The Generation of Prophet Ismail A.S
As you previously read the history of Prophet Ismail (A.S.) and are familiar with him, now we will discuss his children and their descendants.
Allah gave 12 sons to Prophet Ismail (A.S). The twelve children’s names are:
Nebaioth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.
From these 12 children, 12 tribes were established. These tribes spread to different regions of the Arabian Peninsula, and they also dispersed beyond the Arab lands. Their economic prosperity largely depended on trade with Yemen, Egypt, and Syria.
Among the descendants of Prophet Ismael (A.S.), only Kedar and Nebaioth rose to prominence.
Nebaioth:
The Nebaioth civilization gained renown in northern Hijaz. They established a robust government. Their influence was unmatched, and no one could rival their power. However, with the advent of the Roman era, the Nebaioth became subjects of historical tales.
Kedar:
The descendants of Kedar, the son of Prophet Ismail (A.S.), thrived in Makkah, by Adnan and his son. The Adnanites, were a tribal confederation among the Ishmaelite Arabs, tracing their lineage back to Ismail, the son of the Islamic Prophet Ibrahim and Hagar. The lineage continues through Adnan, with their origins rooted in the Hejaz region. It is noteworthy that the revered Islamic Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W) belonged to the Quraysh tribe of the Adnanites. Our Prophet (S.A.W.W) belonged to the 21st generation from Adnan.
The Adnanites are thought of as the Northern Arabs. This is different from the Qahtanite Arabs in southern Arabia, who come from Qahtan, the son of the Islamic Prophet Hūdʿ. Adnan’s Arab lineage extends to Mu’add. It is often believed that Mu’add had only one son named Nazar. Nazar had four sons, each becoming the foundation of substantial tribes.
These sons were named Iyad, Anmar, Rabi’a, Mudar
From these, two tribes Rabi’a and Mudar, expanded and gained prominence, each with its own branches. Subsequently, these branches, and further their branches, expanded and proliferated.
Rabi’a ibn Nazar:
Branches of Rabi’a include Asab bin Rabi’a, Abd al-Qays, Unzah, Wa’il, Anz ibn Wa’il, and Bakr ibn Wa’il, the latter encompassing sub-tribes like Banu Hanifa, Banu Shayban, Abdul Qays, Taym Allah, Banu Yashkur, Taghlib ibn Wa’il, and al-Nammir ibn Qasit.
Mudar ibn Nazar:
The descendants of Mudar have divided into two large tribes named:
- Qais Aylān bin Mudar
- Illyas bin Mudar
Qais Aylān bin Mudar often just called Qays, was a group of Arab tribes that came from the larger Mudar group. The main tribes within Qais Aylān were Ghatafan, Hawazin, Amir, Thaqif, Sulaym, Ghani, Bahila, and Muharib. Qays had branches like Khasafa, Sa’d, and Amr. The descendants of Khasafa formed large tribes like Hawazin and Banu Sulaym. Sa’d’s sons, A’sur and Ghatafan, led sub-tribes, while Amr had sub-tribes like Adwan and Fahm. They moved from the Arabian Peninsula to areas like northern Syria and Upper Mesopotamia.
Illyas bin Mudar had three sons: Mudrikah, Tabikha, and Qam’a. Their mother was named Khindif, who belonged to the Quda’a tribe. Mudrikah was known by the name ‘Amir, and Tabikha went by the name Amr. From Ilyas bin Mudar; Tamim bin Marrah, Huzail bin Madraka, Banu Asad bin Khuzaymah, and Kinanah bin Khuzaymah tribe was established.
The Quraish tribe, from the Kinanah lineage was established. The Quraish tribe is the descendants of Fahar bin Malik bin Nazar bin Kannana. Among the Quraish, different lineage emerged, including Jamah, Saham, Addi, Makhzoom, Taiym, Zuhrah, and Qusayy bin Kilab.
Qusayy bin Kilab, who played a significant role in the leadership and governance of Mecca.
