Taghlib
Encyclopedia
Banu Taghlib or Taghlib ibn Wa'il were a large and powerful Arabian tribe of Mesopotamia
and northern Arabia. The tribe traces its lineage to the large branch of North Arabian
tribes (Adnanites) known as Rabi'ah, which also included Bakr, 'Anizzah, Banu Hanifa
and Anz bin Wa'il (in southern Saudi Arabia).
The tribe's ancestral homelands were the region of Nejd, in central Arabia, before migrating northwards to the Jazirah
plain in northern Mesopotamia
in the 6th century. At that time, the tribe was known to be mostly Christian
, and was renowned for its size and strength relative to other tribes. It was even said by the classical Arab
genealogists that "had it not been for Islam
, Taghlib would have devoured the Arabs." The tribe is also said to have engaged in a 40-year war immediately prior to Islam with the closely related tribe of Bakr, which became known as the War of Basous. Taghlib's migration to Mesopotamia is attributed to this war. During this era, according to classical Arab sources, the tribe produced a poet by the name of 'Amr ibn Kulthum, to whom is attributed one of the highly-regarded Seven Hanged Poems of pre-Islamic Arabia. With its bombastic and vainglorious verses on the glories of his tribe, Ibn Kulthum's ode became the prime example of Arabian hyperbole. The tribe, however, soon came into conflict with the Lakhmid rulers of southern Iraq
and moved further north to the Jazirah region around the northern reaches of the Euphrates.
Taghlib was one of the few Arab tribes that did not accept Islam during Muhammad
's time nor during the rule of his immediate successors. After Muhammad's death, some sections of Taghlib joined in the Ridda Wars
("Wars of the Apostasy"), supporting the claimed prophecy of a woman from Banu Tamim
named Sajah
. Upon the suppression of the apostasy, Taghlib is said to have reached an agreement to remain Christian in exchange for paying a levy to the reigning caliph
. According to this narration, Taghlib, requested that the levy be termed a sadaka ("alms
"), similar to what was collected from Muslim tribes, in lieu of the jizya
("tribute
" or "poll tax
") that was normally taken from non-Muslims. The caliphs agreed.
The Taghlib tribes in lower Iraq anchored the see of their faith at Antioch and, like the Syrian Orthodox and Byzantine-rite patriarchates, refused to surrender to the dictates of Constantinople.
During the Umayyad
era, the most famous member of Taghlib was the Christian poet Al-Akhtal, who is still regarded as one of the finest Arab poets of the classical era, and who composed odes in the finest bedouin
tradition. He was a close companion of the caliph Yazid I
among others.
During the era of the Abbasid
dynasty, who replaced the Ummayads in 750
, many sections of the tribe began to convert to Islam in the hope of obtaining more political power within the Muslim realm. The Hamdanid dynasty that ruled northern Iraq and Syria
in the 10th century claimed descent from Taghlib.
Gradually, it appears, the tribe became increasingly settled and melted into the populations of northern Mesopotamia, where some families still claim a Taghlibi descent today, while those who remained nomadic may have been absorbed into the related Rabi'ah tribe of 'Anizzah.
Historically and genalogically, Taghlib never related to Anizzah tribe because Taghlib bin Wael, his righteous descendents are in the tribe of (Dawasir) as stated from their genalogists and Anizzah genalogist Abdullah Al-Abbar Al-Annizi. Anizzah tribe are descendents of Anizzah Ibn Assad from Nizzar from Adnan (Adnanites).
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...
and northern Arabia. The tribe traces its lineage to the large branch of North Arabian
North Arabian
North Arabian may refer to:*Northern Arabia*Old North Arabian languages*the Arab Adnan tribes...
tribes (Adnanites) known as Rabi'ah, which also included Bakr, 'Anizzah, Banu Hanifa
Banu Hanifa
Banu 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...
and Anz bin Wa'il (in southern Saudi Arabia).
The tribe's ancestral homelands were the region of Nejd, in central Arabia, before migrating northwards to the Jazirah
Al-Jazira, Mesopotamia
Upper Mesopotamia is the name used for the uplands and great outwash plain of northwestern Iraq and northeastern Syria and southeastern Turkey which is known by the traditional Arabic name of Al-Jazira , variously transliterated into Roman script as Djazirah, Djezirah and Jazirah...
plain in northern 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...
in the 6th century. At that time, the tribe was known to be 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...
