najran was the yemeni centre of cloth making and originally, the "kiswah" or the cloth of the ka'aba was made there (the clothing of the kaba first started by the yemeni kings of saba). there used to be a jewish community at najran, renowned for the garments they manufactured. according to yemenite jewish tradition, the jews of najran traced their origin to the ten tribes. najran was also an important stopping place on the incense route.