Where did Ain Issa get its name?

AHMAD AL-KAMIAN- TURKY AL-KALET / GIRÊ SPÎ

The geographical location of Ain Issa district

Ain Issa district is one of the districts located in the Euphrates region of North Syria, its geographical position is strategically important for its proximity to the international highway because it connects Aleppo city(the first industrial city in Syria and the Middle East) in al-Hasakah canton in north of the country.

Its' Importance

Some sources of the historical books that dealt with the history of the area and the importance of the spring or the so-called (al- Ain) locally, which dates back to the existence of hundreds of years, and this led to the forming of Ain Issa district and make it populated area.

​​Ain Issa is of great importance to the people of the area because of the differences and tribal wars witnessed by the area during the occupation of the Ottoman Empire of the area, in view of the important economic source in the area with the presence of water and agriculture, which made it desired by all the tribes that have lived in the area.

The abundance of spring water in the area and its agricultural wealth made it a place inhabited by the tribes that imposed control over the area during the nineteenth century, which was confined to the Bedouin tents that settled on the banks of spring until the constructional development near the spring at the beginning of 1920.

The spring is located in the center of Ain Issa, which is surrounded by the neighborhoods of the district from all directions, it formed a small lake and extends its waters to Wadi al-Salila in the south part of the district, to make the spring water a river flowing from the valley to the south-east to pour in al-Balikh river

Spring "al-Nabaa" in the poets' description

And the water was characterized by purity and sweetness and abundance and became a place for visitors and hiking and the poets have organized poetry in which they described the spring to indicate the importance of al-Nabaa for the residents of the area.

The abundant water of the spring contributed to the improvement of the living conditions of its inhabitants, where the agricultural lands were harvested with wheat, barley and fruit trees, agriculture flourished until the water gradually began to dry until it dried up at the beginning of the 8th decade of the 20th century.

According to some residents of the area who experienced the period of water between 1960 and 1980, the water of the spring was characterized by heat in winter and cold during the summer, and contained bathing places for men and women.

According to some sources and people in the district, the shrine is not a mausoleum, as the Sheikh, who was named after him, died in al-Buseira village in the eastern suburb of Deir ez-Zor, and was buried there, according to some historical sources and books.

Where did the name 'Ain' Issa come from, and what is the history of the spring and the shrine place?

The residents of the district built the area for the purpose of a well-known man (Sheikh Issa) because they believed that it was one of the dignitaries and to be blessed of him with the intention of visiting the shrine and the like during the period of Ottoman occupation in the area.

According to the stories, the main reason for the construction of the shrine came after the appeal of one of the women to al-Sheikh Issa after some Ottoman soldiers tried to violate her and was able to protect her, which prompted them to build the place next to the garrison which is within walking distance of the spring.

In this regard, ANHA agency met one of the founders of the shrine during the period of time, Obeid Al-Jiam, who said: "Since the presence of my ancestors, we have placed the duty to protect the shrine and do the duty of visitors as it is very important to the majority of the people of the area."

During the Syrian revolution, the armed factions took control of all their names to reach to the terrorist Daesh organization which in turn destroyed the shrine. The site became a place where the waste was accumulated and completely lost.

In June this year, the first restoration of the spring was carried out by the People's Municipality to preserve it as the most important historical and archaeological landmarks of the district.

In this context, the co-chair of People's Municipality Anwar al-Awaid, points out that the restoration work is part of the framework of reconstruction of the legacy of terrorism and war, and we are now working on its restoration and maintenance of subversion or tampering and not making any changes to its features.

H/S

ANHA