Ilīsharaḥ Yaḥḍub (c. 60 – 130 CE) was a king of
Saba' reigned in 120 – 130 CE.
At the very beginning of the second century CE, the territory of Sabaʾ was under the control of the
Ḥimyarite king ʿAmdān Bayyin Yuhaqbiḍ (c.100–120 CE). In the meantime, Ilīsharaḥ Yaḥḍub prince (qayl) of the tribe of dhū-Shibāmum, fraction of
Bakil (CIH 140),[1][2] rose up against the kingdoms of
Qatabān, Ḥimyar,
Ḥaḍramawt, and the principality of
Radmān and claimed the title of “King of Sabaʾ and dhū-Raydān”.[3] He ruled over a newly independent Sabaean kingdom, with the support of families belonging to the old Sabaean aristocracy of Maʾrib (Ir 3, RES 4150)[4] and tribes from the western highlands: Dhamarī (Ja 568),[5] Maʾdhinum (Fa 94 + 95, Gar Ḍulaʿ 1),
[6][7] Ḥāshidum (Gr 184),[8] dhū-Hagarum (Ja 413).[9]
In the Arabian folklore
Ilīsharaḥ Yaḥḍub, also known as Shurahil al-Hudhad ibn Dhi Jadan[10][11] in the Arabian legendary tales, is believed to be the father of the
Queen of Sheba. He is described as being a noble king whom refused to enter into a marriage with local women; subsequently he then married and impregnated a woman from the
Jinn named Rayhana who gives birth to his daughter.[12]