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Aws and Khazraj

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Aws (Arabic: اوس) and Khazraj (Arabic: خزرج), are the two important Arab tribes from Yemen, who migrated to Medina long before Islam. After emigration of the Prophet (s) to Medina they became named as Ansar (the helpers). The role of these two tribes is significant in the history of Islam, especially in hijra and in battles.

Aws and Khazraj
EraBefore and after Islam
LineageHaritha b. Tha'laba b. 'Amr b. 'Amir
NamingAws and Khazraj were two sons of Haritha b. Tha'laba
Geography
OriginYemen
ResidenceYathrib
Well-known Figures
FiguresHanzala b. Abi 'Amir, Sa'd b. Mu'adh, 'Asim b. Thabit from Aws and Sa'd b. 'Ubada, Zayd b. Thabit, Mu'adh b. Jabal and Ubayy b. Ka'b from Khazraj.
LiteratesHassan b. Thabit

Some historians believe that some of Qur'an verses are revealed about Ansar.

Origin

Bloodline of Aws and Khazraj reaches the great tribe of Azd in Yemen. Most of genealogists and historians of the first centuries of Islam have mentioned the lineage of the two tribes through Banu Mazin b. Azd.[1]

The great ancestor of the two tribes, 'Amr b. 'Amir is known as Muzayqiyya, and Aws and Khazraj were the two sons of Haritha b. Tha'laba b. 'Amr b. 'Amir. Their bloodline reaches to the tribe Banu Quda'a through their mother, named Qayla bt. Kahil;[2] so Aws and Khazraj also had named themselves as "Banu Qayla".[3]

Aws is short for "Aws Manat" which shows their connection to one of the famous idols of the age of ignorance.[4] Khazraj means strong or southern wind.[5]

Residence in Yathrib

Residence of Aws and Khazraj in Yathrib has a close connection to the scattering of the branches of Azd tribe, who were living in Yemen, in various parts of Arabian Peninsula.

The most common narration in old sources shows that the destruction of the Ma'rab Dam because of a flood caused the migration of Azdite groups from Yemen,[6] Some other narratives say that they migrated before the destruction of the Ma'rab Dam.[7] There's no agreement among current historians about the cause of the migration and its date.[8] Most probably the migration of Azdites from Yemen didn't happen all at once.[9]

Later, these immigrants in the north of the Arabian Peninsula formed the little state of Ghassanids, close to Syria. And some other groups established Al Mundhir or Lakhmids government in some parts of Iraq (Hira). Ghassanids was a client state of Rome, and Lakhmids were allies of Iran.

Maybe, after the formation of these states, migration of Azdite tribes, including Aws and Khazraj-or their ancestors- to different parts of the Arabian Peninsula gained speed. According to some authors, maybe the movement of Aws and Khazraj happened later than other Azdite tribes, and probably in late 4th century CE.[10] They chose Yathrib, which was suitable for agriculture.

When this group of Azdites reached Yathrib, a group of Jews was living there, and political and economic control of the place was in their hands.[11]

Relation with Jews

The Jews and the migrants began with cooperation, however, the more the immigrants, the less the dominance of the Jews. It's likely that the procedure of separation of the two tribes began by the formation of different clans and branches.

Some signs show that Aws and Khazraj were feeling themselves closer to Ghassanids who were descendants of Azd.[12] As some authors guessed, the representative of Sasanid empire ruled Yathrib, but after the entrance of Aws and Khazraj to Yathrib, the situation changed in favor of Ghassanids. According to a narration, Jews were paying tribute to the representative of Sasanid empire,[13] and in return, they supported the rule the Jews over Yathrib. Aws and Khazraj got tired of the oppression of the Jew governor and sought help from Ghassanids. So Malik b. 'Ajlan came to help them, and the superiority of Aws and Khazraj in Yathrib began.[14]

Internal Relations

The conflict began between the two tribes leading to long and bloody battles, and indeed, the Jews were actively involved in the situation.[15] Each tribe tried to gain superiority by making alliances with the Jewish tribes of Yathrib. Aws was allied with Banu Qurayza, and Khazraj with Banu Nadir.[16] This competition resulted in bloody wars between branches of the two tribes; every battle has a unique name in the age of ignorance, but most of these narrations are mixed with myth.[17]

