Bani Assad

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The Bani Assad or Banu Assad (Arabic: بني أسد/ بنو أسد) (Arabic for "Sons of Lion") is an Arab tribe in Iraq. They are Adnanite Arabs, powerful and one of the most famous tribes. They are widely respected by many Arab tribes, respected by Shia Muslims because they have buried the body of Imam Husayn, his family (Ahlul Bayt) and companions with the help of Imam Ali b. Husayn, Zayn al-‘Abidin, the son of the Imam, and many martyrs from the Battle of Karbala are from the tribe. Today, many members of the tribe live in the Iraqi cities of Basra, Najaf, Kufa, Karbala, Nasariyah, Amarah, Kut, Hilla, Diyala, Baghdad. There are people from Banu Assad in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen, Egypt in Sinai desert who have all migrated from Iraq. There are also members of Bani Assad tribe in Khuzestan, Ahwaz in Iran located with neighboring tribes of Banu Tamim, Banu Malik, Banu Kaab and other notable Arab Tribes.

Lineage

The Banu Asad are the descendants of Asad ben Khuzaimah ben Mudrikah ben Elias ben Modar ben Nezar ben Ma'ad el Qadri. Qadr is the second son of Ismael bakr Abraham.

Relation to the prophet Mohammed

The Banu Asad have been complimented by the prophet Mohammad as only few Arab tribes have been. The Banu Asad spread and developed the Arabic language since the 1st or the 2nd century.

In the 6th century a royal chief of the Kendah tribe named Hojr was killed by the Bani Asad. A contemporary of Imru' al-Qais, the illustrious Arabian mu'allaqat poet 'Abid ben al-Abras belonged to the Bani Asad and was fond of vaunting Hojr's murder.

Religion

It has been noted from historians that before the prophet Mohammad, the Banu Asad used to practice the religion of Abraham who believed in one God. The tribe embraced the prophet in the 7th century during the beginning of Mohammad's Life. After moving to Kufa in Iraq, they sided with Imam 'Ali. They are among the first Arab tribes to be Shi'a of 'Ali. They also sided with Imam Hosein ben 'Ali at the Battle of Karbala. The entire Banu Asad tribe is Shi'a Moslem, with most in Iraq and Ahwaz usually belonging to the Twelver or Ja'fariyah sect. Additionally, there are small Twelver minorities in Hadramaut and a large Zaidi community in northwestern Yemen and southwestern Arabia.

Migration to Iraq

The Banu Asad migrated to Iraq in the 7th century and settled in Kufa. They have settled near the banks of the Euphrates river near Kufa and Karbala and have also settled in Basra and in al Ahwaz, sharing land with Bani Tamim. The Banu Asad sided with Imam 'Ali in the Battle of the Camel. Many companions of the prophet Mohammad and Imam 'Ali are from the Bani Asad. The Banu Asad tribe sided with the son of Imam 'Ali, Hosein, in the Battle of Karbala, which took place on Muharram 10th, 61 AH (October 9 or 10, 680 CE)[1][2] in Karbala, in Iraq. Many martyrs from the Banu Asad clan died with Imam Hosein in the Battle of Karbala.

The Mazyadid State of the Bani Asad

In 998, 'Ali ben Mazyad, leader of the Banu Asad tribe, 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, one of the main cities in Iraq, which became their capital in 1012. The originator of the Al Mazidi name was a scholar, hadith narrator and chemist called Mazyad ben Mikhled al Sadaqa. Imad al-Isfahani commented about the rulers of the Mazyadid State, saying:

"They were Arabs, belonging to the Bani Mazyad from the Powerful Bani Asad Tribe. They established themselves with the strength of their swords on the banks of Euphrates. They were the refuge of those who were in need of it, the shelter for the expectants, the helpers of those who sought help and supporters of the weak. People with expectation were attracted towards them and scholars found money with them. What they did in spending on good purpose is too well known and talks of their generosity too common. Sadaqa shook with pride when he listened to poetry and set aside for the poet a special part of his generosity. He made them free from poverty. He accepted them in his audience. He was all ears to listen to the requests of people and very generous in giving them what they needed".

