Chiyah (Southern Suburb ''Dahieh'')

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Chiyah is located in the southwest suburbs of the capital Beirut, bordered by Haret Hreik, Ghobeiry, Hadath, Hazmiyeh, Furn-el-chebbak and Ain El Remmaneh. However, before 1956, it used to cover a larger area that included the current districts of Karm el Zeitoun, Hayy el Knissé, Bir Abed and Haret el Mjadlé, as well as Jnah, Ghobeiry, Furn-el-chebbak, Bir Hassan and Ain El Remanneh.
The meaning of its name is vague, and many suppositions were found, with one saying that it means the processing of metal (Shewah). Another theory is the Arabic origin of the name means a kind of tree that is used for silk production (a flourishing industry in this former village). The city was once covered with citrus orchards and extending to the Mediterranean Sea. Today, it is a full part of the demographically huge Beirut outskirts totalling around 60,000 inhabitants. Historically, Chiyah was a predominately Christian town, but it became partly inhabited by Shia Muslims. The major surnames or families in Chyah are Rahme, Nasr, Srouji, Maarouf, Kassem, Kanj, Farraj, Sous, and El-Khatib.