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Lineage
The Quraish is were a branch of the Kinana branch, which descended from the Khuzaimah, which
descended from Elias bin Mudar, who descended from Adnan. The Quraish remained completely
disunited until Qusai bin Kilab managed to rally their ranks on honourable terms attaching major
clarify
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prominence to their status and importance .[1] After the introduction of Islam, the Quraish gained
supremacy and produced the three dynasties of the Ummayads, Abbasids and Fatimides, which ruled as
Caliphs.
For several generations the Quraish were spread about among other tribal groupings. About five
generations before Muhammad the situation was changed by Qusai ibn Kilab. By war and diplomacy he
assembled an alliance that delivered to him the possession of the Meccan Sanctuary (the Kaaba). He
then gathered his fellow tribesmen to settle at Mecca, where he enjoyed such adulation from his kin that
they adjudged him their de facto king, a position that was enjoyed by no other descendant of his.
According to traditional legends, Arab lineages allegedly originate from three groups:
1. Perished Arabs (••••• •••••••): These are the ancients of whose history little is known. They
include ‘Ad, Thamûd, Tasam, Jadis, Imlaq and others.
2. Pure Arabs (••••• •••••••): They allegedly originated from the progeny of Ya‘rub bin Yashjub bin
Qahtan bin Hud so were also called Qahtanian Arabs.
3. Arabized Arabs (••••• •••••••••): They allegedly originated from the progeny of Ishmael and
were also called ‘Adnanian Arabs. The Quraish are a branch of the "Arabized Arabs".
The Quraish had become a prominent tribe in Mecca before the birth of Muhammad and essentially
ruled the city. Before Muhammad's birth, the tribe had split into different clans, each with different
responsibilities. There were some rivalries among the clans, but these became especially pronounced
during Muhammad's lifetime. Some clan leaders did not appreciate Muhammad's claim of prophethood
and tried to silence him by putting pressure on his uncle, Abu Talib. Many of the clans also began to
persecute the followers of Muhammad, for example by boycotting them. This response led Muhammad
to initially send some Muslims to Ethiopia, and later would lead to his own emigration to Medina.
After Muhammad's conquest of Mecca in 630, he pardoned many of those who had oppressed him
before, and peace among the different clans was maintained. After Muhammad's death, clan rivalries
reignited, playing central roles in the conflicts over the Caliphate and contributing to the Shi'a-Sunni
divide.
[edit] Clans
Quraish branched out into various sub-clans, who in turn branched out into yet further sub-clans.
Roughly the division corresponded to the family lines of the current chieftain of that clan having sons.
● Banu Jumah
The leaders of Quraysh, who formed Mecca's aristocracy upon the appearance of Muhammad, were
referred to as the Leaders of the Quraysh (Arabic: Sadat Quraysh).