Qusayy bin Kilab: His father, Kilab ibn Murrah, died when he was an infant. Qusayy’s elder brother, Zuhrah ibn Kilab, was the progenitor of the Banu Zuhrah clan. After his father’s death, his mother, Fatimah bint Sa’d ibn Sayl, married Rabi’ah ibn Haram, and they moved to Syria. Qusayy treated his step-father, Rabi’ah, as his own father. A quarrel with Rabi’ah’s tribe led Qusayy to return to Mecca, as he felt he was not regarded as one of their own. Upon reaching adulthood, Qusayy married Hubbah, the daughter of Hulail ibn Hubshiyyah, the chief of the Banu Khuza’a tribe. After Hulail’s death, Qusayy inherited the trusteeship of the Kaaba, demonstrating his importance in Mecca. He organized various responsibilities, such as taking care of the Kaaba, handling warfare, and maintaining peace among the tribes in Mecca.
Qusayy had three sons, including Abd-al-Dar, Abd Manaf, and Abd-al-Uzza. Among his sons, Abd Manaf received particular honor and prestige, eventually inheriting the rights, powers, and ownership of the House of Assembly shortly before Qusayy’s death.
From the sons of Abd-e-Manaf, four tribes were formed: Abd-e-Shamas, Nawfal, Muttalib, and Hashim. Hashim’s lineage is particularly significant, as from it, Allah choose Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W).
Once Ibn-e-Abbas said that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W) said: “When Allah created creation, then created me in the most excellent group. then, from these two groups placed me in very excellent group. Then, He choose noble tribes for me and placed me in an esteemed tribe. Furthermore, He selected an honorable lineage for me and placed me in a distinguished family. However, according to my self, I am very good. And from lineage, I am even better.”
Migration and Spread of Adnan’s Descendants
As the descendants of Adnan increased, they embarked on a journey in search of food, dispersing in various directions across the Arab region.
The Bakr tribe, with roots in Bahrain and Iraq, has left its mark across these lands.
Kinanah’s descendants can be found in Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, Sudan, Palestine, Tunisia, Morocco, and Syria, embodying a diverse geographical presence.
The Bano Taghlab established their residence in Peninsula Faratiya. However, some of their other branches also chose to settle alongside Bano Bakar, fostering a sense of tranquility and coexistence.
Bano Hawazin tribe settled in the eastern region of Makkah, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Sudan, and Iraq.
Tamim’s descendants have established themselves in Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Algeria, and Morocco.
Bano Asad set up their tents in the eastern region of Thema and the western region of Qoma. The distance between Bano Asad and Kufa was a journey of five days.
The Azd tribe’s influence spans across Arabia, Iraq, the Levant, and North Africa.
The Ghatafan tribe has left its mark in both Arabia and the Maghreb region.
Madhhij’s descendants are present in both Arabia and Iraq.
Abd al-Qays has left a lasting legacy in Bahrain, while Al Qays has continued to thrive in the Arabian region.
The Quda’a tribe descendants can be found in Arabia, Syria, and North Africa, showcasing the diverse and widespread impact of these tribes across the Middle East and North Africa.
Bano Hunaifa migrated to Yamama. Subsequently, they settled in the center of Hajar, establishing residences there.
Bano Sulaim settled near Makkah, with their dwellings extending from Wadi-al-Kari to Khaibar, their habitations stretched from the eastern side of Madina, passing through Hira, reaching up to two mountains.
Bano Saqeef established their homeland in Taif.
Bano Zeban, situated close to Thema, emerged in the vicinity of the Hawaran area.
In Tihama, only the family of Bano Kinanah remained. From this family, the Quraishi lineage emerged and flourished in Makkah and its surrounding areas. These people were noble; they did not engage in slavery. Until Qussay bin Kalab rose to prominence, there was no notable leadership. Qussay unified the tribes, bringing honor, dignity, and respect to the people, elevating them to a position of strength and prominence.
