Rabi`ah
Encyclopedia
Rabi`ah purported patriarch of one of the two main branches of the so-called "North Arabian" (Adnanite) tribes, the other branch being known as Mudhar
.
According to the classical Arab
genealogists, the following were the most important branches of Rabi`ah:
Like the rest of the Adnanite Arabs, legend has it that Rabi`ah's original homelands were in the Hejaz
region of western Arabia, from which Rabi`ah migrated northwards and eastwards. Abdul Qays were inhabitants of the region of Bahrain
in eastern Arabia, including the modern-day islands of Bahrain
, and were mostly sedentary.
Bakr's lands stretched from al-Yamama
(the region around modern-day Riyadh
) to northwestern Mesopotamia
. The main body of the tribe was bedouin
, but a powerful and autonomous sedentary sub-tribe of Bakr also resided in al-Yamama, the Bani Hanifa.
Taghlib resided on the eastern banks of the Euphrates
, and al-Nammir are said to have been their clients. Anz inhabited southern Arabia, and are said to have been decimated by the plague in the 13th century, though a tribe named "Rabi`ah" in modern-day 'Asir is said to be its descendant.
Anizzah was divided into a sedentary section in southern Yamama and a bedouin section further north, which later absorbed Bakr and Taghlib after Islam. Of all the tribes of Rabi`ah, only `Anizzah
has continued into the modern era as a large autonomous tribe.
Abdul Qays, Taghlib, al-Nammir, and some sections of Bakr were mostly Christian
before Islam, with Taghlib remaining a Christian tribe for some time afterwards as well. Annizah and Bakr are said to have worshiped an idol by the name of al-Sa'eer.
era, many members of Bani Hanifa and related tribesmen from Bakr ibn Wa'il migrated from al-Yamama to southern Egypt
, where they dominated the gold-mines of Wadi Allaqi
near Aswan
. While in Egypt, the tribesmen went by the collective name of "Rabi'ah" and inter-married with indegenous tribes in the area such as the Beja people
s. Among their descendants are the tribe of Banu Kanz
(also known as the Kunooz), who take their name from Kanz al-Dawlah of Bani Hanifa, the leader of Rabi'ah in Egypt during the Fatimid
era.
Mudhar
Mudhar or Mudar , is one of two major branches of the "North arabian" tribes, the other branch being Rabi'ah....
.
According to the classical Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
genealogists, the following were the most important branches of Rabi`ah:
- Abdul Qays
- `Anizzah`Anizzah`Anazzah are the largest Arab tribal confederation of the Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the Levant.-Genealogy and Origins:Currently the largest of the Arab tribes, `Anazzah's existence as an autonomous tribal group, unlike that of many prominent modern tribes, predates the rise of Islam in the 7th...
- Bakr ibn Wa'il, which also included the following sub-tribes
- Banu HanifaBanu HanifaBanu Hanifa were an ancient Arab tribe inhabiting the area of al-Yamama in the central region of modern-day Saudi Arabia. The tribe belonged to the great Rabi'ah branch of North Arabian tribes, which also included 'Anizzah, Abd al-Qays, Bakr, and Taghlib...
- Banu Shayban
- Banu Qays ibn Tha'labah
- Banu Yashkur
- Banu Hanifa
- Taghlib ibn Wa'il
- Anz ibn Wa'il
- al-Nammir ibn Qasit
Like the rest of the Adnanite Arabs, legend has it that Rabi`ah's original homelands were in the Hejaz
Hejaz
al-Hejaz, also Hijaz is a region in the west of present-day Saudi Arabia. Defined primarily by its western border on the Red Sea, it extends from Haql on the Gulf of Aqaba to Jizan. Its main city is Jeddah, but it is probably better known for the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina...
region of western Arabia, from which Rabi`ah migrated northwards and eastwards. Abdul Qays were inhabitants of the region of Bahrain
Bahrain (historical region)
Bahrain is a historical region in eastern Arabia that was known as the Province of Bahrain until the 16th Century. It stretched from the south of Basra along the Persian Gulf coast and included the regions of Kuwait, Al-Hasa, Qatif, Qatar, and the Awal Islands, now known as Bahrain. The name...
in eastern Arabia, including the modern-day islands of Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
, and were mostly sedentary.
