The Sulaiman Mountains , also known as Kōh-e Sulaymān ( Balochi : کوهِ سليمان ; "Mountains of Prophet Solomon ") or Da Kasē Ghrūna ( Pashto : د كسې غرونه ; "Mountains of Qaes/Kasi"), are a north–south extension of the southern Hindu Kush mountain system in Pakistan and Afghanistan . They are also known as Aparanchal Range, or Western Mountains (Sanskrit: अपरा; romanised: Aparā; literally: "West"; आंचल; romanised: ānchal; literally: "mountains" or "mountainous region"), as they mark the westernmost boundary of the Indian Subcontinent. They rise to form the eastern edge of the Iranian plateau . They are located in the Kandahar , Zabul and Paktia provinces of Afghanistan, and in Pakistan they extend over the northern part of Balochistan and Waziristan as well as Kurram of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa . In southwestern Punjab , the mountains extend into the two districts of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur , which are located west of the Indus River on the boundary with Balochistan. Bordering the mountains to the east are the plains of the Indus River valley, and to the north are the arid highlands of the Central Hindu Kush whose heights extend up to 3,383 metres (11,099 ft). The total area on which this range spans around 6,475 sq. km (2,500 sq mi). Together with the Kirthar Mountains on the border between Balochistan and Sindh , the Sulaiman Mountains form what is known as the Sulaiman-Kirthar geologic province.
20-726: The most well-known peak of the Sulaimans is the twin-peaked Takht-e-Sulaiman or "Throne of Prophet Solomon " at 3,487 metres (11,440 ft), located near Darazinda in Dera Ismail Khan Subdivision , close to the border with both South Waziristan and the Zhob District of neighboring Balochistan province. The highest peak, however, is Zarghun Ghar at 3,578 metres (11,739 ft) near Quetta , Pakistan. The next highest peak in Balochistan province
40-574: A history compiled by Nimat Allah al-Harawi during the reign of the Mughal emperor Jahangir in the 17th century. Legend has it that Qais was born in the Ghor region of present-day central Afghanistan . Upon hearing about the advent of Islam , his tribe sent him to Medina in the Arabian Peninsula , in present-day Saudi Arabia . He met Muhammad and embraced Islam there, and was given
60-670: A natural barrier against the humid winds that blow from the Indian Ocean , creating arid conditions across southern and central Afghanistan to the west and north. In contrast, the relatively flat and low-lying Indus delta is situated due east and south of the Sulaimans. Rivers that drain the Sulaimans include the Gomal River which flows eastward into the Indus River , and the Dori River and other small tributaries of
80-539: A period of time. . Some Afghan genealogists list Qais Abdur Rashid as the 37th descendant of the Benjamite king Talut (or Saul , reigned c. 1050 BC–1010 BC) through Malak Afghana, a legendary grandson of Talut. According to the Encyclopaedia of Islam , the theory of Pashtun descent from the ancient Israelites is traced to Tārīkh-e Khān Jahānī wa Makhzan-e Afghānī ( تاریخ خان جهانی ومخزن افغانی ),
100-805: Is Khilafat Hill at 3,475 metres (11,401 ft), which is located in the Ziarat District of Pakistan and is famous for the Ziarat Juniper Forest , where Juniperus macropoda trees grow. The eastern edge of the Sulaiman range runs 280 miles (450 km) from the Gomal Pass in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to near the city of Jacobabad in Sindh province, and further stretches into south-west Punjab . In Afghanistan,
120-464: Is capable of producing doublet earthquakes that jump to other faults - such as the 1997 Harnai earthquake in which a magnitude 7.1 earthquake triggered a 6.8 earthquake 19 seconds later on a second fault 50 kilometres away. Areas in the southern part of the range include an Imbricate fan of slices of rocks in close parallel, bounded by faults on either side of each slice. Along the Eastern edge of
140-555: Is said to be, in post-Islamic lore, the legendary founding father of the Pashtuns . It is believed that the conception of such a figure was promoted to bring harmony between religious and ethnic identities post-Arabic influence over the region. Qais Abdur Rashid is said to have traveled to Mecca and Medina in Arabia during the early days of Islam and converted. But contrary to this legend, Islam spread through Afghanistan over
160-481: Is surrounded by olive groves and pine-nut (chalghoza) forests, and hosts wild animals like markhors , wolves, rabbits, eagles and partridges. Royalty from the Gulf Arab states are known to hunt precious birds in the region. This Balochistan location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Qais Abdur Rashid Qais Abdur Rashīd or Qais Abdul Rasheed ( Pashto : قيس عبد الرشيد )
180-553: Is the highest peak in Dera Ismail Khan District and the greater Shirani region. Ibn Battuta named Takht-e-Sulaiman as Kōh-e Sulaymān , "Mount of Solomon". A legend, recorded by the medieval Maghrebi explorer Ibn Battuta , has it that Prophet Solomon climbed this mountain and looked out over the land of Hindustan , which was then "covered with darkness" . After staying on the peak, he turned back without descending into this new frontier, and left only
