ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books History of Islam Chapter One : the Holy Prophet’s Ancestors Muhammad's Lineage The Holy Prophet’s ancestors up to the twentieth before his father included: Abd al-Muttalib, `Abd Manaf, Qusay, Kilab, Murrah, Ka`b, Lu’ay, Ghalib, Fihr, Malik, al-Nazr, Kinanah, Khuzaymah, Mudrikah, Ilyas, Muzar, Nizar, Ma`ad, and `Andan.[^1] However, there is no agreement concerning his other ancestors up to Prophet Ishmael, Prophet Abraham’s son.

[^2] It is narrated that when the Holy Prophet enumerated his ancestors, he refused to call any other ancestor prior to `Adnan,[^3] and recommended others to do so.[^4] Regarding the work of genealogists concerning his lineage and the names of his other ancestors between `Adnan and Isma`il, the Holy Prophet used to say, “Genealogists lied.”[^5] The Arab tribes are divided into Qahtani and `Adnani groups.

Quraysh, due to its relation with `Adnan (the Holy Prophet's twentieth ancestor) belongs to `Adnan. All clans whose lineage leads to al-Nazr ibn Kinanah are called qurayshi, since Quraysh was their nickname.[^6] The tribe of Quraysh is of different branches,[^7] such as Banu-Makhzum, Banu-Zuhrah, Banu-Umayyah, Banu-Sahm, Banu-Asad and Banu-Hashim[^8] to which the Holy Prophet belongs.

`Abd al-Muttalib’s Personality Among the Holy Prophet’s ancestors, we have a lot of information about `Abd al-Muttalib, the first ancestor, since he lived at a time close to the Islamic era. `Abd al-Muttalib was a beloved, generous, wise and unique personality.[^9] He, like all great divine personalities, was the chief of his time. Despite his long life, he never took on the corrupt traits prevalent in the society of Mecca.

In those days, nobody in Mecca believed in the Resurrection; and even if this belief existed, it was not strong.

Not only did `Abd al-Muttalib believe in the Resurrection but also emphasized the chastisement of that Day; he used to remark: “There is a world after this one in which good-wishers will get their rewards and evildoers their punishment.”[^10] Although a tribal dogmatism prevailed in the Arabian Peninsula in those dark days and everybody defended the rights of his relatives without considering justice, `Abd al-Muttalib was not such a person.