In the first battle, named Sumayr, Aws won, but in most of the later battles, Khazraj was the victor.[18]

In the last battle, named Bu'ath, which occurred after bi'tha of the Prophet (s), some Awsites went to Mecca to ally with Quraysh, but they didn't show any interest. Then a connection established between some of them and the Prophet (s).[19] (see: Pledge of al-'Aqaba)

Apparently, Khazrajites wanted to make 'Abd 'Allah b. 'Ubay ruler of the city.[20]

After Accepting Islam

With the emigration of the Prophet (s) to Yathrib, Aws and Khazraj accepted Islam. The Prophet (s) named them as Ansar (the Helpers), of which they were very proud.[21]

Islam had united them under one belief and title; yet, their long rivalry broke out in some occasions, as they had disagreement and pride over who had pledged allegiance sooner in the pledge of al-'Aqaba.[22] Also, there was a competition over their presence in other Islamic events.

It seems that in the Islamic period, Khazrajites have the upper hand, as among the Twelve Naqibs three of them were from Aws and nine were from Khazraj;[23] also, in the Battle of Badr Khazrajites were more than Awsites.[24]

In the battles of Muraysi' and Banu Qurayza, and the story of Ifk, discord between Aws and Khazraj appeared, but the Prophet (s) extinguished the flame.[25] After the demise of the Prophet (s), Abu Bakr and his supporters took advantage of the competition of Aws and Khazraj for gaining the succession of the Prophet (s).[26]

Each one of Aws and Khazraj had five clans.[27] Each of these clans had multiple branches, which number reached up to 40. And other tribes and groups were allied with the tribes.[28]

Honors

Aws and Khazraj were famous for their bravery.[29] Each one had important poets; among Aws, Qays b. Khatim, known as "the tongue of Aws", and Abu Qays b. Aslat are famous.[30] Hassan b. Thabit, whose eulogy about the Prophet (s) is famous, and Ka'b b. Malik are from Khazraj.[31]

Some of great Companions of the Prophet (s) were from the two tribes. From Aws, Hanzala b. Abi 'Amir, 'Asim b. Thabit, Sa'd b. Mu'adh; and from Khazraj, Zayd b. Thabit, Mu'adh b. Jabal, and 'Ubay b. Ka'b could be noted.[32]

It is said that some of Qur'anic verses are revealed about Aws and Khazraj, especially Quran 3:103 which commands believers to be unified and avoid division[33].

Amongst historians, Abu 'Ubayda Mu'ammar b. al-Muthanna, al-Waqidi (d. 207/822-3), and 'Allan al-Shu'ubi (d. late 2nd/seventh century), wrote books dedicated to Aws and Khazraj, their genealogy, battles, and vices.[34]

