The Banū Lahab (Arabic: بنو لهب) are a tribe of Qahtanite Arabs that are part of the Azd tribal group. They currently inhabit the towns in Al Makhwah, a governorate of the Al Bahah Region in Saudi Arabia. In pre-Islamic times, the Banu Lahab were professional soothsayers of the Arabian community.
| Banū Lahab بنو لهب | |
|---|---|
| Qahtanite Arabs | |
| Ethnicity | Arab |
| Nisba | al-Lahbi |
| Location | Al Makhwah quarter of the Al Bahah Region, Saudi Arabia |
| Descended from | Lahab al-Azdi |
| Parent tribe | Azd |
| Religion | Sunni Islam (formerly South Arabian polytheism) |
Tribal lineage
editGenealogists have agreed that the lineage of the Banu Lahab can be traced back to a Qahtani Arab man named Lahab al-Azdi. However, they differ on his lineage:
- Ibn al-Kalbi stated that his lineage was Lahab, son of Ahjan, son of Ka'b, son of al-Harith, son of Ka'b, son of 'Abd Allah, son of Malik, son of Nasr, son of al-Azd.[1]
- Ibn Qutaybah stated that his lineage was Lahab, son of 'Amir, son of al-Azd.[2]
Despite inconsistencies in both reports, they agree that Lahab was descended from al-Azd, the progenitor of the Azdite tribes.
Related tribes
editBanu Lahab's sibling tribes were the Banu Aslam and the Banu Qarin.[3] Their uncle tribe was the Banu Zahran. Together with their sibling tribes and uncle tribes, the Banu Lahab are part of the larger Azd Shanu'ah confederation.[3]
History
editIn the pre-Islamic times, Banu Lahab held prominence in the Arabian Peninsula as convincing soothsayers, a trait which they inherited from their progenitor Lahab al-Azdi.[4][5] The Banu Lahab also became the leader of the Azd tribal confederation for a short period of time until the reign of the sons of Muzayqiya.[6] In the 7th century CE, the converted to Islam and their flagbearer and leader was al-Nu'man ibn al-Razi'ah al-Lahbi.[7] They were known to have sent letters to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.[8]
Modern history
editThe Banu Lahab currently reside in Saudi Arabia, mainly in the Al Bahah Region.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Ibn al-Kalbi (1998). N. Hassan (ed.). Genealogies of Ma'ad and Greater Yemen (1st ed.). Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Alam Al Kutub.
- ^ Ibn Qutaybah, Sadiq Makhzumi (2016). Manhajuhu wa-mawāriduhu fī Kitāb al-Ma'ārif (1st ed.). Beirut, Lebanon: Dār wa-Maktabat al-Baṣā’ir lil-Ṭibā‘ah wa-al-Nashr wa-al-Tawzī‘.
- ^ a b Ibn Hazm (2018). Jamharat Ansab al-Arab. Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Al Kutub Al Ilmiyah. ISBN 2745100432.
- ^ al-Zirikli (2002). al-A'lam (in Arabic) (5th ed.). Beirut, Lebanon: Dar El Ilm Lilmalayin.
- ^ al-Zabidi (2011). Tāj al-‘arūs min jawāhir al-Qāmūs (Revised ed.). Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Sader. ISBN 9789953132563.
- ^ Ibn Asakir (2012). Tārīkh Dimashq [The History of Damascus]. Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Al Kutub Al Ilmiyah. ISBN 9782745160966.
- ^ Ibn Hajar (2010). Al Isabah fi Tamyiz Al Sahabah. Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Al Kutub Al Ilmiyah. ISBN 9782745135070.
- ^ Miyanaji, A. Ahmadi (1998). Makātīb al-Rasūl. Qom, Iran: Intisharat-i Dar al-Hadith.
- ^ al-Suluk, Ali b. Salih (1971). Mu'jam al-Jughrafia al-Bilad al-Arabiyat al-Sui'udiat. Dar Al Yamamah.