Definition: The Al-Oqilat were merchants from Najd, especially Al-Qassim. Most came from Buraidah and its villages and from Unaizah, with others from Al-Rass, Al-Bukairiyah, Al-Shaqqah, Uyun Al-Jiwa, Uthal, Al-Qara‘a, Qusayba, Al-Tarfiyah, Al-Shihiyah, Al-Dulfa‘ah, Al-Shimasiyah, Al-Rubay‘iyah, Al-Asyah, Al-Khabra, Riyadh Al-Khabra, Al-Badai‘, Al-Nabhaniyah, and Al-Mithnab. They did not belong to one tribe or family; they came from different tribes among the settled people of Al-Qassim and were united by the trading profession known as Aqeel. They dealt primarily in camels, as well as horses and general merchandise. They exported camels, horses, sheep, and ghee to the major markets of Kuwait, Iraq, the Levant, Jordan, Palestine, Turkey, Egypt, Sudan, and the Maghreb, and travelled to India. They imported goods unavailable at home, including weapons, coffee, tea, sugar, rice, utensils, and clothing. They practiced this trade for centuries until 1368 AH, when an order ended it because—praise be to Allah—the country had come to possess every kind of merchandise. The origin of the name has been explained in several ways. One account links it to their distinctive wearing of the agal compared with other Najdis. Several poems are cited in support, including these lines by the renowned poet Nimr bin Adwan:
You are neither Qubaysi, to whom we owe a debt *** Nor Al-Oqilat, wearing…
The poet Ali bin Mohammed Al-Humaidah said after the Battle of Wadi Al-Rummah in 1322 AH:
We found none but the men in dark headbands *** On the day the army came with all its clamor
“The men in dark headbands” means the Al-Oqilat, who were distinguished by wearing the agal. [1]
The poet Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Saeed Al-Manfouhi said in his poem “Al-Hamiyyah” (1321 AH). Its subject, purpose, period, and setting resemble Mohammed Al-Ouni’s poem “Al-Khalouj”; both stirred the zeal of the Al-Oqilat in the Levant, Iraq, Egypt, and elsewhere. He said:
Their garments gleamed like marble, with silk draped over them *** Their custom was fine attire, shemaghs, and agals black as crows
The poet Ibrahim Al-Lahim—may Allah protect him—said:
Wearing their agals, their locks flowing *** Honoring the guest and striking fear into their foes
For a detailed account, see the Encyclopedia of the Al-Oqilat.
— An Aqili drove camels from Al-Qassim to the Fertile Crescent for sale in its leading markets when the animals were sourced in Al-Qassim. — An Aqili primarily bought camels, along with horses, sheep, and ghee, throughout the Arabian Peninsula and drove them to Kuwait, Iraq, the Levant, Jordan, Palestine, Turkey, and Egypt for sale in the best markets. — An Aqili also bought camels in East Africa—especially Somalia and Sudan—and drove them to leading markets across the Arab world. — Bedouin and settled communities used the name Aqeel specifically for camel merchants from Al-Qassim, not for other traders. — Each morning, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah, ruler of Kuwait, would ask who had arrived from Najd. When told that the people of Buraidah—the Al-Oqilat—had come, he would say, “Give the camel owners the good news.” Compiled and prepared by Abdullatif Al-Wuhaibi.