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The historical district of Al-Yamamah at its greatest extent, as described by Yaqut (13th century) and Al-Hamadani (10th century), along with some of the region's prominent settlements in pre-Islamic and early Islamic times.

al-Yamama (Arabic: اليمامة‎, lit. "dove") is an ancient district covering the eastern section of the plateau of Nejd in modern-day Saudi Arabia, or sometimes more specifically, the now-extinct ancient village of Jaww Al-Yamamah, near Al-Kharj, after which the rest of the region was named. Only a handful of centralized states ever arose in Yamamah, but it figured prominently in early Islamic history due to it becoming a central theater in the Ridda Wars immediately following Muhammad's death. The name gradually gave way in recent centuries to the alternative, though equally ancient, term "Nejd", which encompasses a larger area. However, the term "Al-Yamamah" still lives on as a nostalgic historical term that is invoked to emphasize the region's ties with its ancient past. The current headquarters of the Saudi government in Riyadh, for example, is known as the Palace of Yamamah.

Yamama was also a legendary female character belonging to the Arabian peninsula. She could foresee and predict the arrival of caravans even from a distance of more than a hundred miles. She was therefore very helpful in forewarning imminent invasions.

[edit] See also

• Sheik Yerbouti
• Najd
• Kindah
• Ridda Wars
• Musaylima
• Banu Ukhaidhir
• Al-Kharj
• Riyadh

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