Banu Nahd

Banu Nahd (Arabic: بنو نهد) is a tribe across the Arabian peninsula. They are the sons of Nahd bin Zaid bin Laith bin Sud bin Aslam bin Al-Hafi bin Quda’ah bin Malik bin Himyar. Banu Nahd originates from the Quda'ah tribal federation which is mostly agreed upon to be Qahtanite, originating from the Himyar tree.However, it is still debated between genealogists if it originates from Ma'ad which is Adnanite.

It is a possibility that the father of Quda'ah was a stepson of Ma'ad, which is where the confusion stems from.There is also a Nahdi War cry that goes "Qahtan, Oh Father!" Implying that the Nahd believe they are Qahtanite.

They have a symbol of 811 and also call themself "Nahd al 'Aasiyah".There are 4 main branches of Banu Nahd. These 4 branches are Banu Radwan, Banu Maqarim, Banu Yazid and Banu Daalfan.

Banu Nahd has been an Important tribe In Wadi Hadhramaut and had asserted its control over Hadhramaut, the interior and coast in the 1220s during their revolt against the Ayyubid Governor of Hadhramaut.

Nahd has been a historical rival with the Kathiris who defeated the Nahd and took over the rest of Hadhramaut. The Nahd also have been on bad terms with Se'iar north of them and Ja'ada south of them (Wadi 'Amd).

In modern times, their current tribal leader Al-Hakam Saleh bin Ali bin Thabit declares support for a Unified Yemen under the PLC.

They are often referred to being Bedouins, many of the Nahd are mixed with Banu Khath'am and Bajilah.

Banu Nahd are now mostly sedentary but they have preserved Bedouin laws and customs of Hadhramaut.

The tribe of Nahd are well built tribe, having a unique dual chieftainship and don't widely have an ex-slave/maskin class, contrary to other Arab tribal societies.

"Their reputation for hospitality is such that they have been known to fire on cars, if the occupants did not stop for a meal".

Location

The Nahd originally lived in Najran, Bisha, Sharurah, Tathleeth, Sarat Abidah, Tareeb, Jash, Tabalah, Qarara (East of Khamis Muhshait), Dhu Baydan and Abalam (Between Najran and Tathleeth), Bardan (45 KM north of Khamis Mushait) and Khadara (35 KM north of Dhahran Janoub). Prior to their mass migration across Arabia their capital was at Hajirah south of Tathleeth between Hamdhah and Amoah, it was situated on a Gold mine.

Banu Nahd today are now most notably in Wadi Hadhramaut where their capital, Qa'udah is situated. However, Qaydun in Wadi Dawan (Where they also own 10 miles of) was also described as the center of the Nahd.

Nahd claims a large area from Al Qatun to Sayhad and also inhabit Taribah in Seiyun District.

The Nahd have a presence in Wadi 'Amd where they are neighbors with the Ja'ada tribe, Wadi Rakhiya near the border of Shabwah and Wadi Dahr in Eastern Shabwah. They also inhabit Wadi al Ain connected to the east of Wadi Dawan and also having large presence in the Shibam District.

They are also in the Sarawat Mountains including Hejaz where they live in Wadi al Safra between Mecca and Medina and in the North of Hejaz in Wadi al Qura.

The Nahd have also been across Najd being one of the first Quda'ah Tribes to settle there. Further more they have a degree of presence in Khaleej, especially in UAE and are in Iraq and Oman.

Nahd is also found across the Levant.

The Nahd have begun migrating to North Africa starting in the 11th century where they now inhabit close to the border of Algeria and Tunisia living around the city of El Kala in El Taref province. Nahdi tribes have migrated across the Indian Ocean to Java, Indonesia (where they constitute much of the population of Tegal) Somaliland, India, and also Jeddah In Saudi Arabia.

Nahd also migrated to Andalusia, primarily residing in the Cordoban Province of Rayya which is in the south, now adays being mostly in the Malaga Province.

History

Banu Nahd was a major and important tribe in the Najran Region (Which Included Bisha and Tabalah). They grew in mumbers that started to comepte with the Major tribe of Madhhaj, They were in conflict with the Jarm tribe who were allies with Banu Zubayd from Maddhaj while Nahd was allied with Banu Al Harith, another Maddhaj Tribe.

