Yaqoub Al-Rasheed: Historian of Al-Oqilat and Witness to Their Era

Yaqoub Al-Rasheed

Historian of the Al-Oqilat and Witness to Their Era

By journalist Salah Al-Zamil

Al-Oqilat is the well-known name of a community from Najd with a long, distinguished, and deeply rooted history. Regrettably, that history has still not been written with the detail, precision, breadth, investigation, and comprehensiveness it deserves. The Al-Oqilat left their homes, families, children, towns, and birthplaces in pursuit of lawful earnings and a livelihood—not from a desire for exile, leisure, or luxury travel. Their history is not the story of a single year, but reaches hundreds of years into Najd’s distant past.

Educator, oral historian, historian, and journalist Yaqoub bin Youssef Al-Rasheed He was himself a descendant of the Al-Oqilat. His father and grandfather were Al-Oqilat men from Unaizah who traded in horses, especially his grandfather Abdulaziz, from the early twentieth century until his death.

“Yaqoub was, as they say, a witness to the Al-Oqilat era. It is no exaggeration to call him the historian of the Al-Oqilat: he saw and met many of them and heard a great deal from them. He travelled to Iraq, spent time with the Al-Oqilat there and in the Levant and Egypt, came to know them closely, and related their experiences, stories, positions, and struggles.”

A Remarkable Memory and Deep Analysis

Allah endowed Yaqoub with a remarkable memory that recorded and did not forget. He preserved a great many tapes—more accurately, a diverse “audio library” rich in knowledge about notable figures in the Kingdom, Iraq, and the Levant, as well as the European countries he visited. Researchers and people interested in Al-Oqilat history benefited from his accounts and those of other Al-Oqilat historians. He continually analyzed the historical questions and events he discussed. He was not merely a narrative historian or repository of facts: his reasoned analyses, persuasive interpretations, and calm discussions could be surprising in their depth. He was educated and cultured and spoke and wrote English well.

The Qualities of an Al-Oqilat Man According to Yaqoub Al-Rasheed

When I asked Yaqoub about the qualities of an Al-Oqilat man who travelled through all these countries and lands, he replied:

  • 1. Honesty in Dealings:
    even when telling the truth could cost an Aqili his life and possessions.
  • 2. Loyalty and Chivalry:
    They were loyal to one another and to everyone with whom they dealt. Treachery and betrayal had no place among the Al-Oqilat; loyalty was their creed and guiding principle, practiced in reality rather than merely proclaimed. They dealt faithfully with merchants in Iraq, the Levant, and Egypt and created an honorable impression of the people of Najd.

Yaqoub added: “For several centuries, little was known of the noble character of the people of Najd. But when Al-Oqilat caravans began reaching neighboring countries, trading with their people, settling in their cities for years, and interacting with their communities, those peoples came to know the character, virtues, and admirable qualities of the people of Najd.” He emphasized: “These noble qualities that the Al-Oqilat planted in people’s hearts are a great gain for our beloved homeland. A person’s good name is a second life, and enduring goodness is what remains after him.”.

The Dispute over the Book Najdis Beyond the Borders

It is worth noting that Najdis Beyond the Borders was published several years ago under the name “Abdulaziz Abdulghani,” Ninety percent of this book’s material is based on the accounts of Sheikh and historian Yaqoub Al-Rasheed. Regrettably, the author failed to acknowledge our teacher Yaqoub, who supplied him with the research material and introduced him to Al-Oqilat figures in the Levant and Egypt, providing their addresses. This was a blatant act of ingratitude: Yaqoub was not named, but merely mentioned in passing as “a businessman.”

I asked Sheikh Yaqoub about this, and he replied: “I was surprised when the book appeared bearing that man’s name. I wrote to the publishing house and explained every aspect of the matter and the agreement between us. I also wrote to local publishers and national libraries. They cooperated with me and declined to work with the ungrateful man who had put his name on the book.”