[13 March 2004] Zabid was founded in the 9th century AC and was the center of an influential Islamic school and the famed University of Zabid.

Zabid was one of the oldest towns in Yemen and one of the first to convert to Islam during the lifetime of Mohammed (PBUH). It boats several families whole lineage can be traced to the great prophet.

During the Abbasid rule. It became the capital of the Najahya, Zaydiah and Rasulia states in the latter days. Zabid was a famous center of Islam and a major stop for caravans.

In fact, Zabid still is a city renowned for its Islamic schools.The international group, UNESCO, has declared Zabid as a World Heritage site and has funded excavations of the old schools.

Visitors can enter the ruins of the ancient university and inspect the intricate designs formed from the mud bricks. Its historical sites are open to the public and are littered with pot shards and bricks.

The remaining gates to the citaded are still intact and serve as a main entrance to the maze of narrow streets in the city interior.

Archaeological evidence suggests that farming has been ongoing for many millennia. Zabid borders the coffee region of Yemen and a major part of the suq still trades in this crop.

Aside from the suq, life is slow. Most of the two was low key and was a pleasant place to stop, have some coffee and relax in the Zabid Tourist House.

There are many mosques in Zabid. In fact, I was told there was one mosque for every eight houses in the city. This one-time center of Islamic education is still the home to over 80 Koran schools and centers for Islamic studies.


Saba