, and was renowned for its size and strength relative to other tribes. It was even said by 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 that "had it not been for Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, Taghlib would have devoured the Arabs." The tribe is also said to have engaged in a 40-year war immediately prior to Islam with the closely related tribe of Bakr, which became known as the War of Basous. Taghlib's migration to Mesopotamia is attributed to this war. During this era, according to classical Arab sources, the tribe produced a poet by the name of 'Amr ibn Kulthum, to whom is attributed one of the highly-regarded Seven Hanged Poems of pre-Islamic Arabia. With its bombastic and vainglorious verses on the glories of his tribe, Ibn Kulthum's ode became the prime example of Arabian hyperbole. The tribe, however, soon came into conflict with the Lakhmid rulers of southern Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and moved further north to the Jazirah region around the northern reaches of the Euphrates.
Taghlib was one of the few Arab tribes that did not accept Islam during Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
's time nor during the rule of his immediate successors. After Muhammad's death, some sections of Taghlib joined in the Ridda Wars
Ridda wars
The Ridda wars , also known as the Wars of Apostasy, were a series of military campaigns against the rebellion of several Arabian tribes launched by the Caliph Abu Bakr during 632 and 633 AD, after prophet Muhammad died....
("Wars of the Apostasy"), supporting the claimed prophecy of a woman from Banu Tamim
Banu Tamim
Banī Tamīm Tamim is one of the largest of all Arab tribes. Their history goes back to pre-Islamic times....
named Sajah
Sajah
Sajah bint al-Harith ibn Suaeed from tribe of Banu Tamim she was Arab Christian protected first by her tribe then cause a split within Banu Tamim and finally defended by Banu Hanifa. Her father, Al-Haris, belonged to the Bani Yarbu section of the Bani Tamim tribe...
. Upon the suppression of the apostasy, Taghlib is said to have reached an agreement to remain Christian in exchange for paying a levy to the reigning caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
. According to this narration, Taghlib, requested that the levy be termed a sadaka ("alms
Alms
Alms or almsgiving is a religious rite which, in general, involves giving materially to another as an act of religious virtue.It exists in a number of religions. In Philippine Regions, alms are given as charity to benefit the poor. In Buddhism, alms are given by lay people to monks and nuns to...
"), similar to what was collected from Muslim tribes, in lieu of the jizya
Jizya
Under Islamic law, jizya or jizyah is a per capita tax levied on a section of an Islamic state's non-Muslim citizens, who meet certain criteria...
("tribute
Tribute
A tribute is wealth, often in kind, that one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often the case in historical contexts, of submission or allegiance. Various ancient states, which could be called suzerains, exacted tribute from areas they had conquered or threatened to conquer...
" or "poll tax
Poll tax
A poll tax is a tax of a portioned, fixed amount per individual in accordance with the census . When a corvée is commuted for cash payment, in effect it becomes a poll tax...
") that was normally taken from non-Muslims. The caliphs agreed.
The Taghlib tribes in lower Iraq anchored the see of their faith at Antioch and, like the Syrian Orthodox and Byzantine-rite patriarchates, refused to surrender to the dictates of Constantinople.
During the Umayyad
Umayyad
The Umayyad Caliphate was the second of the four major Arab caliphates established after the death of Muhammad. It was ruled by the Umayyad dynasty, whose name derives from Umayya ibn Abd Shams, the great-grandfather of the first Umayyad caliph. Although the Umayyad family originally came from the...
era, the most famous member of Taghlib was the Christian poet Al-Akhtal, who is still regarded as one of the finest Arab poets of the classical era, and who composed odes in the finest 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:...
tradition. He was a close companion of the caliph Yazid I
Yazid I
Yazīd ibn Mu‘āwiya ibn Abī Sufyān , commonly known as Yazid I, was the second Caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate . He ruled for three years from 680 CE until his death in 683 CE. Many Muslims condemn Yazid's rule as contentious and unjust...
among others.
During the era of the Abbasid
Abbasid
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....
dynasty, who replaced the Ummayads in 750
750
Year 750 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 750 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* Gopala is proclaimed as the first ruler of...
, many sections of the tribe began to convert to Islam in the hope of obtaining more political power within the Muslim realm. The Hamdanid dynasty that ruled northern Iraq and Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
in the 10th century claimed descent from Taghlib.
Gradually, it appears, the tribe became increasingly settled and melted into the populations of northern Mesopotamia, where some families still claim a Taghlibi descent today, while those who remained nomadic may have been absorbed into the related Rabi'ah tribe of 'Anizzah.
Historically and genalogically, Taghlib never related to Anizzah tribe because Taghlib bin Wael, his righteous descendents are in the tribe of (Dawasir) as stated from their genalogists and Anizzah genalogist Abdullah Al-Abbar Al-Annizi. Anizzah tribe are descendents of Anizzah Ibn Assad from Nizzar from Adnan (Adnanites).