Bakr's lands stretched from al-Yamama
Al-Yamama
Al-Yamamah is an ancient district lying to the east of the plateau of Najd in modern-day Saudi Arabia, or sometimes more specifically, the now-extinct ancient village of Jaww Al-Yamamah, near Al-Kharj, after which the rest of the region was named...
(the region around modern-day Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
) to northwestern Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
. The main body of the tribe was bedouin
Bedouin
The Bedouin are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans, known in Arabic as ..-Etymology:...
, but a powerful and autonomous sedentary sub-tribe of Bakr also resided in al-Yamama, the Bani Hanifa.
Taghlib resided on the eastern banks of the Euphrates
Euphrates
The Euphrates is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia...
, and al-Nammir are said to have been their clients. Anz inhabited southern Arabia, and are said to have been decimated by the plague in the 13th century, though a tribe named "Rabi`ah" in modern-day 'Asir is said to be its descendant.
Anizzah was divided into a sedentary section in southern Yamama and a bedouin section further north, which later absorbed Bakr and Taghlib after Islam. Of all the tribes of Rabi`ah, only `Anizzah
`Anizzah
`Anazzah are the largest Arab tribal confederation of the Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the Levant.-Genealogy and Origins:Currently the largest of the Arab tribes, `Anazzah's existence as an autonomous tribal group, unlike that of many prominent modern tribes, predates the rise of Islam in the 7th...
has continued into the modern era as a large autonomous tribe.
Abdul Qays, Taghlib, al-Nammir, and some sections of Bakr were mostly Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
before Islam, with Taghlib remaining a Christian tribe for some time afterwards as well. Annizah and Bakr are said to have worshiped an idol by the name of al-Sa'eer.
Rabi`ah in Egypt
During the AbbasidAbbasid
The Abbasid Caliphate or, more simply, the Abbasids , was the third of the Islamic caliphates. It was ruled by the Abbasid dynasty of caliphs, who built their capital in Baghdad after overthrowing the Umayyad caliphate from all but the al-Andalus region....
era, many members of Bani Hanifa and related tribesmen from Bakr ibn Wa'il migrated from al-Yamama to southern Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, where they dominated the gold-mines of Wadi Allaqi
Wadi Allaqi
Wadi Allaqi, also transliterated as Wadi Allaqui or Wadi Alalaqi, is a wadi in southern Egypt, about south of Aswan on the eastern shore of Lake Nasser....
near Aswan
Aswan
Aswan , formerly spelled Assuan, is a city in the south of Egypt, the capital of the Aswan Governorate.It stands on the east bank of the Nile at the first cataract and is a busy market and tourist centre...
. While in Egypt, the tribesmen went by the collective name of "Rabi'ah" and inter-married with indegenous tribes in the area such as the Beja people
Beja people
The Beja people are an ethnic group dwelling in parts of North Africa and the Horn of Africa.-Geography:The Beja are found mostly in Sudan, but also in parts of Eritrea, and Egypt...
s. Among their descendants are the tribe of Banu Kanz
Banu Kanz
The Banu Kanz were a group of Rabi'ah Arabs who emigrated to Egypt and Sudan, eventually dislocating the Beja and penetrating into the desert east of the Nile around Aswan...
(also known as the Kunooz), who take their name from Kanz al-Dawlah of Bani Hanifa, the leader of Rabi'ah in Egypt during the Fatimid
Fatimid
The Fatimid Islamic Caliphate or al-Fāṭimiyyūn was a Berber Shia Muslim caliphate first centered in Tunisia and later in Egypt that ruled over varying areas of the Maghreb, Sudan, Sicily, the Levant, and Hijaz from 5 January 909 to 1171.The caliphate was ruled by the Fatimids, who established the...
era.