Souk Okaz or Soq Okaz (, ), or Al-Ukadh (), is a historical souk at Okaz, between Nakhla and Taif, in the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia. The largest and best known annual fair in pre-Islamic times, today it is a popular tourist destination.
Sà «q ÿUkÃÂẠwas a seasonal market which operated for twenty-one days each year during the month of Dhu al-Qa'dah prior to the annual Hajj pilgrimage. It competed with the fairs of Majanna and Dhu âÂÂl-MajazÃÂ, which were also held near Mecca at the same time of year. It was active from approximately 542âÂÂ726 CE. Strategically located at a central point on the Spice Route through Western Arabia, its growth in the sixth century was partly caused by the Byzantine-Persian wars, which made it harder for Mediterranean markets to access Mesopotamian trade-routes. ÿUkÃÂẠlay in the territory of the HawÃÂzin tribal group, and its functions were managed primarily by the Banu Tamim.
The gathering was facilitated by the sanctity of the sacred months during which it was held and its proximity to the holy plain of ÿArafÃÂt. Although primarily for commerce, the market of ÿUkÃÂẠwas an important center where Arabs would meet to formalize tribal rules, settle disputes, pass judgments, make agreements, announce treaties and truces, hold sporting competitions and races, poetry competitions, and religious gatherings; it has been compared in this respect to the ancient Greek institution of the panegyris. It was especially important for poetry competitions, which served to formalize rules of Arabic language verse, grammar and syntax.
The site and its sacrality was significant in the FijÃÂr War of the late sixth century CE (between the Qays-ÿAylÃÂn, including the HawÃÂzin, on the one hand and the Quraysh and KinÃÂna tribes on the other). The war was precipitated by the murder of ÿUrwa al-RaḥḥÃÂl of the Banà « ÿÃÂmir ibn á¹¢aÿṣaÿa by al-BarrÃÂḠibn Qays al-á¸Âmñë KinÃÂnë while ÿUrwa was escorting a Lakhmid caravan from al-Ḥëra to ÿUkÃÂẠduring the holy season. This was considered sacrilegious by the pagan Arabs, hence the war's name, ḥarb al-fijÃÂr ('the war of sacrilege'). The site of the market gave its name to a battle in the fourth and final year of the war, yawm ÿUkÃÂẠ('the day of ÿUkÃÂáºÂ', also known as yawm Sharab).
The site is prominent in later legends of pre-Islamic Arabian heroes: it allegedly saw preaching visits from the Islamic prophet, Muḥammad and the semi-legendary Christian Quss Ibn Sa'ida al-Iyadi, and is the scene of some stories about Hind bint al-Khuss. Yet the importance of ÿUkÃÂẠdeclined after the rise of Islam, because the increasingly sprawling caliphate facilitated new trade routes, and altered the social roles of Arabian tribes. The market was definitively destroyed by the KhÃÂrijites in 127 AH (725âÂÂ726 CE), who sacked it.
The location of Sà «q ÿUkÃÂẠwas disputed until historian Muhammad bin Abdallah al-Blahad rediscovered it. A major study was published in 1960 by Saÿëd al-AfghÃÂnë.
A modern souq has been recreated at the location of the historic souq. Each year's souq honors a different poet. The souq covers of land. In modern times, as in the past, there are lectures, sporting competitions, poetry, artwork, and items for sale. The souq has 200 shops selling different goods including pottery, silverware, glassware, wall arts and historical manuscripts.