Quraysh — Safekipedia Discoverer

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 ran caravans carrying goods between the Indian Ocean, East Africa, and the Mediterranean regions.

When Muhammad began preaching Islam in Mecca, the Quraysh were not at first worried. But as he challenged the many gods people worshipped in pre-Islamic Arabia, they opposed him more strongly. This led to tensions and eventually to battles. Muhammad and his followers moved to Medina, but conflicts continued until a peace agreement, called the Treaty of al-Hudaybiya, was made.

Later, Muhammad and his followers entered Mecca without fighting, and most people there joined Islam. After Muhammad died, leaders of the growing Muslim community often came from the Quraysh tribe, including important groups like the Rashidun, the Umayyads, and the Abbasids.

Name

People have different ideas about where the name "Quraysh" comes from. Some think it might be related to the Arabic word for "shark." Others believe it means "coming together" or "association." Another idea is that the name comes from a leader named Qusayy ibn Kilab, who brought his family together and took control of the Kaaba. Before this, his family lived in small, scattered groups. The surname for the Quraysh tribe is Qurashī, but early on, people usually referred to the specific clan they belonged to instead of the whole tribe. Later, especially after the 13th century, some families who claimed to be from the Quraysh used the Qurashī surname.

History

The Quraysh were an important Arab tribe in Mecca before the rise of Islam. They were made up of ten clans, with the Banu Hashim being one of the most well-known because the prophet Muhammad was born into this clan. By the 6th century, the Quraysh had become successful traders, controlling trade routes between the Indian Ocean, East Africa, and the Mediterranean.

The Quraysh took control of Mecca and played a big role in managing the Kaaba, a sacred site for pilgrimage. They were not just traders but also took care of religious duties and collected taxes from pilgrims. As trade grew, the Quraysh became very wealthy and powerful. Their skills in organizing and managing trade helped them gain more influence in the region.

Later, tensions rose between the Quraysh and Muhammad as he introduced new ideas that challenged old traditions. This led to conflicts, including several battles. Eventually, Muhammad entered Mecca without fighting, and most of the Quraysh chose to follow Islam. The Quraysh were included in the new Islamic community, and many took on important roles in the growing Islamic state.

Clans

The Quraysh tribe was divided into ten main clans. One of the most important clans was the Banu Hashim, which included the family of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. These clans helped shape the leadership and social structure of Mecca before the rise of Islam.

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 in Mecca before the rise of Islam. They were known for their trading skills and had strong connections across many regions, from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. One of their most famous clans was the Banu Hashim, which was the family of Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam. Their leadership and trade networks made them a central part of the area’s history.