Talaf (Arabic: طلف) is a village in northwestern Syria, administratively part of the Hama Governorate, located southwest of Hama. Nearby localities include Musa al-Houla to the north, Hirbnafsah to the northeast, Kisin to the east, Burj Qa'i to the south, Taldou to the southwest and Kafr Laha and Tell Dahab to the west. It is famous for its agriculture and beautiful nature and overlooks the Hula Valley and the road between Homs and Masyaf. It is located 40 km southwest of Hama and 35 km northwest of Homs. According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics, Talaf had a population of 4,934 in the 2004 census.[1] They are Turkmen and muslim Sunni Arabs who follow the Hanafi school of thought.[2][3][4] It is located at a crossroads that connects Hama Governorate to Homs Governorate and also connects these two cities to the Syrian coast and to the city of Masyaf and the northern region of Syria to Lebanon
Talaf is a village in northwestern Syria’s Hama Governorate, located about 40 km southwest of Hama city. The village is primarily inhabited by Syrian Turkmen and Sunni Arabs who follow the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence. Known locally as "Küçük Şam" (Little Damascus) due to its vibrant atmosphere, Talaf lies strategically along the road connecting Homs and Masyaf.
The village is surrounded by fertile farmland and olive groves, and its rural economy is heavily based on agriculture. Residents cultivate olives, wheat, vegetables, and fruit, with olive oil production being a central activity.
Traditional architecture is still visible in many homes, built from local stone with flat roofs and central courtyards. These reflect older Syrian rural styles.
The village is also known for its close-knit community life, narrow streets, and local traditions, giving it a distinct character among rural settlements in the region.
The village is also known among the Turkmen as (Küçük Şam meaning "Little Damascus"). The belief that the reason for this name is that its inhabitants lived in Damascus before they traveled and settled in the village of Talf is a complete mistake. The naming was the habit of the Ottoman Caliphate to name villages with names they gave them, many of which disappeared with the passage of time, but the most common name remained. It was said that the village was pulsating with life and work and looked like a metropolis around it, so this name was given to it in its honor. As for what was said about the name of the village going back to the city of Zuluf in Turkey, from which the villagers came, this is a clear mistake. Talf is written in Turkish as Tıllıf, and it is unlikely that the word was modified from Zülüf, Züllüf, or Zulluf, as there is a big and clear difference between the two pronunciations
The village overlooks the Hula Plain, and the extension of the Rastan Dam , which ends at the village's borders, and to the east, five kilometers east of Hula, on the road between Homs and Masyaf.
The village is famous for agriculture, dairy products, especially cream, and its beautiful nature. The percentage of educated people is increasing, including doctors, engineers, and university teachers. However, the educated population has abandoned the Turkmen language, while the less educated families have preserved it, suggesting that the extinction of the Turkmen language is inevitable. There are several schools in the village for all levels, a social services center, and a municipality that oversees its poor service affairs, as the village suffers from marginalization by successive Baathist governments. The village suffers from a chronic problem, which is the bridge that connects the village to the lands located south of the village. It is only suitable for people and bicycles, and cars are not allowed to pass, which forces the farmer to travel a distance of about 8 kilometers to cultivate his land, which is located several meters south of the river.