Quraysh
Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience
The Quraysh Arabic: قُرَيْشٍ) were an Arab tribe that controlled the city of Mecca before the rise of Islam. They were made up of ten main clans, the most famous of which was the Banu Hashim. This clan was the birthplace of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. By the 7th century, the Quraysh had become very wealthy through trade. They controlled important trade routes between the Indian Ocean, East Africa, and the Mediterranean.
When Muhammad began preaching Islam in Mecca, the Quraysh were not at first worried. But as he challenged the old beliefs of pre-Islamic Arabia, they opposed him more strongly. This led to tensions and battles. Muhammad and his followers moved to Medina, but conflicts continued.
Later, a peace agreement called the Treaty of al-Hudaybiya was made between Muhammad and the Quraysh. This allowed Muhammad to visit Mecca for a special pilgrimage. Over time, many people in Mecca began to follow Islam.
After Muhammad's death, leaders of the growing Muslim community often came from the Quraysh tribe. This included important groups like the Rashidun, the Umayyads, and the Abbasids.
Name
People have different ideas about where the name "Quraysh" came from. Some think it might be a smaller version of the word qirsh, which means "shark." Others believe the name comes from a word in Arabic that means "coming together" or "association."
Another idea is that the name comes from a leader named Qusayy ibn Kilab. He was a leader who brought his family members together and helped them take control of the Kaaba, a very important building. Before that, his family lived in small, moving groups. The special name for someone from the Quraysh tribe is Qurashī, but early on, people usually used the names of their smaller family groups instead of the tribe name.
History
The Quraysh were an important Arab tribe that controlled Mecca before the rise of Islam. They had ten main clans, including the Banu Hashim, the family of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. By the 7th century, the Quraysh became wealthy through trade. They connected places like the Indian Ocean, East Africa, and the Mediterranean.
The Quraysh took control of Mecca and became powerful there. They cared for the Kaaba, a sacred building, and were skilled merchants. Their wealth and influence grew as they managed trade routes and made friends with other tribes. Later, the Quraysh helped shape early Islamic society after Muhammad became a leader.
Clans
The Quraysh were made up of ten main clans. One of the most well-known was the Banu Hashim. This clan included Muhammad, the founder of Islam. By the 7th century, the Quraysh were successful traders. They controlled important trade routes between the Indian Ocean, East Africa, and the Mediterranean.
| Clan | Genealogy | Alliances | Notable members |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banu Abd al-Dar | Abd al-Dar ibn Qusayy ibn Kilab ibn Murra ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr. | Ahlafs | Mus'ab ibn Umayr |
| Banu Makhzum | Makhzum ibn Yaqaza ibn Murra ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr. | Ahlafs | Abu Jahl, Walid ibn Al-Mughira, Abu Hudhaifah ibn al-Mughirah Khalid ibn al-Walid, |
| Banu Adi | Adi ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr. | Ahlafs | Al-Khattâb ibn Nufayl Umar ibn Al-Khattab, Zayd ibn Amr, Al-Shifa' bint Abdullah Abdullah ibn Umar |
| Banu Sahm | Sahm ibn Amr ibn Husays ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr. | Ahlafs | al-As ibn Wa'il, Amr ibn al-As |
| Banu Jumah | Jumah ibn Amr ibn Husays ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr. | Ahlafs | Umayya ibn Khalaf, Soufwan ibn Umayya |
| Banu Abd Shams (then Banu Umayya) | Abd Shams ibn Abd Manaf ibn Qusayy ibn Kilab ibn Murra ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr. | Muttayabun then Ahlaf | Umayya ibn Abd Shams, Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, Uqba ibn Abi Mu'ayt Uthman ibn Affan, Umm Habiba Mu'awiya I |
| Banu Nawfal | Nawfal ibn Abd Manaf ibn Qusayy ibn Kilab ibn Murra ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr. | Muttayabun then Ahlaf | Jubayr ibn Muṭʽim |
| Banu Émir | Amir ibn Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr. | Suhayl ibn Amr, Abdullah ibn Suhayl | |
| Banu Hashim (then Banu Abd al-Muttalib) | Hashim ibn Abd Manaf ibn Qusayy ibn Kilab ibn Murra ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr. | Muttayabun then Fudul | Muhammad Abd al-Muttalib, Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib, Abu Talib ibn Abdul Muttalib, Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib Ali |
| Banu Zuhrah | Zuhra ibn Kilab ibn Murra ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr. | Muttayabun then Fudul | 'Abd Manaf ibn Zuhra, Wahb ibn 'Abd Manaf, Aminah Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas |
| Banu Taym | Taym ibn Murra ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr. | Muttayabun then Fudul | Abu Bakr Talha ibn Ubayd Allah, Aisha bint Abi Bakr, Asma bint Abi Bakr |
| Banu Asad | Asad ibn Abd al-Uzza ibn Qusayy ibn Kilab ibn Murra ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr. | Muttayabun then Fudul | Khadija, Waraqah ibn Nawfal Zubayr ibn al-Awwam Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr |
| Banu al-Harith ibn Fihr | Al-Harith ibn Fihr. | Muttayabun then Fudul | Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah |
| Banu Mutallib | Al-Mutallib ibn Abd Manaf ibn Qusayy ibn Kilab ibn Murra ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr. | Fudul | Al-Shafiʽi (famous scholar) |
Family tree
The Quraysh were an important Arab tribe that lived around Mecca before the time of Islam. They were good at trading and had many clans. One of the best-known clans was the Banu Hashim. The prophet Muhammad was born into this clan. By the 7th century, the Quraysh became very wealthy from trading goods between different parts of the world, including the Indian Ocean, East Africa, and the Mediterranean.
Related articles
This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Quraysh, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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