Rare 1,400-Year-Old Inscription Mentioning Caliph Umar Discovered in Saudi Arabia
Madinah: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has announced the discovery of a rare and historically significant stone inscription bearing the name of the second Caliph of Islam, Umar ibn al-Khattab, in the Al-Mahd Governorate of Madinah.
According to Arab media reports, the inscription is considered an important archaeological find from the early Islamic period. The text carved on the stone reads: “Allah is the supporter of Umar ibn al-Khattab in this world and the Hereafter.”
اكتشافات المهد الأثرية تفتح نافذة على التاريخ الإسلامي، حيث يوثق كل نقش ورسمة صخرية إرث المنطقة ويعزز صون تراثها للأجيال القادمة.#هيئة_التراث pic.twitter.com/9jyAXAztgb
— هيئة التراث (@MOCHeritage) June 9, 2026
Saudi authorities described the inscription as a valuable piece of evidence linked to early Islamic history, noting that it carries deep religious and historical significance associated with one of Islam’s most revered companions and leaders.
The Heritage Commission said the inscription is written in the ancient Hijazi script, one of the earliest forms of Arabic writing used during the formative years of Islamic civilization.
Every stone in Al-Mahd bears a memory, and every inscription preserves a story from a history that stretches back to the earliest days of the Islamic state.
Today, we unveil the secrets of our past and pass them on to future generations.#SaudiHeritageCommission pic.twitter.com/knAMVaC0nG
— هيئة التراث (@MOCHeritage) June 9, 2026
Experts are currently conducting a detailed scientific and historical examination of the artifact to determine its exact age, background, and the period in which it was inscribed.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the commission said that archaeological surveys carried out during the first and second seasons in Al-Mahd Governorate had led to the discovery of historical sites that reflect the civilizations that once passed through the region.
Archaeologists and researchers believe the discovery will contribute significantly to documenting the historical and religious legacy of Umar ibn al-Khattab and provide further insight into the early Islamic era.
