The Banū Lahab (Arabic: بنو لهب) are a tribe of Qahtanite that are part of the Azd tribal group. They currently inhabit the towns in Al Makhwah, a governorate of the Al Bahah Region in Saudi Arabia. In pre-Islamic times, the Banu Lahab were professional soothsayers of the Arabian community.
Tribal lineage
Genealogists have agreed that the lineage of the Banu Lahab can be traced back to a Qahtani Arab man named Lahab al-Azdi. However, they differ on his lineage:
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Ibn al-Kalbi stated that his lineage was Lahab, son of Ahjan, son of Ka'b, son of al-Harith, son of Ka'b, son of 'Abd Allah, son of Malik, son of Nasr, son of al-Azd.
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Ibn Qutaybah stated that his lineage was Lahab, son of 'Amir, son of al-Azd.
Despite inconsistencies in both reports, they agree that Lahab was descended from al-Azd, the progenitor of the Azdite tribes.
Related tribes
Banu Lahab's sibling tribes were the
Banu Aslam and the Banu Qarin.
Their uncle tribe was the
Zahran tribe. Together with their sibling tribes and uncle tribes, the Banu Lahab are part of the larger
Azd Shanua confederation.
History
In the pre-Islamic times, Banu Lahab held prominence in the Arabian Peninsula as convincing soothsayers, a trait which they inherited from their progenitor Lahab al-Azdi.
The Banu Lahab also became the leader of the Azd tribal confederation for a short period of time until the reign of the sons of
Muzayqiya.
In the 7th century CE, the converted to Islam and their flagbearer and leader was al-Nu'man ibn al-Razi'ah al-Lahbi.
They were known to have sent letters to the Islamic prophet
Muhammad.
Modern history
The Banu Lahab currently reside in
Saudi Arabia, mainly in the Al Bahah Region.
See also
