Atiq al-Biladi
- Died
- 1431 AH
- Born in
- -
Atiq al-Biladi (1352–1431 AH / 1934–2010 CE) was a Saudi historian, genealogist, and geographer based in Mecca, best known for his ten-volume geographical gazetteer Mu'jam Ma'alim al-Hijaz (Dictionary of the Landmarks of the Hijaz).
Early Life and Military Career
He was born Atiq ibn Ghayth ibn Zuwayr ibn Zayir ibn Hammud ibn Atiyyah ibn Salih al-Biladi, belonging to the Biladiyya branch of the Harb tribe. His birth took place on 3 Shawwal 1352 AH (stated in one report as corresponding to 1932 CE) at a desert location known as Misr (or Maysar) at the foot of Mount Abyad near Khulays, north of Mecca. He spent his youth in the desert tending sheep and camels under the tutelage of his father, who was a local poet and genealogist. Following his father's death in 1364 AH, al-Biladi relocated to Mecca, where he enrolled in al-Madrasa al-Sa'diyya and attended scholarly circles at al-Masjid al-Haram, studying under teachers such as Abd al-Muhaymin Abu al-Samh.
He later enlisted in the Saudi Army and was stationed in Ta'if, graduating from the Infantry School in 1376 AH. During his service, he was deployed with the Saudi military brigade sent to Jordan amid the Suez Crisis. While in Jordan, he earned a diploma in journalism, reportedly becoming the first Saudi national to do so. He attained the rank of lieutenant colonel before retiring at his own request on 1 Dhu al-Qi'da 1397 AH to dedicate himself entirely to research and intellectual pursuits.
Field Research and Publishing
Al-Biladi established Dar Makkah for Publishing and Distribution in the Sahat Islam district of Mecca in 1399 AH (another report dates its foundation to 1397 AH) to publish his own research alongside historical texts. His scholarly method was grounded in extensive field expeditions, traveling by automobile through remote deserts, valleys, and settlements across the Hijaz, Yemen, and neighboring regions to survey topography and record local tribal traditions firsthand. Among his prominent compilations were Mu'jam Qaba'il al-Hijaz (Dictionary of the Tribes of the Hijaz) and Mu'jam al-Ma'alim al-Jughrafiyya fi al-Sira al-Nabawiyya (Dictionary of Geographical Landmarks in the Prophetic Biography). He also contributed hundreds of articles to cultural and scholarly periodicals, including al-Manhal and al-Arab.
Standing and Honors
He was affiliated as a member with the literary and cultural clubs of Mecca, Jeddah, and Ta'if. Over his career, he was awarded an honorary doctorate, recognized by the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information, and honored at the cultural salon of Abd al-Maqsud Khojah. Contemporary scholars regarded him as a prominent figure among the pioneer generation of Saudi topographers and local historians.
Death
Al-Biladi died in Mecca on the afternoon of Monday, 1 Rabi' al-Awwal 1431 AH (February 2010 CE), at the age of approximately eighty, following an illness. His funeral prayer was performed at al-Masjid al-Haram at dawn the following day, and he was buried in the cemetery of al-Ma'la in Mecca.
Answer updated
List of Works
Maalim Makka al-Tarikhiyya wa al-Athariyya (The Historical and Archaeological Landmarks of Mecca) is a concise geographical gazetteer of Mecca and its surrounding areas. Organized alphabetically as a dictionary of toponyms and historical sites, the work details topographical landmarks, pre-Islamic locations, and historical mosques, providing vocalizations, classical literary citations, and contemporary distances from Mecca in kilometers.
Mujam al-Maalim al-Jughrafiya fi al-Sira al-Nabawiya (Dictionary of Geographical Landmarks in the Prophetic Biography) is a single-volume geographical dictionary that identifies and maps the places mentioned in accounts of the life of the Prophet Muhammad. Arranged alphabetically, it serves as a companion manual that details the historical context, modern condition, and contemporary location of sites referenced in biographical reports.