200-712: The Arghandab River , which flow southwestward into the Helmand River . The Sulaimans were formed as a fold and thrust belt as the Indian Plate collided into Eurasian Plate beginning about 30 million years ago. The Indian Plate's counter-clockwise rotation as it collided with the Eurasian Plate resulted in the Sulaiman's having some of the most complex tectonic structures in the world, including "stacking" of thrust faults. The complex fault-system
220-746: The Sulaimans is the Sulaiman Fold, an area within the Indian Plate consisting of sediment, alongside which runs the Ornach Nal-Ghazaband-Chaman Fault . One of the highest peaks of the Sulaimans, the Takht-i Sulaiman ("Throne of Solomon") at 3,382 metres (11,096 ft) high, was recorded by Ibn Battuta as the Koh-i Sulaiman . In legend, it is associated with Prophet Solomon . According to
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#1732765752475240-451: The folk tale, Qais had four sons: Saṛban ( سړبن ), Bēṭ ( بېټ ), and Gharghax̌t ([غرغښت}{Karlaani (کرلانئ)}. His sons founded four big tribal confederacies named after them: Sarbani , Bettani , and Gharghashti, Karlaani .Wardak Among Pashto Varieties] Error: {{Lang}}: invalid parameter: |url= ( help ) </ref> There are multiple versions of the legend, including several regional variants that mention only one, two, or three of
260-588: The four legendary brothers. One legend has it that when Qais felt his time was near, he asked his sons to take him from Ghor to the Sulaiman Mountains and bury him at the spot where his ancestor Malak Afghana was buried, and he was buried on top of Takht-e-Sulaiman ("Throne of Solomon"), also called Da Kasī Ghar ( د کسي غر , "Mount of Qais"), located near the village of Darazinda in Frontier Region Dera Ismail Khan of
280-552: The legend, Prophet Solomon climbed this mountain and looked out over the land of South Asia , which was then covered with darkness, and so turned back without descending into this new frontier, and left only the mountain which is named after him (as told by Ibn Battuta ). According to another legend, Noah's Ark alighted on the Takht-i Sulaiman after the Deluge . Another legend says that Qais Abdur Rashid , said to be
300-519: The legendary ancestor of the Pashtun nation, is buried atop Takht-e-Sulaiman , and so it is also locally known as Da Kasī Ghar (د کسي غر, "Mount of Qais"). According to this legend, his descendants migrated west, north, and south from here. Some people visit the place and make animal sacrifices, usually a sheep or a goat, at the tomb of Qais to help feed the poor. Trips to the mountain is undertaken mostly in summer, since from late November until March
320-494: The mountain which is named after him. Another legend says that Qais Abdur Rashid , said to be the legendary ancestor of the Pashtun people , is buried on top of Takht-e-Sulaiman, which gives the peak the local Pashto name of Da Kasī Ghar (د کسي غر, "Mountain of Qais"). Syed Muhammad Hamza Gesudaraz I is buried on the top of Takht-e-Sulaiman with his family and descendants. The burial is called “Meeran”. Takht-e-Sulaiman
340-455: The name Abdur Rashīd by Muhammad. He then returned to Ghor and introduced Islam to his tribe. According to Mountstuart Elphinstone , in legend the famous military leader and companion of Muhammad, Khalid ibn al-Walid , introduced Qais to Muhammad. The Afghan historians proceed to relate that the Jewish tribe, both in Ghor and in Arabia , preserved their knowledge of the unity of God and
360-456: The purity of their religious belief, and that on the appearance of the last prophet and messenger, Prophet Muhammad , the Afghans of Ghor listened to the invitation of their Arabian brethren, the chief of whom was Khalid ibn al-Waleed , so famous for his conquest of Syria , and marched to the aid of the true faith, under the command of Kyse, afterwards surnamed "Abdul Rasheed". According to
380-459: The snowfall makes it difficult to climb. Takht-e-Sulaiman Takht-e-Sulaiman ( Pashto : تخت سليمان , Balochi : تخت ء سلیمان; "Throne of Solomon") is a peak of the Sulaiman Mountains , located near the town of Darazinda in the Dera Ismail Khan Subdivision of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , Pakistan . It is close to Dera Ismail Khan Subdivision's borders with both South Waziristan and Zhob , Balochistan . At 3,487 metres (11,440 ft), it
400-689: The western edge of the range starts just beyond the northern Loya Paktia province where they meet the Koh-i-Baba range. South from there, they meet the Spin Ghar range northeast of Gardez in Paktia province , but towards west, the mountain range drops gradually in Kandahar southwest into Helmand and the Sistan Basin . The Sulaiman Range, and the high plateaus to the west of it, helps form
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