Lahej

Lahej or Lahij (Arabic: لحج, romanized: Laḥj), formerly called Al-Hawtah, is a city and an area located between Ta'izz and Aden in Yemen. From the 18th to the 20th century, its rulers were of the Abdali branch of the Al-Sallami tribe who trace their lineage to one of the 10 tribes of Yaffa called Kalad. Lahij was the capital city of the Sultanate of Lahej, a protectorate of the British Empire until 1967, when the sultan was expelled and the city became a part of People's Republic of South Yemen. When Yemen Arab Republic and South Yemen merged on 22 May 1990, Lahij became part of the Republic of Yemen. It is located in the delta of the Wadi Tuban on the main trade route connecting Aden with Ta'izz, Ibb, and Sanaa. Al-Hawtah is known for the shrine of al-Salih Muzahim Ja'far, which attracts pilgrims from throughout Yemen during the month of Rajab. It is known as "al-Hawtah al-Ja'fariyyah" in his honor.