Background to Tarim
In a hadith related in Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) pointed towards Yemen and said: “Faith is there.”
Also related in another hadith the Prophet (sallahu alayhi wasalllam) said: “Faith is Yemeni, and (Religious) Understanding is Yemeni and Wisdom is Yemeni.”
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr as-Siddique (RA) made three duas for Tarim: “Allah makes plentiful its water, and makes it prosperous/cultivated till the Day of Judgment, and may the pious people blossom in its lands as plants/harvesting blossom/grow from water”.
Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him) reported the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as saying: “O Allah, bless us in our Syria; O Allah, bless us in our Yemen“. Those present said: “And in our Najd, O Messenger of Allah!” But he said, “O Allah, bless us in our Syria; O Allah, bless us in our Yemen“. Those present said, “And in our Najd, O Messenger of Allah!”
Ibn Umar said that he thought that he said on the third occasion: “Earthquakes and Fitnah are there, and there shall arise the horn of ash-Shaytaan“. [Sahih al-Bukhari].
About Tarim
Tarim (تريم) is a historic town situated in the Hadhramaut Valley of South Yemen South Arabia. Tarim is widely acknowledged as the theological, juridical, and academic center of the Hadhramaut Valley.
An important locus of Islamic learning, it is estimated to contain the highest concentration of descendants of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) (sayyids) anywhere in the world.
The city is distinguished for producing numerous Islamic scholars, including Imam al-Haddad. Additionally, Tarim is also home to Dar al-Mustafa and Dar Al-Zahra, well-known educational institutes for the study of traditional Islamic Sciences, for both men and women.
Culture
Hadhramaut is considered the most religious part of Yemen; Tarim boasts a number of mosques, many of which were built by the pious predecessors of the land. It is a province in which the mixture of tribal and Islamic traditions determines the social life of its inhabitants.
The Sayyid aristocracy, descended from the Prophet Muhammad (sallahu alayhi wasalllam), is still to this very day traditionally educated and strict in Islamic observance, and are highly respected in both religious and secular affairs.
Climate
Hadhramaut is generally hot and dry. The average annual temperature is about 80°F (26.7°C), although during the summer high temperatures can exceed 100°F (37.8°C). During the winter, the average temperature occasionally falls below 70°F (21.1°C). The average rainfall is approximately 2.9 inches (73 millimeters) per year. A few times throughout the year, however, Hadhramaut experiences heavy rainfall resulting in significant flooding.
Travel
The closest airport to Tarim is located approximately 19 miles (30 kilometers) away, in the city of Seiyun. The only international flights directly to Seiyun originate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Recently flights now arrive from Sharjah.
Otherwise, travelers can fly to the capital city of Sana’a. Then one can either take another flight from Sana’a to Seiyun, or travel by bus or car to Tarim from Sana’a. The distance from Sana’a to Tarim is approximately 335 miles (540 kilometers) and driving time ranges from six to eight hours.