Mount al-Tubad

Mount al-Tubad is a mountain located in the center of al-Ghayl town, north of Wadi al-Ghayl in al-Aflaj Governorate, Riyadh Province, in the center of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The mountain is historically linked to the tragic love story of the poet Qays Bin al-Mulawwah and his cousin Layla, making it a symbol of their legendary romance.

Mount al-Tubad is mentioned in the poetry of Qays Bin al-Mulawwah (Majnun Layla), as in the following verses:

Wa-Ajhasht lil-Tubad Hin Ra'aytuh (I wept for Mount al-Tubad when I saw it),

Wa-Kabbar lil-Rahman Hin Ra'ani (And it glorified the Most Merciful upon seeing me).

Wa-Athraft Dame' al-Ayn Lama Ariftuh (My eyes shed tears when I recognized it),

Wa-Nada Bi-A'la Sawtih Fa-Da'ani (And it called out to me in a loud voice, summoning me).

Fa-Qult Lah Ayn al-Lathin 'Ahidtuhum (I asked it: Where are those I once knew),

Hawalayk Fi Khasb wa-Tayb Zaman (Around you in times of prosperity and bliss)?

Fa-Qal Madu wa-Istawda'uni Biladihum (It replied: They have gone, entrusting me with their land),

Wa-Man Tha al-Lathi Yabka Min al-Hadthan (For who can withstand the trials of time)?

Wa-Ini La-Abki al-Yawm Min Hathri Ghadan (And I weep today out of fear for tomorrow),

Furakuk wal-Hayan Mo'talfan (For our parting when we are still together).

There is a cave in Mount al-Tubad, believed to have been frequented by Qays Bin al-Mulawwah, known as "Qays and Layla’s Cave." Near the mountain, there is also a valley with remnants of ruins, ancient graves, and lush palm groves and fields. Qays also mentioned al-Ghayl village in several of his poems, including a verse addressing Layla, whom he affectionately called "Umm Malik":

Anti Layla bil-Ghayl Ya Umm Malik (You are Layla of al-Ghayl, O Umm Malik),

Lakom Ghayr Hub Sadiq Laysa Yakthib (For you, there is nothing but true love that never lies).

He also said:

Ka'an Lam Yakon bil-Ghayl aw Batn Aykah (As if there had never been in al-Ghayl or the valley of the grove),

Aw al-Jiz' Min Tul al-Asha'ah Hadira (Or the riverbed of Tawil al-Asha’ah ever present).

References to Mount al-Tubad are not limited to classical poetry, as it has also appeared in the works of modern poets. Among them is Ahmed Shawqi, known as the "Prince of Poets," who composed a poem in the voice of Qays Bin al-Mulawwah, later performed as a song by Mohammed Abdel Wahab. The poem includes the following verses:

Jabal al-Tubad Hayaka al-Haya (Mount al-Tubad, may the rain bless you),

Wa-Saka Allah Sibana wa-Ra'a (And may God water our youthful pastures).

Fika Naghina al-Hawa fi Mahdih (There, we murmured love in its cradle),

Wa-Rada'nah fa-Kunt al-Murdi'ah (And we nursed it, as you were the nurturer).

Wa-Hadawna al-Shams fi Maghribiha (We followed the sun as it set in the west),

Wa-Bakarna fa-Sabaqna al-Matla'a (And at dawn, we rose before its rise).

Wa-Ala Sufhiha 'Ishna Zamanan (On its slopes, we lived for a time),

Wa-Ra'ayna Ghanam al-Ahl Ma'an (And together, we herded our family's sheep).