The Nahd participated in the Himyarite war under Abu Karib Assad against the Lakhmids in 428 AD which involved the conquest of Wadi Masil 50km South east of Dawadimi, also and penetrating deep into Al Hira, the Lakhmid Capital.

The Nahd before Islam despite the Himyarites following Judaism were polytheists. Prophet Muhammad sent a message to the Banu Nahd along with other tribes in Yemen to follow Islam, to which the Nahd agreed however not initially. The Nahd were described to be well equipped with weapons, they offered milk to Muhammad however it was declined by the Prophet because he wouldn't accept a gift from pagans. Despite this, he offered to buy the milk which surprised them and gave them respect for the Prophet because the Banu Nahd has always had their treasures robbed. The Banu Nahd agreed to join the religion with no war.

After Islam, the Banu Nahd participated in the battle of al Qadisiyyah where they were led by a general named Qays bin Hidhyam bin Jurthumah. "O Banu Nahd, attack because you were called Nahd only in order to do that" However Khalid bin Urfutah told him to stop this advance, warning that he would be replaced by someone else.

During the times of the Umayyads, Qasour Bin Ma'alal who was apart of the Nahd Tribe was appointed as the Governor of Sistan.

There has been a battle narrated Abu Muhammad al Hasan al Hamdani who lived from 890s-940s in his work of Al Iklil (Volume 2) that stated the Madhhaj allied to Nahd and Khawlan were engaged in conflict against the tribe of Hawazin which instigated a large war between Quda'ah and the Qaysi tribes

The Nahd, along with their allies of the time, Banu al Harith were attacked by the Yahya bin al Hussein during 910 AD. They were in support of the Sulayhid Dynasty under King Ali al Sulayhi. In 1140 they would declare support for the Sulaymanids and would attack the Banu Yam tribe that has a huge presence over the province of Najran in 1154. They would begin mass migrating to Hadhramaut in 1195 (along with Banu al Harith and Banu Dhannah, their allies) due to multiple possible reasons such as:

1 - Drought situations

2 - Pressure from the Zaydi Imamate

3 - Interest into the agriculture of Wadi Hadhramaut.

After their migration, the Nahd would begin intense conflict with Local Hadhrami tribes and would establish a strong presence in Hadhramaut to this day.

They would number around 1,500 when they began migrating to Hadhramaut.

They would begin hostility since 1200s AD against the tribes of Wadi Hadhramaut.In 1207 AD they would siege the cities of Tarim, Shibam and Maryamah, destroying the Al Daghar, a tribe from Kinda which ruled Shibam in 1208 AD however in the same year Banu Sa'ad and some tribes of Kinda would retaliate and kick them out. Nahd would be expelled to Western Hadhramaut for the meantime. Omar bin Mahdi the appointed Ayyubid Governor of Hadhramaut would make his arrival in 1216 AD subjugating much of Hadhramaut under his rule.

Nahd would begin their revolt against Omar Bin Mahdi in the 1220s. He was described as a tyrannical ruler and many of the tribes of Hadhramaut would dislike him. Nahd would kill Umar Bin Mahdi in 1223 AD in Shibam, taking over the city along with Tarim, the two main cities of Wadi Hadhramaut at the time. Following this, they gained full control over eastern and central regions of Wadi Hadhramaut, as well as dismantling Ayyubid Control over Hadhramaut, The Al Yamani Sultanate, a Nahdi Dynasty led by Omar bin Ma'soud would integrate the lands that were occupied by Nahd.

Nahd would succeed in establishing their rule over Hadhramaut, having control of not only the Interior but also the coast of Hadhramaut.

In 1226-27 rain would flood much of Wadi Hadhramaut, weakening the rule of Nahd which allowed the Banu Sa’ad to take over Shibam in 1229, In the same year though under Omar bin Ma’soud would take Al Hajrain and in 1230 he would take Henin and besiege the Iqbal (A tribe of Kinda) in their city of Al Shihr until they paid him to leave. He would purchase Shibam back  in 1231 AD and would attack and take over Wadi ‘Amd, then returning to Tarim.

