Dar al-Nadwa: Difference between revisions

'''Dār al-Nadwa''' (Arabic: دار النَدوَة) is a place in [[Mecca]] where the noblemen of [[Quraysh]] assembled in order to confer and decide about various issues. Some crucial and historical decisions made at Dar al-Nadwa include: the Treaty of [[Khuza’a]] and [[Banu Hashim]], [[Hilf al-Fudul]], and Quraysh’s decision to murder [[the Prophet Muhammad (s)]].

The word “dār” (دار) means house, and the word “nadwa” (ندوة) is from the Arabic root, “n-d-w” (ن-د-و) which literally means to gather or assemble. So the phrase literally means: ‘place of gathering or assembly’.

The place was built by [[Qusay b. Kilab]]. Because of founding Dar al-Nadwa and gathering Quraysh there, he was called “Mujammi’” (assembler).

Dar al-Nadwa used to be Qusay’s house. It was adjacent to [[Masjid al-Haram]] on its western side. Its door was opened to the [[Ka'ba]].

Dar al-Nadwa was the place where the Quraysh conferred about political and social issues, such as the declaration of wars, marriages, declaration of girls’ puberty and clothing them with special clothes, and the circumcision of boys. Moreover, all commercial caravans of Mecca began and ended their travels from Dar al-Nadwa.

With the establishment of Dar al-Nadwa, Qusay established a civilization in Mecca, because the first building constructed in Mecca other than the Ka’ba was Dar al-Nadwa. Other buildings were constructed accordingly.

Qusay’s children were all members of Dar al-Nadwa. Members of other clans of Quraysh could attended the assemblies provided that they are at least 40 years old, although [[Abu Jahl]] is said to be admitted in Dar al-Nadwa when he was 30 years old.

After Qusay’s death, Dar al-Nadwa was supervised by his son, ‘Abd al-Dar. After disputes between sons of ‘Abd al-Dar and sons of [['Abd Manaf]] over the headship of Dar al-Nadwa, its headship was finally assigned to the sons of ‘Abd al-Dar, until when [[Hakim b. Hizam]] purchased Dar al-Nadwa from [[Mansur b. ‘Amir b. Hisham b. 'Abd Manaf b. 'Abd al-Dar b. Qusay]]. Then [['Akrama b. Hisham]] purchased it from Hakim b. Hizam, and after the emergence of [[Islam]], he sold it to [[Mu'awiya b. Abi Sufyan]] (reign: 41-60 AH/ 661-680) in the amount of 100,000 dirhams. Mu’awiya turned Dar al-Nadwa into his governmental center in Mecca.

* The Treaty of Khuza’a and Banu Hashim

* Quraysh’s decision to murder the Prophet (s), which led to his migration to [[Medina]].