Banu Khuza'a
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Banu Khuza'a is a clan of the Quraish tribe.
Contents |
[edit] History
During the pre-Islamic era Banu Khuza'a wrested authority from Banu Jarham and assumed the custodianship of the Kaaba. Their chief, Amr ibn Lahi al-Khuza'i brought an idol named Hobal from Syria to Mecca, introducing idolatry and treating the safety of Hobal as the means of continuing his rule. He was an influential personality and his innovations erased the religion practiced by the Arabs since Ismail, called Hanifiya (the religion of Ibrahim). Hobal had the figure of an old man with a long beard and was made of carnelian. Its right hand had been amputated but the Quraish provided it with a hand made of gold.
They took part in the battle against Abraha during the Year of the Elephant.
The Treaty of Hudaybiyya was eventually broken when Banu Bakr, allies of the Quraish, attacked Banu Khuza'a, allies of the Muslims. This led to the conquest of Mecca by the Muslim armies, who took the city peacefully and spared those within.
The Banu Mustaliq was a branch of Banu Khuza'a. They occupied the territory of Qadid on the Red Sea shore between Jeddah and Rabigh.