Al Wahadinah
# Al Wahadinah

Al Wahadinah (الوهادنه), Khirbet Mar Elias or Khirbet al Wahadneh is a village in the Ajloun Governorate, Jordan. Along with Al Hashimiyya and Halawah, it makes up the Ash Shefa Municipality. It has a large Christian population and contains both a Catholic and an Eastern Orthodox church.

The village is on a slight hill overlooking the windswept olive groves of Ajloun, in the valley of the Yarmuk River and is an important site in early Christianity. It is also the home town of Elijah. The village also boasts Tel Mar Elias, one of the largest Byzantine churches in Jordan and an ancient site of pilgrimage, worship and interfaith coexistence.

## History

### Ottoman era

In 1596, during the Ottoman Empire, it was noted in the census under the name of Harba, located in the nahiya of Ajloun in the liwa of Ajloun. It had a population of 32 households and 3 bachelors; all Muslim. They paid a fixed tax-rate of 25% on various agricultural products, including wheat, barley, olive trees/vineyards/fruit trees, goats and beehives, in addition to occasional revenues; a total of 20,000 akçe.

### Modern era

The Jordanian census of 1961 found 1,096 inhabitants in Kh. Wahadina, of whom 350 were Christians.

