Ali bin Yahya Al-Shahri displays a gun used by King Abdul Aziz (above). His museum is full of arms of historical importance, including a sword used by Ali bin Abi Talib, coins, artifacts and documents.

Bin Yahya Museum for Heritage in the Al-Nammas governorate is one of the most distinguished museums in the north of Asir in terms of variety and the maintenance of national heritage and identity. Local media met with owner Ali bin Yahya Al-Shahri who revealed that he has been practicing this profession for 40 years.

Al-Shahri said that he has worked in the development of his museum tirelessly, and has collected many heritage pieces that are of great historical value. For example, the museum has an old rifle which was used by King Abdul Aziz, which has his picture and date of manufacture printed on it.

The museum also includes the sword of the Prophet’s companion Ali bin Abi Talib, which is called ‘Al-Faqqar Sword’, which has verses from the poetry of Al-Mutanabbi inscribed on it. The exhibits of the museum vary between rifles, swords, and even some household utensils, the values of which vary between SR5,000 and SR100,000.

He added that the museum includes advanced equipment related to maintaining and cleaning traditional rifles which are now used in public and private occasions such as Al-Fatail and Al-Mamqm’a.

The museum also has a number of important documents with historical value, as well as ornaments and rare currencies including the Abassi, Umayyad, Byzantine and Towallah currencies that were used in the north of the Kingdom before the Saudi rule.

Al-Shahri said that the museum has approximately 18,000 pieces in total, adding that he previously presented a number of private gifts to major personalities.

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