On the outskirts of the Haram in Makkah, where the present meets the past, Wadi Al-Asilah stretches as a witness to the journeys of pilgrims and travelers. It was a key station on the Iraqi pilgrimage route, where its waters quenched the travelers, as if each sip nourished the soul before the body. On the rocks of Al-Wajrah, more than sixty inscriptions were carved, containing Quranic verses, prayers, and the names of their long-gone authors. Along the wadi, many wells were dug, of which two remain today, testifying to an enduring civilization. Today, Wadi Al-Asilah continues to tell every visitor the story of travel and faith, where travelers passed by and left their eternal marks.
Al-Asilah is one of the valleys of Makkah, located in the northeast, bordering the Haram from the Al-Ja‘ranah side. It is a fertile valley with fresh water, known in early Islam as (Sha‘b Abdullah ibn Khalid Al-Asid).
This wadi contains over sixty inscriptions, most dating back to the first three centuries of the Hijri calendar, carved on rock faces in the mountains called Al-Wajrah. It also has two remaining wells from four, dating to the Abbasid era (3rd–4th century AH / 9th–10th century CE), located near the route of pilgrim caravans coming from the northeast. Historical sources mention sabils (water dispensers) and a mosque near these wells, maintained by charitable patrons.
The wells of Al-Asilah also supplied Makkah during some water shortages, as residents depended on them when the city’s wells ran low.
Rock inscriptions are distributed across many mountains and valleys around Makkah, along pilgrims’ routes. More than 300 inscriptions have been discovered, mostly dating to the first three Hijri centuries (7th–10th centuries CE).
Wadi Al-Asilah is one of the richest sites for these inscriptions, carved on the mountains of Al-Wajrah, totaling around 60 Islamic inscriptions, mostly from the first three Hijri centuries (7th–10th centuries CE).
They were engraved using shallow cuts and simple deep carvings, without dots or diacritics. The inscriptions contain Quranic verses, prayers, and some include the names of their authors and the dates of their creation.
Discover Makkah’s Key Historical And Spiritual Sites.
The old Hajj road in the northeastern part of Makkah
24 Hours
From one to two hours
Free
Visit the Asilah inscriptions by 4WD due to rough roads. Arrange a guided tour in advance for safe access and detailed insights into the inscriptions.
Carry water and food, wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen, follow marked trails, and steer clear of unstable rocks at the Asilah Carvings.
Visit at sunrise or sunset for best light. Use a macro lens and tripod, and try low and high angles to capture carvings’ details and desert vastness.
Last Updated : 24/06/1447 - 2:34 م Saudi Time
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