The Adnanites (Arabic: عَدْنَانِيُّون, romanized: ʿadnāniyyūn) were a tribal confederation of the Ishmaelite Arabs, who trace their lineage back to Ishmael son of the Islamic prophet and patriarch Abraham and his wife Hagar through Adnan, who originate from the Hejaz. The Islamic prophet Muhammad belonged to the Quraysh tribe of the 'Adnanites'.
According to the Arab tradition, the Adnanites are the Northern Arabs, unlike the Qahtanite Arabs of southern Arabia, who are descended from Qahtan, son of the Islamic prophet Hūdʿ.
Arab genealogical tradition
According to Arab genealogical tradition, the Adnanites are descended from Adnan whom in turn is descended from Ishmael. whereas the Qahtanites of Southern Arabia (Yemen) are the original, pure Arabs.
Modern historiography
According to some modern historians, the traditional distinction between Adnanites and Qahtanites lacks evidence and may have developed out of the later faction-fighting during the Umayyad period.
Further reading
- The dwelling places and wanderings of the Arabian tribes, by Heinrich Ferdinand Wüstenfeld, in German
- Were the Qays and Yemen of the Umayyad Period Political Parties?
See also
- Prophet Muhammad, a member of this group
References
