Qahafah (Arabic: ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂçÃÂÃÂé) is an Arab tribe belonging to the Khath'am lineage and considered a branch of the Shahran tribe. The tribe has been known since pre-Islamic times and primarily inhabits Wadi Bishah, also known as Wadi Shahran or Wadi Bin Hashbal, in Saudi Arabia. Some members of the tribe also reside in the village of Qahafah in Egypt. Several notable historical figures and some of the ProphetâÂÂs Companions are said to have originated from this tribe.
The lineage of the Qahafah (Arabic: ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂçÃÂÃÂé) tribe traces back to Qahafah bin Amir bin RabiâÂÂah bin Amir bin SaâÂÂd bin Malik bin Nasr bin Wahib bin Shahran bin âÂÂAfras bin Hilf bin KhathâÂÂam bin Anmar.
A distinguished female companion of the Prophet, known for her noble status in early Islamic society. She was married several times: first to Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, with whom she had Abdullah, Muhammad, and Awn; then to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, with whom she had Muhammad; and finally to Ali ibn Abi Talib, with whom she had Yahya and Awn.
Before her marriages to the Companions, she was the wife of RabiâÂÂah ibn Riyah and gave birth to Malik, Abdullah, and Abu Hurayrah, known as the sons of RabiâÂÂah, which reflects her high standing and the prestige of her tribe, KhathâÂÂam.
Her maternal sisters were Maymunah bint al-Harith and Zaynab bint Khuzaymah, both wives of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
A female companion, married to Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib, the ProphetâÂÂs uncle, and bore him a daughter. After his death, she married Shaddad al-Laythi. Salma was related to Maymunah, the ProphetâÂÂs wife, through their mother Hind bint âÂÂAwn from Himyar, and through Babah bint al-Harith, the mother of al-âÂÂAbbas ibn âÂÂAbd al-Muttalib.
A Companion, and the maternal uncle of the children of JaâÂÂfar, Abu Bakr, Hamzah, and Ali. He was martyred during the Battle of al-Harrah.
A successor, originally from Palestine, known as "Malik al-SawaâÂÂif" ("King of the Summer Expeditions"). He led campaigns against the Byzantines for forty years under MuâÂÂawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan and other rulers. Upon his death, forty banners were broken over his grave as a sign of his valor and leadership.
The wife of Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib and mother of his daughter Fatimah, who later married âÂÂAmr ibn Salamah al-Makhzumi, the ProphetâÂÂs stepson. She was the sister of Salma bint Umays. Some sources state that HamzaâÂÂs wife was Zaynab, while others report it was Salma.
The matriarch of the Banu Khuzaymah ibn LuâÂÂayy clan of the Quraysh, from whom the tribe takes its name.
A prominent figure close to MuâÂÂawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan. MuâÂÂawiyah once detained his cousin Karim ibn âÂÂAfif al-KhathâÂÂami; Shammar interceded on his behalf, and MuâÂÂawiyah granted him permission to correspond with him but forbade Karim from entering Kufa, which was under MuâÂÂawiyahâÂÂs control. Karim later moved to Mosul. Shammar was known to have said, âÂÂIf MuâÂÂawiyah were to die, I would go to Egypt,â but he passed away a month before MuâÂÂawiyah.
A poet of the KhathâÂÂam tribe during the pre-Islamic era.
The territory of the Qahafah tribe includes a group of villages and notable areas within the valley, such as:
Among these, Al Bi Thawr is considered the most important village in the valley, as it contains government offices and the Monday Market. The area also includes Al-Darb, the newly established Al-Khazzan neighborhood, Al-Shahmah, Al-Shall, Jawharah, Umm Khameer, Jarwah, Al-Tarif Al-Asfal, Al-Tarif Al-AâÂÂla, Al-Masnna, Al-Hadrah, Al-Haifah, Bu Murayrah, and Al-Daiqah.