Greetings and peace to my esteemed cousins. I am from Lebanon. I was born in the resilient city of Beirut and grew up in the alleys and neighborhoods of the Tariq al-Jadida area. During my work in sports journalism, I met a relative in Al-Watan Al-Riyadi magazine who shared with me the following story:

Our family originates from the Maghreb, and its men were known as formidable warriors of the desert. They served as rulers and kings of North Africa, known as the Al-Murabitun. Today, Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya still rely on these men for personal protection because of their loyalty and dedication, and they are often kept close to benefit from their counsel and opinions.

At one point, a serious dispute arose between two brothers of the Al-Dalati family, which led to bloodshed. To prevent further vendetta, the governor ordered one of them and his family to leave the region, directing them toward the fortresses that Muslims defended against the Franks and their fleets. They gradually settled along the shores of the Mediterranean, passing through Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey.

Today, the family is spread even farther afield, following the expansion of civilization.

Mohammed Mahmoud Al-Dalati
2009-08-23