Dāhis and al-Ghābra (Arabic: داحس والغبراء) was an armed conflict between two tribes of the Ghatafan. The conflict started due to a dispute over horse betting and occurred in the 6th century CE.
| Dāhis and al-Ghābra | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Purported location of the battles fought by the Abs and the Dhubyan | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Banu Abs | Banu Dhubyan (supported by the Tayy and Hawazin) | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Qays ibn Zuhayr | Hudhayfah ibn Badr | ||||||
Background
edit
The chief of Banu Abs, Qays ibn Zuhayr, had organized a horse betting event with the chief of Banu Dhubyan, Hudhayfah ibn Badr.[1][2][3] Qays brought a horse named Dahis, while Hudhayfah brought a horse named al-Ghabra. The winner would receive at least a hundred camels from the rival tribe.[1][2][3]
During the race, the Banu Dhubyan sent a few men from their tribe to distract the horse named Dahis.[1][2][3] As a result, Dahis slowed down and its rival al-Ghabra was able to win. When the Banu Abs heard about this, they ordered the Banu Dhubyan to pay the hundred camels, as they were the ones who would have won if not for the intervention.[1][2][3] But Hudhayfah ibn Badr refused to pay up, and the Banu Abs responded by stabbing his brother to death. Banu Dhubyan retailiated by stabbing the brother of Qays ibn Zuhayr. The stabbings led to a series of bloody violence between the tribes.[1][2][3]
Conflict
editCourse of conflict
editThe fighting lasted for approximately forty years.[1][2] The pre-Islamic poet Antarah ibn Shaddad was one of the fighters in the war, fighting on the side of the Banu Abs.[1][2] Other Arabian tribes including the Hawazin and the Tayy participated in the conflict on the side of the Banu Dhubyan.[1][3] More than a hundred people died in the fighting, which included Hudhayfah ibn Badr and Antarah ibn Shaddad.[1]
Some of the Banu Abs, however, refrained from fighting in order to guard the caravans of the Lakhmids that were passing through Al Yamama.[4] The Lakhmid ruler at the time, Al-Nu'man III ibn al-Mundhir, had promised the Banu Abs rewards if they successfully protected his caravans.[4] This led to the envy of the Banu Dhubyan, and further escalated the conflict.[4]
End of conflict
editTwo merchants, al-Harith and Ibn Sinan from neighboring tribes intervened and offered to pay the blood money for both the Banu Abs and Banu Dhubyan as well as all the lives of the chiefs that were taken during the conflict.[2][5] A truce was formed between the Banu Abs and Banu Dhubyan, ending the conflict.[2][5]
Time period
editThe conflict happened a few years after the Basus War, which occurred in circa 494–534 CE.[1] This would indicate that the conflict happened in the 6th century. Sir William Muir dates the conflict to take place around 568–609 CE.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Barru, Taufique (2001). Tarikh al-'Arab al-Qadim (2nd ed.). Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Al Fikr.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Ibn Abd Rabbih (1937). Kitāb al-ʿIqd al-Farīd [The Unique Necklace]. Morocco: Maktaba At-Ta'lif At-Taryama Wa'l Nasar.
- ^ a b c d e f Ibn al-Athir (2009). al-Kāmil fī al-tārīkh. Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Sader. ISBN 9789953136578.
- ^ a b c "The story of the war of Dahis and al-Ghubra". Qassas. 17 September 2012. Archived from the original on 2019-10-20.
- ^ a b Nicholson, R. A. (2010-01-01). A Literary History of the Arabs. Cosimo, Inc. ISBN 978-1-61640-340-9.
- ^ Muir, William (2013). The Life Of Mahomet: From Original Sources. Hardpress Publishing (published 11 December 2013). ISBN 978-1314678871.