49. INFORMATION REGARDING THE ARABS
It has been said that all of the Arabs can trace their lineage to Isma‘eel, son of Ibraheem (peace be upon them both). What is correct and well-known is that there were pure Arabs before Isma‘eel (Peace be upon him). And we have mentioned previously that pure Arabs included ‘Ad, Thamood, Tasm, Jadees, Umaim, Jurhum, the Amalekites and others known to none except Allah. They were before Al-Khaleel (Ibraheem (Peace be upon him)) and during his time also. As for those who were assimilated into the Arabs, they are the Arabs of Al-Hijaz and they are the descendants of Isma‘eel (Peace be upon him). As for the Arabs of Yemen, they are Himyar and it is well-known that they are from Qahtan, whose name was Muharrim, according to Ibn Makoola. It was said that they were four brothers: Qahtan, Qahit, Miqhat and Faligh. Qahtan was the son of Hood. It was also said that he was Hood (Peace be upon him) and it was said that Hood (Peace be upon him) was his brother, and also that he was from his progeny and that Qahtan was from among the progeny of Isma‘eel (Peace be upon him). This last was related by Ibn Ishaq and others. Some said that he was Qahtan Ibn Al-Hamaisa‘, son of Taiman, son of Qaizar, son of Nabt, son of Isma‘eel (Peace be upon him). Other claims were also made regarding his lineage to Isma‘eel (Peace be upon him). And Allah knows better.
Al-Bukhari has written regarding his biography in his Saheeh, under the “Chapter: The Relationship of Yemen to Isma‘eel (Peace be upon him), on the authority of Salamah (May Allah be pleased with him) that he said, “The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) passed by some people from the tribe of Aslam practicing archery. He said, “O, children of Isma‘eel! Fire (your arrows), for your father was an archer. I am on the side of Banu so-and-so,” meaning one of the two teams. The other team stopped firing, whereupon the Prophet said, “What has happened to them?”
They replied, “How shall we throw while you are with Banu so-and-so?” He said, “Fire, for I am with all of you.”
And Al-Bukhari said, “And Aslam Ibn Afsa Ibn Harithah Ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Amir from Khuza‘ah refers to Khuza‘ah, a group from among those who split from the tribes of Saba’, when Allah sent upon them the great flood, as we shall explain later. Al-Aws and Al-Khazraj were also from them. The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said to them, “O, children of Isma‘eel! Fire (your arrows), which proves that they were from his progeny. Others interpreted it as meaning the Arab race, but it is a far-fetched interpretation, since it contradicts the apparent meaning without any proof. However, the majority hold that the Qahtani Arabs are from the Arabs of Yemen and the others are not from the progeny of Isma‘eel (Peace be upon him). They also contend that all of the Arabs may be divided into two categories: Qahtani and ‘Adnani. The Qahtanis are two tribes: Saba’ and Hadramawt. The ‘Adnanis are also two tribes: Rabee‘ah and Mudar; they were the sons of Nizar Ibn Ma‘add Ibn ‘Adnan. There is a difference of opinion regarding the fifth tribe, Quda‘ah. It was said that they were ‘Adnanis; Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr said, “And that is the opinion of the majority.” Muhammad Ibn Salam Al-Basri An-Nassabah said, “The Arabs have (descended from) three roots: ‘Adnanis, Qahtanis and Quda‘ah.” It was said to him, “Then which of them are the majority, the ‘Adnanis or the Qahtanis?” It depends on what Quda‘ah says; if they say that they are from Yemen, then the Qahtanis will be the majority. But if they say that they are from the tribe of Ma‘add, then they will be ‘Adnanis.” This proves that they are undecided regarding their origins. And if the aforementioned hadeeth of Ibn Lahee‘ah is authentic, then it is a proof that they are from the Qahtanis. And Allah knows better. Allah, Most High, says, {O, mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (Believer) who has at-taqwa (i.e. one of the muttaqoon (pious – see V. 2:2)} (Soorah Al-Hujurat 49:13). The scholars of genealogy said that it is said: nations and then tribes, then ‘ama’ir, then butoon, then afkhadh, then families, then kin. And kin are the closest of people to a man and there is nothing after it.
Let us begin first with a mention of the Qahtanis, then after them, we shall mention the Arabs of the Hijaz, who are the ‘Adnanis, and matters pertaining to the Jahiliyyah, in order that that may be connected to the Seerah of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), if Allah wills – and it is Him in Whom we place our trust.
Al-Bukhari said under the “Chapter: Mention of Qahtan, it is reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) that he said, “The Hour will not be established until a man emerges from Qahtan and he drives the people with his stick.”
By Ibn Katheer
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