Zuhayr ibn Janab

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Zuhayr ibn Janab ibn Hubal al-Kalbi was a

Bahdal ibn Unayf, would later hold high positions under the Umayyad Caliphate
.

Life

Zuhayr's

Amilah tribe.[3] Zuhayr is recorded as one of the muʿammarūn (centenarians) and he was noted in Arab legends for his extremely long life.[4] According to these fables, Zuhayr lived to 450 years of age, and his grandfather Hubal lived to 650.[5]

Sometime in the early or mid-6th century, Zuhayr was a one-time ally of Abraha (d. ca. 553), the Aksumite viceroy of Yemen and enemy of the Meccans.[2] Abraha gave Zuhayr authority over the related tribes of Taghlib and Banu Bakr.[2] He led an attack by the Kalb and their Yemeni allies against the two tribes when they revolted, and took captive the Taghlibi chieftain Kulayb ibn Rabi'a and his brother Muhalhil.[2] In his poetry, Zuhayr refers to this battle, which is recorded by many traditional Arab sources, saying "We captured Muhalhil and his brother ... May Taghlib perish because their women are herded to the market like slaves with no ornaments".[6] After the battle, the Amilah persuaded Zuhayr to release Muhalhil and noblemen from the Bakr tribe.[6]

Later, friendly relations apparently existed between Zuhayr and the Meccans, including the tribe of

Ka'aba in Mecca, Zuhayr resolved to destroy it. Accounts vary as to Zuhayr's motive, with some holding that the erection of the haram offended Zuhayr because it implied Ghatafani superiority over his own tribe,[7] and others claiming that it was a favor by Zuhayr to the Quraysh in Mecca.[8] The former account is supported by 10th-century historian Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani, who wrote that when Zuhayr became aware of the Ghatafan's action, he exclaimed "By God, that will never happen while I am alive! I will never leave Ghatafan alone while they take a haram".[9] Following this, Zuhayr gathered his Kalbi tribesmen, raided and defeated the Ghatafan in their dwelling place and destroyed their haram.[10] Afterward, "he acted graciously toward Ghatafan", releasing their women and cattle.[10]

Legacy

Zuhayr is said have killed himself by drinking unmixed wine after being disobeyed.

Mu'awiyah I (r. 661–680) and gave birth to the latter's son and successor Yazid I (r. 680–683).[2] Bahdal's grandsons Hassan (d. 668), Humayd and Sa'id, also played leading roles over the Kalb and in the Umayyad court and military. Other notable members of the Banu Haritha ibn Janab included al-Fahl ibn Ayyash, who reportedly slew Yazid ibn al-Muhallab in 720, and the poet al-Musayyab ibn Rifall.[11][12]

References

  1. ^ Ibn Abd Rabbih, ed. Boullata 2011, p. 275.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Lecker 2002, p. 558.
  3. ^ Rihan 2014, pp. 89–90.
  4. ^ Munt, p. 38, n. 101.
  5. ISBN 9780873952347
    .
  6. ^ a b Rihan 2014, p. 90.
  7. ^ Munt 2014, pp. 39–40.
  8. ^ Munt 2014, p. 40, n. 108.
  9. ^ Munt 2014, pp. 38–39.
  10. ^ a b Munt 2014, p. 39.
  11. ^ a b Krenkow 1936, p. 1237.
  12. ^ Rihan 2014, p. 120.

Bibliography

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