Banu Asad

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The Banu Asad are an ancient Arab clan from the tribe of Quraish.

[edit] History

After the death of Qusai ibn Kilab in 480 Banu Asad held the charge of the House of Assembly (Dar-al-Nadwa) in Mecca. In the 6th century a royal chief of the Kindah tribe named Hojr was killed by the Banu Asad. A contemporary of Imru' al-Qais, the illustrious Arabian Mu'allaqat poet 'Abid ibn al-Abras belonged to the Banu Asad and was fond of vaunting Hojr's murder.

Taleaha bin Khuwalid was a well known adventurer and chief of the Bani Asad. He was also a renowned poet who commanded respect in Arabia during the pre-Islamic era. During the battle of the Ditch in 627 Taleaha sided with the Quraish confederation against the Muslim army and in the Battle of Khaybar in 630 he sided with the Jews. He superficially converted to Islam in 631 but later renounced his allegiance and declared himself a prophet. Many clans of central Arabia joined him until he was defeated in the apostasy campaigns and fled to Syria. When Syria was conquered by the Muslims, Taleaha repented and once again became a Muslim.

In 998 Ali ibn Mazyad, leader of the Banu Asad, established a virtually independent Mazyadid state in the Kufa area of Iraq. Backed by a powerful tribal army, the Mazyadids enjoyed great influence in the area for a century and a half. They acquired titles and subsidies from the Buyids in return for military services. Their most lasting achievement was the founding of Hilla, which became their capital in 1012.