The Clan Offices of Jahiliya Quraysh
الولايات العامة لقبائل قريش في الجاهلية
Suyuti cites Ibn Ishaq: Quraysh had no single king to whom all affairs returned; each clan held a general office under its head. Banu Hashim held the siqaya and rifada — none ate or drank save of their food and drink; Banu Abd al-Dar held the hijaba, the liwa' and the nadwa — none entered the House save by their leave, they bound Quraysh's war banners, and the assembly met for binding or loosing only at Dar al-Nadwa. And Abu Bakr's Jahiliya charge was the diya and ghamara — bloodwit and the heavy debts.
At a glance
- Era
- Pre-Islamic Arabia
- Review
- Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it
Overview
Al-Suyuti reports from Ibn Ishaq that Quraysh had no king to whom all affairs returned. Each clan had a general authority for its chief. 1
The offices
Among the Banu Hashim were the provision of water and the provision of food, meaning that no one ate or drank except from their food and drink. 1
Among the Banu Abd al-Dar were the chamberlainship, the standard, and Dar al-Nadwa. That is, no one entered the House except by their permission; when Quraysh tied a war banner, the Banu Abd al-Dar tied it for them; and when they gathered for a matter, whether to confirm or to annul it, they gathered only in Dar al-Nadwa. 1
Abu Bakr, in the Jahiliyya, had charge of the blood-money and the fines. 1
Sources
- Tarikh al-Khulafa — al-Suyuti (Dar al-Minhaj edition)
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “The Clan Offices of Jahiliya Quraysh”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/quraysh-clan-offices/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-17.