'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. II' [‎1246] (295/688)

MUD—MUD
In ancient times these regions were peopled by the tribe of Thamud, who, according
to Arabian writers was fourth in direct descent from Noah through his son Sham. Tha
Thamudites rejected his teaching and asked from him a sign from God. Their request
wa-, granted and accordiagly the rocks in the Mubrakat-an-Naqah opened and there
issued from them a female camel big with young. Two months later the camel gave
birth to a calf which was watered at the well now seen in the courtyard of the fort at
Madain Salih, and called the Bir-an-Naqah in consequence. But the wicked tribe
still spurned the prophet, and impiously hamstru ig and slew the mother camel. A
terrible vengeance followed ; three days later a great noise shook the heavens and the
Thamudites were found lying on their faces stone dead. The camel-calf fled to the
great table-rock of Al-Huwwarah (q. v.), and there the rocks opened and received the
calf once more. {Doicghfy; Clemow, 1913.)
A locality on the right bank of the Tigris [q. v.) between 'Ali-al-Gharbi and KuraaitJ
There is also a canal of this name which takes out from the Tigris in this tract. Where
it enters the marsh is about 1| hours from the river by mashhuf, but the canal continues
along the western side of the mar-h towards Hai. Width of marsh, two hours' journey
from east to west; depth of canal and marsh more than 6 feet. A helium with a load of
two tughdrs could proceed the whole length of the canal and marsh.
In April, 1916, the Mudailil canal was reconnoitred for 3| miles from its mouth as far as
Shahiyah. Breadth and depth at mouth, 75 and 101 feet respectively. At Shahiyah
breadth is only slightly decreased, depth 8 feet. According to the local Arabs the canal
extends as far as Sadirah in Fahad's territory 24 miles from mouth, where it enters
a marsh which extends to within 14 miles of Hai. Canals off the Shatt-al-Hai do not flow
into the above marsh, and therefore direct water communication between Tigris vid
Mudailil and the Shatt-al-Hai is not possible.
MUDAMMAN—
See Dannan.
MUDAWWARAH (Q al'at-al)—
A station on the Hejaz railway {q. v.) 572 S kilometers from Damascus.
The site of Hallat Ammar, an ancient city, is said by some to be in the desert south of
the old qaVah ; by others, to be at the cragged passage on th e road between Qal'at-al-
Mudawwarah and Dhat-al-Hajj.— {Doughty.)
MUDHAIBI—
A town of about 700 houses in the Baldan-al-Habus division of the Sharqlyah district
of the Sultanate of 'Oman ; it is probably about 4 miles west of Sanau, but its position
with reference to Samad is uncertain. Mudhaibi is the largest place in Sharq yah, except
Ibra, and has a population of 3,500 or more. The inhabitants are Habfis, Hajriym,
Al Wahibah and Hirth. Date palms number about 10,000, and there are 100 camels'
60 donkeys, 70 cattle and 600 sheep and goats. Mudhaibi is said to possess the finest
spring in Sharq'yah.
MUDHAIRIB—
A village in the Baldan-al-Hirth division of Sharqlyah {q. v.), in the 'Oman Sultanate.
MUDHBA'—
A well in Barr-adh-Dhahran {q. v.), in the Hasa district of eastern Arabia.
MUDHNIB (District)—
The name of an independent district of Najd, lying between As Sirr and Qasim. It
consists of a sort of basin some 35 miles long, that is from north to south, and from 20 to
™ 1 J es m $ ** boui } dod on the east by a rll with nafud on top, and on the
west by a well-defind slope down which it receives the drainage from the west. The
. rr (j - ^ the ^ <»• ^