The name Yemen comes from the Arabic yumn, meaning good fortune; it reflects its status as the most privileged part of the Arabian peninsula. Geographically, it differs from the rest of the peninsula; it is characterized not by sprawling deserts, but by soaring mountains and lush greenery; deserts comprise thin borders between the land and the sea.
Yemen is made up of six main regions: Upper Yemen (also called “Arabia Felix,” or the lush and beautiful aspects of Arabia), Lower Yemen, the Western Mountains(where coffee was discovered), Tihama, al-Mashriq, and Hadramawt.
The rocky and mountainous Hadramawt possesses no agricultural capacity nor have its mountains revealed any minerals upon which to establish an economy. However, Hadramawt is the location of the legendary kingdoms of Himyar and Kinda. Also, the Ahqaf, mentioned in the Qur’an, refer to Hadramawt, and some also consider it the home of the celebrated Malikat Saba’ (the Queen of Sheba), who is also mentioned in the Qur’an.
Purchase: Seasons Vol. 4, No. 1 | Autumn 2007
