Saudi Gazette report



RIYADH — Uyayna is an ancient village located about 30 km northwest of Riyadh. Situated inside the narrow, dry river-bed of Wadi Hanifa, Uyayna is part of the Diriya governorate.



In Islamic history, Uyayna has a unique place, according to a report in Al-Madinah daily.



The term Uyayna is a diminutive for water spring. According to geographic sources, there was a spring (Al-Uyayn) in the area and the name Uyayna probably derived from it.



Uyayna is famous for its fertile land, availability of water and several valleys and mountain passes. Because of its favorable geographical features, trade and learning flourished in the area several centuries ago.



Uyayna witnessed the rise and fall of several civilizations. The Banu Hanifa tribe had settled down at Al-Yamama in Uyayna and later the valley was named after the tribe as Wadi Hanifa.



Some inscriptions dating back to 2,000 to 3,000 years were unearthed from Uyayna and they showed that civilization prevailed in the region long ago.



The history of Uyayna is part of the history of Nejd in central Arabia in particular and the Arabian Peninsula in general.



This village witnessed one of the major wars of apostasy (Ridda wars) in Islam during the period of first Caliph Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him). Uyayna was the homeland of the impostor Musaylima, who claimed prophethood after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in 632. He led his tribe, the Banu Hanifa, against the Muslims. The Battle of Yamama, in which the Muslim army led by Khalid Bin Al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) defeated Musaylima took place in Uyayna. A graveyard for the fallen companions of the Prophet in that battle is located in a mountainous area there.



Uyayna was one of the leading learning centers in Nejd before the emergence of the reform movement led by Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahab. According to historical documents, there were more than 80 scholars at mosques in Uyayna and their number exceeded the total number of scholars in the rest of the Nejd region.



Several people and even judges relied on these scholars to enlighten them on religious issues when scholars of Nejd differed in their viewpoints.



Scores of books in almost all branches of Islamic Shariah were available in Uyayna those days. The rulers of Uyayna encouraged this renaissance and patronized it with their full support. This enabled several scholars of Uyayna to travel outside the Arabian Peninsula to countries such as Syria and Egypt in pursuit of higher studies.



Uyayna is the birthplace of Ibn Abdul Wahab, the great Saudi scholar who was born in the Hijra (lunar) year 1115. He belonged to a family of great scholars. His grandfather and father were great scholars.  



At present, this place is known as the Kingdom’s solar village because of a solar plant there. King Abdulaziz Military College is also located in Uyayna.