Iqbal would successfully take over Nahdi Possessions of Tarim and Shibam in 1236 AD, this was changed however when in 1238 AD Nahd would counterattack and take over all of Hadhramaut again under Amer Bin Shammakh, who is apart of the Rawdan Sub tribe. Following this, the Iqbal Family would be expelled.

When the Rasulids came to Hadhramaut the same year Banu Nahd would make peace with them but would then break this treaty when a rasulid army under Ibn Abi Zakri was obliterated. Al Yamani would take back Tarim and Amer Bin Shammakh would take over Shibam also establishing a state in Western Hadhramaut centered at Al Soor which is West of Henin. This would put most of Wadi Hadhramaut under Nahdi Control.

In 1275 AD the ruler of Dhofar Salim al Habuzi invaded Hadhramaut sieging Tarim and taking over Seiyun. The Habuzis of Dhofar would retain their control over Wadi Hadhramaut until Al Malik al Muzaffar, the king of the Rasulids invaded Dhofar killing Salim al Habuzi which diestablished his rule over the Wadi.

Nahd and the Kathiri, a new Sultanate would fight across Hadhramaut. During this war the Al Yamani dynasty was abolished. In 1531-2 an army of 200 Nahdi Forces would leave their homelands in Wadi Hadhramaut and would besiege the city of Al Shihr, ruled by the Kathiri and would force the Inhabitants to evacuate though the Kathiris would defeat Nahd and take over Hadhramaut.

In 1716 AD the Qasimids sent an incursion into Wadi al Ain consisting of 400 Men attacking the Nahd. This attack failed miserably and all 400 troops were killed.

In Algeria and Tunisia, the Banu Nahd has had a long rivalry with the Khoumir, which is also an Arab tribe that resides in El Kala. Nahd would pay light tributes to the Bey of Constantine. When the Bastion De France, a trading company abandoned their old outpost they would move to El Kala during 1677, which the Nahd claimed east of the city. In 1772 Nahd, along with another tribe, Arid engaged in war against Banu Mazen in El Kala cutting the supply lines to the city until peace was established. General Guingret of the French would suppress the Nahd in the 1840s among others such as the Khoumirs and Beni Saleh pillaging their tribes.

In 1881 February Nahd would launch an attack against the Khoumirs. In response, the Khoumirs would launch a counterattack of 400-500 men until the French halted them in late March same year.

During 1888 Hadhramaut would be under the claim of Aden protectorate which was ruled by Britain. Unlike the other tribes, the Nahd (also the Karab) was independent from both the Hadhrami Sultanates (Qu'aiti and Kathiri).The Nahd in the 1920s had an army of about 3000-4000 led by their ruler at the time, Sheikh Ibn Minif. They were friendly with the Qu'aiti and had a bitter rivalry with the Sei'ar, a tribe north of Nahd.

As the British sought peace in Hadhramaut(1930s-1940s), which was engaged in constant tribal warfare. There would be negotiations between the Nahd and Ja'adah which were the last biggest barrier to establishing peace among tribes in Hadhramaut, the signing between the two tribes went good and the Brits would move onto the al Thabit. The al Thabit is a branch of Nahd that split off, fighting specifically against al 'Ajaj. This was a struggle and peace was only established by the Brits threatening al Thabit with destruction. Nahd also signed a truce with the Se'iar at Henin.

The Nahd supported the SAL (South Arabian League) during the Aden Emergency which was against the NLF (National Liberation Front). The South Arabian League was a nationalist organization formed in 1951 being one of the first modern political groups of South Yemen. The SAL wanted the Aden protectorates to all unite in one nation, rejecting Britain's colonial acts. It was founded by the al Jifri family in Lahij and by Sheikhan al Habshi, a Hadrami. The SAL got a great amount of support from Saudi Arabia and Nahd was among many that gave the SAL tribal support.

What the Nahd support in the Modern Yemeni Civil War is rather divided between STC and the De Jure Yemeni Government. There has been some instances where some Nahdi tribes would rally in support for Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, the president of the STC, but the current tribal leader, Al-Hakam Saleh bin Ali bin Thabit has declared support for the Yemeni Government under Rashad al Alimi.

References