history and provides evidence of the geographical extent of ancient pilgrimage routes. The inscription contains a supplication for forgiveness for a person named Ibrahim ibn Ziyad, along with a quotation from the end of a verse from Surah Al-Baqarah, clearly indicating the faith-based nature of early Islamic inscriptions and the spiritual and humanitarian messages they conveyed. The text is inscribed on a flat granite rock interspersed with quartz veins, reflecting the geological formation of the site and the use of available materials at the time to document these artifacts. This discovery was part of the Heritage Commission’s efforts to inventory and document archaeological sites in various regions of the Kingdom. The commission is working to protect them and enhance their cultural presence as a living record reflecting human history and its paths through the ages.