Banū al-Qayn () (also spelled Banūʾl Qayn, Balqayn or al-Qayn ibn Jasr) were an

Arab Arabs (, , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...

tribe that was active between the early Roman era in the Near East through the early Islamic era (7th–8th centuries CE), as far as the historical record is concerned.

Origins

According to traditional Arab genealogy, the Banu al-Qayn was founded by a certain al-Nu'man ibn Jasr, who was known as ''al-Qayn'' (the iron smith).Watt, p. 820. However, according to all historical indications, the tribe was strictly

Bedouin The Bedouin, Beduin, or Bedu ( ; , singular ) are pastorally nomadic Arab tribes who have historically inhabited the desert regions in the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, the Levant, and Mesopotamia (Iraq). The Bedouin originated in the Sy ...

and its tribesmen did not involve themselves in metalwork. The Banu al-Qayn formed part of the

Quda'a The Quda'a () were a confederation of Arab tribes, including the powerful Banu Kalb, Kalb and Tanukh, mainly concentrated throughout Syria (region), Syria and northwestern Arabia, from at least the 4th century CE, during Byzantine Empire, Byzanti ...

, a large tribal confederation.

History

According to historian Irfan Shahid, "it is almost certain" that the Banu al-Qayn, along with the Judham and Amila tribes, "functioned as military units in the Roman period, forming part of the Nabatean confederacy".Shahid, p. 390. Moreover, Shahid argues the Banu al-Qayn dated back to the biblical era and "represent dthe strand of ethnographic continuity in the region, running from biblical to Byzantine to Muslim Arab times". In the 4th century CE, the tribe's dwelling places were in Transjordan and they served as ''

foederati ''Foederati'' ( ; singular: ''foederatus'' ) were peoples and cities bound by a treaty, known as ''foedus'', with Rome. During the Roman Republic, the term identified the '' socii'', but during the Roman Empire, it was used to describe foreign ...

'' (federates) of the

Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived History of the Roman Empire, the events that caused the ...

. They were among the Arab ''foederati'', including the

Banu Kalb The Banu Kalb () was an Arab tribe which mainly dwelt in the desert and steppe of northwestern Arabia and central Syria. It was involved in the tribal politics of the Byzantine Empire's eastern frontiers, possibly as early as the 4th century. ...

, Judham,

Bali Bali (English:; Balinese language, Balinese: ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller o ...

, and Lakhm, that fought the Muslim Arabs at the

Battle of Mu'tah The Battle of Mu'tah (, or ') took place in September 629 (1 Jumada al-Awwal 8 AH), between the forces of Muhammad and the army of the Byzantine Empire and their Ghassanid vassals. It took place in the village of Mu'tah in Palaestina Sa ...

in 629. However, at least part of the Banu al-Qayn was on friendly terms with the Muslims for the latter had hoped for help from the Banu al-Qayn during the

Battle of Chains The Battle of Sallasil ( ''Dhat al-Salasil''), often referred to as the Battle of Chains, was the first battle fought between the Rashidun Caliphate and the Sasanian Empire, Sasanian Persian Empire in April 633. The battle was fought in Kazima ( ...

that same year. They again appear fighting for the Byzantines against the Muslims at the battles of Yarmouk and Fahl. Most of the tribe converted to

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

following the Muslim conquest of Syria, which concluded in 638. The Banu al-Qayn, along with other Quda'a tribes, such as the Banu Kalb, backed

Marwan I Marwan ibn al-Hakam ibn Abi al-As ibn Umayya (; 623 or 626April/May 685), commonly known as MarwanI, was the fourth Umayyad Caliphate, Umayyad caliph, ruling for less than a year in 684–685. He founded the Marwanid ruling house of the Umayyad ...

in the latter's bid to become caliph during the

Second Muslim Civil War The Second Fitna was a period of general political and military disorder and civil war in the Islamic community during the early Umayyad Caliphate. It followed the death of the first Umayyad caliph Mu'awiya I in 680, and lasted for about twelve y ...

. During a territorial dispute between the Banu al-Qayn and Banu Kalb over Wadi Sirhan, Marwan's son and successor, Abd al-Malik, ruled in favor of the Kalb. About six hundred al-Qayni tribesmen took part in the

Umayyad The Umayyad Caliphate or Umayyad Empire (, ; ) was the second caliphate established after the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and was ruled by the Umayyad dynasty. Uthman ibn Affan, the third of the Rashidun caliphs, was also a membe ...

campaign against the Kharijite rebel Bahlul in 737. According to historian W. Montgomery Watt, "the last that is heard" of the Banu al-Qayn was in 792, during the

Abbasid The Abbasid Caliphate or Abbasid Empire (; ) was the third caliphate to succeed the prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was founded by a dynasty descended from Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (566–653 C ...

era, when they were involved in intertribal fighting in

Damascus Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...

. However, the late 9th-century geographer al-Ya'qubi held that the town of Arandal, an administrative center in southern Transjordan, was populated by the Banu al-Qays along with the Ghassanids.Shahid 2002, p. 347.

References

Bibliography

* * {{Historical Arab tribes Arabs in the Roman Empire Tribes of Arabia Tribes of Syria Quda'a Wadi Sirhan