Dhū Samuī (
Musnad: 𐩹𐩪𐩣𐩥𐩺, sometimes 𐩪𐩣𐩺), whose name literally means "He of the Heavenly", was a
pre-Islamic deity that was worshipped in
South Arabia
South Arabia (), or Greater Yemen, is a historical region that consists of the southern region of the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia, mainly centered in what is now the Republic of Yemen, yet it has also historically included Najran, Jazan, ...
. He was a kind of sky deity who resided in the heavens. He was also associated with
camels, especially by the
Bedouins
The Bedouin, Beduin, or Bedu ( ; , singular ) are pastorally nomadic Arab tribes who have historically inhabited the desert regions in the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, the Levant, and Mesopotamia (Iraq). The Bedouin originated in the Sy ...
.
Symbolism
The name Dhū Samāwī means The Heavenly One in the Sabaic language. He was seen as a sky deity. He was also named Malik al-Dhū Samāwī, which meant that he was also regarded as a Lord of the Heavens.
Worship
Dhu Samawi was the great god of the city of
Najran
Najran ( '), is a city in southwestern Saudi Arabia. It is the capital of Najran Province. Today, the city of Najran is one of the fastest-growing cities in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As of the 2022 census, the city population was 381,431, wi ...
during the period of the
Kingdom of Saba
Sheba, or Saba, was an ancient South Arabian kingdoms in pre-Islamic Arabia, South Arabian kingdom that existed in Yemen (region), Yemen from to . Its inhabitants were the Sabaeans, who, as a people, were indissociable from the kingdom itself f ...
. Due to the dominance of Najran in the early caravan trade, the cult of Dhu Samawi went on to spread throughout
Yemen
Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. Located in South Arabia, southern Arabia, it borders Saudi Arabia to Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, the north, Oman to Oman–Yemen border, the northeast, the south-eastern part ...
, from
Baraqish
Barāqish or Barāgish or Aythel () is a town in north-western Yemen, 120 miles to the east of Sanaa in al Jawf Governorate on a high hill. It is located in Wādī Farda(h), a popular caravan route because of the presence of water. It was known ...
in the north, to Sawam in the south. This included the adoption of this god by the
Ma'in Kingdom. Sources mention two shrines dedicated to this god in Najran: the Ragmatum Rock (Ragmatum being another name for Najran), and a ''Kaʾbatān''. The latter may have been converted into the
Kaaba of Najran during the Christian period of the city.
One temple for the worship of Dhu Samawi has been uncovered at the settlement
Haram
''Haram'' (; ) is an Arabic term meaning 'taboo'. This may refer to either something sacred to which access is not allowed to the people who are not in a state of purity or who are not initiated into the sacred knowledge; or, in direct cont ...
, located in
Yemen
Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. Located in South Arabia, southern Arabia, it borders Saudi Arabia to Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, the north, Oman to Oman–Yemen border, the northeast, the south-eastern part ...
.
One inscription from Haram addressed to Dhu Samawi reads:
Hawliyyat, slave of he clan ofSulaym, has confessed and done penance to Dhu Samawi, lord of Bayan, for having worn an unclean cloak and a soiled woollen garment. And she hid from her masters what she had committed. As for Dhu Samawi may he reward her with favour. or her partshe has submitted and humbled herself, and she has made an offering in expiation and paid a fine.
See also
*
List of pre-Islamic Arabian deities
Deities formed a part of the polytheistic religious beliefs in pre-Islamic Arabia, with many of the deities' names known. Up until about the time between the fourth century AD and the emergence of Islam, polytheism was the dominant form of reli ...
References
Sources
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{{Pre-Islamic Arabia
Arabian gods
Arabian deities
Oracular gods
History of South Arabia