Abd Al Fattah al Salimat
Sayyid Abd Al Fattah Al Salimat | |
|---|---|
عبد الفتاح السليمات | |
Al Salimat in 1853. | |
| Leader of the Salamati Anti-colonial resistance (de facto) | |
| In office March 4th 1828 – August 19th 1843 | |
| Preceded by | none |
| Succeeded by | none |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Abd Al Fattah Bin Abdallah Al Husseini May 20, 1769 Jadhab, Salimid Caliphate |
| Died | 3 September 1854 (aged 85) TBD |
| Cause of death | Cardiac arrest |
| Citizenship | Salamat |
| Nationality |  Salamati |
| Height | 172 cm (5 ft 8 in) |
| Spouse | Umm Malak (m.1800-1832) |
| Children | Muhammad Al Husseini (1804-1884) Salwa Al Husseini (1806-1880) Maymouna Al Husseini (1808-1877) Maria Al Husseini (1813-1880) |
| Parents |
|
| Occupation | Imam |
| Known for | Opposition against Riamese colonialism |
Abd Al Fattah Al Salimat, born Abd Al Fattah Bin Abdallah Al Husseini (May 20 1769 - September 3 1854) was a Salamati imam and Qur'an professor.
Ancestry and early life
Fifth child of the marriage between Aminah Bint Jamal Al Ghafuni (July 2 1745 - November 12 1806) and Abdallah Al Husseini (April 3 1737 - April 27 1794), he is a sayyid (descendant of the prophet Muhammad) by Hussein Ibn Ali, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad, the title being transmitted to him by his father.
He was born in Jadhab, in eastern Salamat, which was then under the Salimid Caliphate, on May 20 1769. He attended a madrasa (Qur'anic school) until the age of 14, when he became a shepherd to help his parents gain money. Always interested by Islam and his country's history, he travelled to Berkani, now a district of Dar Al Hamma, and studied the religion for years, before applying to become an imam. He became the imam of the Shaykh Nazim Mosque in Berkani in the month of Shawwal 1203 AH (July 1789), which is now the Abd Al Fattah Al Salimat Mosque in Dar Al Hamma.
Resistance and death
Hearing about the invasion of Salamat by the Riamese on March 4 1828, he gathered food and weapons inside the Shaykh Nazim Mosque and called for a nationwide resistance across Salamat in his friday sermon on March 7 1828. His message was propagated across the three kingdoms and Abd Al Fattah fled for the Hani mountains in Mid March with weapons and supplies, and with 500 men, which were joined by 2000 other men that they met on the way to the mountains. Abd Al Fattah then moved from the mountains after the Riamese started encircling Dar Al Hamma by landing in El Ayyubi and Frik, and started moving south towards Al Salimat's position. However, they were too slow, and a battle (Battle of El Shahid, April 2 1828 - April 6 1828) erupted in El Shahid, on the actual site of the airport. Al Salimat emerged victorious, but lost a quarter of his men.
After the fall of Dar Al Hamma on April 11 1828 and the execution of the leader of the Hammadid Kingdom the next day, he heard that a resistance was setting up in the west too, near Ghafun, after the attempted landing in Chaabet Sulayman on April 15. Abd Al Fattah then travelled by foot to Ghafun with 200 men, and arrived at Ghafun with 1000 men, only a few days before the start of the Battle of Ghafun, which would last more than a whole month. The Battle of Ghafun was a Salimat victory, and the news spread in the whole country like a fire, according to one of Abd Al Fattah's biggest friend, Abd Al Basit Magraha. More and more farmers joined the resistance and swore allegiance to Al Salimat.
Al Salimat would regularly change of position and attack Riamese outposts. This was the case in the battle of Sidi Kherridj in early 1831, which would result in a Salimat victory. The Riamese advance was partially stopped in the former Hammadid region due to repeated attacks by Salamati farmers which were engaged in the resistance. The advance in the north was reversed after Abd el Monaim Al Zalzabi started leading his own resistance against the Riamese, while being an important ally of Al Salimat.
But the Battle of Mansujah changed the trend, as the landing was successful for the Riamese, and the Salimat defences were destroyed due to the use of heavy weapons. The city of Mansujah was partially destroyed as a result of the battle. At the same time, the Riamese started using violence on suspicious civilians, after the recommendation of a Riamese governor. These inhumane acts would destroy the reputation of the resistants and more and more tribes would ally with the Riamese and some would change side and betray the resistance, then participating to the downfall of the resistance.
In July 1836, Abd Al Fattah was shot and heavily injured by a Riamese soldier named TBA during the battle of the Chenacha, in between Ghusat and the Khaliwi mountains. Al Salimat was forced to tone down the resistance and to take some rest. TBA would later be rewarded by the Riamese état-major.
In the month of Jumada Al Ula 1259 AH (June 1843), Al Salimat was forced to surrender after the battle of Rabi' Thani, one month earlier, which resulted in a decisive Riamese victory. Al Salimat was then exiled and relocated in TBD, where he would die of a cardiac arrest on September 3 1854 at the age of 85.
Children and descendants
Abd Al Fattah Al Husseini had four children with his wife Umm Malak (June 2 1774 - January 30 1832), being three girls and one boy.
- Mohammed Al Husseini (April 13 1804 - October 10 1884), only son of Abd Al Fattah Al Husseini ;
- Salwa Al Husseini (February 5 1806 - January 24 1880) ;
- Maymouna Al Husseini (May 29 1808 - August 21 1877) ;
- Maria Al Husseini (September 1 1813 - September 13 1880).
All of his children (except Salwa), had descendants, the most notable being :
- Abd al Basit Zayadah (descendant from Mohammed) (March 22 1954 - June 16 2020), singer
- Qasim Al Husseini (descendant from Mohammed) (August 9 1927 - November 5 2002), actor
- Salma Al Hammadi (descendant from Maymouna) (December 31 1948 - September 10 2022), former deputy between 1998 and 2003
- Zubayr Hashim (descendant from Maria) (born January 17 1985), Salamati gaming youtuber
- Ismail Abd Allah (descendant from Maria) (born October 23 2001), Salamati vlogger
- Hashim Al Bayadh (descendant from Maria) (June 24 1914 - July 2 1982), imam
- Samir Al Bayadh (descendant from Maria) (February 17 1920 - November 30 2014), historian
Legacy
Abd Al Fattah remains an important historical figure in Salamat, due to his resistance to the Riamese invasion. His birthday is celebrated by some, although it is not a national holiday. His name was given to numerous streets, squares, parks,buildings and even a satellite :
- Abd Al Fattah Al Salimat Mosque, Dar Al Hamma, Salamat
- Abd Al Fattah Al Salimat Boulevard, Dar Al Hamma, Salamat
- Abd Al Fattah Al Salimat Park, Hani, Salamat
- Abd Al Fattah Al Salimat Street, Hani, Salamat
- Abd Al Fattah Al Salimat Street, Ghafun, Salamat
- Abd Al Fattah Al Salimat Street, Mansujah, Salamat
- Abd Al Fattah Al Salimat Street, Ankur, Salamat
- Abd Al Fattah Al Salimat Street, Asal, Salamat
- Abd Al Fattah Al Salimat Street, Hayyum, Salamat
- Abd Al Fattah Al Salimat Bridge, Douara, Salamat
- Abd Al Fattah Al Salimat Memorial Museum, Dar Al Hamma, Salamat
- Abd Al Fattah Al Salimat Statue, Dar Al Hamma, Salamat
- Abd Al Fattah Al Salimat Square, Dar Al Hamma, Salamat
(To be completed)