Fihr ibn Malik

Fihr ibn Malik
فِهْر ٱبْن مَالِك
Born
Makkah
Died
Makkah
ChildrenAl-Harith[1] (ancestor of Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah)

Muharib[1]

Ghalib[1]
FatherMalik
Family tree from Adnan to Muhammad

Fihr ibn Malik (Arabic: فِهْر ٱبْن مَالِك, romanized: Fihr ibn Mālik, fl. c. 230–240 CE), is counted among the direct ancestors of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. In the lineage of Muhammad from Adnan, he precedes Muhammad by eleven generations.[2][3][4]

Etymology

Some writers stated that his name was also "Qarish" (hard, diminutive is "Quraysh"), which fits him being the progenitor of the Quraysh tribe. However most genealogists reject this version.[citation needed]

Role in pre-Islamic Arabia

Fihr ibn Malik traded with other Arabian tribes and also was in charge for the needs of Arabian pilgrims going on the Hajj.

Fight against the Himyarites

Main article: Yawm al-Nakhla

Fihr ibn Malik defended the city of Mecca from the Himyarite Kingdom; the latter intended to take away the stones of the Kaaba and transport them to Yemen so the Hajj would be transported there instead.[2][3][4] Fihr led a joint force of Quraysh and warriors from the Arabian tribes of Mudar, Banu Kinana, Banu Asad, Banu Hudhayl and Banu Tamim which repelled the Himyarites.[2][3][4] The enemy general, Hassan ibn 'Abd-Kulal was captured and imprisoned for three years until he was able to ransom himself out of custody.[2][3][4]

Genealogy

Fihr ibn Malik married Layla bint al-Harith, a woman from the Banu Hudhayl tribe, and from this marriage he had several sons, including Ghalib, Muharib, Harith, As'ad, Awf, Jawn, and Dhi'b. When Islam began to rise in the 7th century, the descendants of Fihr amongst the Quraysh tribal confederation held influential positions in Mecca.[5]

Qurayshi tribes descended from Fihr ibn Malik

Source:[4][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c Watt 1986, p. 434.
  2. ^ a b c d Guillaume, Alfred (2002). The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ibn Isḥāq's sīrat. London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780196360331.
  3. ^ a b c d Ibn Jarir at-Tabari. The History of the Prophets and Kings.
  4. ^ a b c d e Ṭabarī; Watt, W. Montgomery; McDonald, M. V.; Ṭabarī (1988). Muḥammad at Mecca. SUNY series in Near Eastern studies. Albany, N.Y: State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-88706-706-8.
  5. ^ a b Abdul Aziz (2011). Chiefdom of Medina: Misunderstanding the Islamic State. Alphabet Library. p. 208. ISBN 978-979-3064-98-7. 9793064986.