See Also

Notes

  1. ↑ Ibn Kalbī, Jumhurat al-nasab, p. 621; Khalīfa b. Khayyāṭ, Kitab al-ṭabaqāt, vol. 1, p. 175; Yaʿqūbī, Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī, vol. 1, p. 202.
  2. ↑ Ibn Ḥazm, Jamharat ansāb al-ʿarab, p. 331; Ibn Qutayba al-Dīnawarī, al-Maʿārif, p. 109.
  3. ↑ Jawād ʿAlī al-Mufaṣṣal fī tārīkh al-ʿarab qabl al-Islām, vol. 4, p. 133.
  4. ↑ Jawād ʿAlī al-Mufaṣṣal fī tārīkh al-ʿarab qabl al-Islām, vol. 4, p. 135; Ibn Kalbī, al-Aṣnām, p. 13-14, 27.
  5. ↑ Ibn Manẓūr, Lisān al-ʿArab, under the word "Khazraj"
  6. ↑ Ibn Rusta, al-Aʿlāq al-nafīsa, vol. 7, p. 62-63; Yaʿqūbī, Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī, vol. 1, p. 203.
  7. ↑ Wolfensohn, Tarīkh al-Yahūd fī bilād al-ʿArab, p. 52.
  8. ↑ Mihrān, Tārīkh al-ʿarab al-qadīm, p. 455-458; Wolfensohn, Tarīkh al-Yahūd fī bilād al-ʿArab, p. 63; Sharīf, Makka wa Madīna fī l-jāhiliyya, p. 313-316.
  9. ↑ Sharīf, Makka wa Madīna fī l-jāhiliyya, p. 315.
  10. ↑ Sharīf, Makka wa Madīna fī l-jāhiliyya, p. 313-316.
  11. ↑ Ibn Rusta, al-Aʿlāq al-nafīsa, vol. 7, p. 62; Balādhurī, Futūḥ al-buldān, p. 17.
  12. ↑ Jawād ʿAlī, l-Mufaṣṣal fī tārīkh, vol. 3, p. 391.
  13. ↑ Ibn Rusta, al-Aʿlāq al-nafīsa, vol. 7, p. 64.
  14. ↑ Mihrān, Tārīkh al-ʿarab al-qadīm, p. 462-464; Samhudī, Wafāʾ al-wafā, vol. 1, p. 178.
  15. ↑ Mihrān, Tārīkh al-ʿarab al-qadīm, p. 481; Wakīl, Yathrib qabl al-Islām, p. 75.
  16. ↑ Mihrān, Tārīkh al-ʿarab al-qadīm, p. 481; Wakīl, Yathrib qabl al-Islām, p. 75.
  17. ↑ Mihrān, Tārīkh al-ʿarab al-qadīm, p. 480.
  18. ↑ Ibn al-Athīr al-Jazarī, al-Kāmil fī l-tārīkh, vol. 1, p. 658-659.
  19. ↑ Ibn al-Athīr al-Jazarī, al-Kāmil fī l-tārīkh, vol. 1, p. 680-681; Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 1, p. 238; Ibn Ḥabīb, al-Munammaq, p. 268; Wolfensohn, Tarīkh al-Yahūd fī bilād al-ʿArab, p. 68.
  20. ↑ Wolfensohn, Tarīkh al-Yahūd fī bilād al-ʿArab, p. 70; Ibn Saʿīd, Nashwat al-ṭarab, vol. 1, p. 190.
  21. ↑ Jawād ʿAlī, al-Mufaṣṣal fī tārīkh, vol. 4, p. 140-141.
  22. ↑ Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, p. ?; Ibn Qadāma, al-Tabyīn fī ansāb al-qurashīyīn, p. 499.
  23. ↑ Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 1, p. 252; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, vol. 2, p. 363.
  24. ↑ Ibn Isḥāq, al-Sīyar wa al-maghāzī, p. 288; Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 1, p. 290.
  25. ↑ Wāqidī, al-Maghāzī, vol. 2, p. 415, 431, 515; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, vol. 2, p. 614; Ibn Ḥanbal, al-Musnad, vol. 6, p. 59, 196.
  26. ↑ Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, vol. 2, p. 221-222; Masʿūdī, Murūj al-dhahab, vol. 2, p. 304.
  27. ↑ Sharīf, Makka wa Madīna fī l-jāhiliyya, p. 310-311.
  28. ↑ Sharīf, Makka wa Madīna fī l-jāhiliyya, p. 309.
  29. ↑ Ibn ʿAbd Rabbih, al-ʿIqd al-farīd, vol. 2, p. 192-193; Balādhurī, Futūḥ al-buldān, p. 17.
  30. ↑ Jawād ʿAlī, al-Mufaṣṣal fī tārīkh, vol. 1, p. 475; Iṣfahānī, al-ʾAghānī, vol. 2, p. 159.
  31. ↑ Dhahabī, Siyar aʿlām al-nubalāʾ, vol. 2, p. 512; Jawād ʿAlī, al-Mufaṣṣal fī tārīkh, vol. 9, p. 654.
  32. ↑ Ibn ʿAbd Rabbih, al-ʿIqd al-farīd, vol. 3, p. 331; Jawād ʿAlī, al-Mufaṣṣal fī tārīkh, vol. 4, p. 137.
  33. ↑ Ṭūsī, al-Tibyān, vol. 2, p. 545-546; Qurtubī, al-Jāmiʿ li-aḥkām al-Qurʾān, vol. 4, p. 155; Ṭabarī, Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī, vol. 4, p. 17.
  34. ↑ Ibn al-Nadīm, al-Fihrist, p. 60, 111, 118.

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