10

Ya'uq

The Khaywin[1] adopted Ya'uq[2] as their god. It was placed in a village of theirs called Khaywan[3], at a distance of two nights' journey towards Mecca. I have not heard of the Hamdan[4], or of any other tribe among the Arabs, naming any of their members after Ya'uq [i.e. calling any individual 'Abd-Ya'uq]. Nor have I ever heard of any mention of Ya'uq in their poetry. I think this is because they were situated close to San'a[5], and consequently mixed with the Himyar[6] and embraced Judaism with them at the same time when dhu-Nuwas[7] accepted the religion of Israel and converted his followers to it.

 
 

FOOTNOTES

1. Ishtiqaq, p.252.

2. Wellhausen, pp.22-24.

3. Buldan, Vol.II, p. 512.

4. Ishtiqaq, p.250.

5. Al-Hamdani, Sifat Jazirat al-'Arab, ed. D. H. Muller, Leyden, 1884-1891, p.55.

6. Ishtiqaq, p.217.

7. Tabari, vol. i, pp. 918ff.; Hamzah ibn-al-Hasan al-Isfahini Ta'rikh Sini Muluk al-Ard.w-al-Anbiya', ed. I. M. E. Gottwaldt, Leipzig, 1884, pp.133-134.