Members of the Banu Assad Clan outside of Iraq

Mansour Moosa Al-Mazeedi played an important role in developing a Kuwaiti constitution issued on January 29, 1963 as part of Al Majles Al Ta'sesy or Founding Parliament.[3]

The Al Mazeedi family are Shi'a in Iraq, dramatically increasing the influence of Shi'ite minorities in Arabia. And there are also Al Mazeedi Shi'a families in Kuwait as well as Sunni. Recently it was discovered that some Al-Mazeedi family members migrated to Yemen a few hundred years ago and settled in the region of Hadramaut. Their tribal name is Al-Mazyad or Banu Assad, their surnames or their family names is Al-Assadi, or Al-Mazeedi, and some (about 1000) were also found in Oman.

Fatalities from the Bani Asad Clan in the Battle of Karbala

Uns ben Hars Asadi, Habib ben Mozahir Asadi(Commander of the left flank)Moslem ben Ausaja Asadi, Qais ben Masher Asadi, Abu Samama Umru ben Abdellah, oreer Hamdani, Hanala ibn Asad, Abis Shakri, Abdul Rahman Rahbi, Saif ibn Hars, Amer ben Abdellah Hamdani.

Burials

On the 13th of Moharram, three days after the massacre, members of the Bani Asad Tribe in Karbala had the honor of burying the bodies of Imam Hosein, his family and their companions. The Banu Asad tribe is widely respected by other Shi'a Arab tribes. Ali ibn Husayn, the 4th Twelver Shia Imam, helped the Banu Assad tribe to bury the martyred bodies and helped them to identify the bodies of Imam Hosein and the Ahl el Beit and their companions.

Clans

All clans are related which goes back to the same tribe or ancestor of Assad.

• Bani Assad
  • Syrian Leaders Bashar al-Assad
• Al-Khayoon Tribe (clans of Khayoon):
  • Al-Hassan
  • Al-Jayyid
  • Al-Janaah
  • Al-Sheikh
• Bani Askari Tribe (clans of Askari)
  • Al-Abdul Ameer
  • Al-A'beed
  • Al-Sheikh Ali
  • Al-Sh'haab
• Al-Wanis Tribe (clans of Wanis)
  • Al-Freeh
  • Al-Khaitan
  • Al-Badir
  • Al-Ghaithan
  • Al-Jasim
  • Al-Sh'haf
  • Al-Tarshaan
  • Al-Hamad
  • Al-Khamees

Al-Abbas Tribe (clans of Abbas)

• Al-bo Sodah
• Al-bo Sidyo
• Al-bo Zahroon

Al-Haddad Tribe (clans of Haddad)

• Al-Rasheeda
• Al-Mas'ood
• Al-Sajiyah
• Al-Shneen
• Al-Awaad
• Al-Hjool
• Al-Hlool

Al-Aneesa (Anisa) Tribe (clans of Aneesa)

• Al-Sahr
• Al-Ataab
• Al-Sweenij

Al-Abdallah Tribe (clans of Abdallah)

• Al-Sawaad
• Al-Finjaan
• Al-bo Ayaash
• Al-Hajj Sari
• Al-Makhyour
• Al-Oweeti
• Al-Hjemeen
• Al-Rofah (Raufah)
• Al-Sawari
• Al-Dilfeen
• Al-Khazaam
• Al-Saleh Khalawi Jabr
• Al-Rahi
• Al-Sidyo

Al-Mawajid Tribe (clans of mawajid)

• Al-Eisa
• Al-Hwaichim (Huwaijim)
• Al-Hajji
• Al-Ta'ama Nasir
• Al-Shjreeji

Al-Khalisi Tribe (clans of Khalisi)

• Al-bo Mahdi
• Al-bo Ali
• Al-Sabayigh

Al-Khatir Tribe (clans of Khatir)

• Al-Aziz
• Al-Sheikh Mohammed
• Al-Sheikh La'eebi Jabir
• Al-Bazoon
• Al-Jam'iyat
• Al-Bdeer

• Al Abeidallah
• Al-Khazzam
• Al-bu Sedwear
• Al-Sawari
• Al-Sari
• Al-Bu Makhyour
• Bani Mushrif (includes many clans)
• Al-Hilal
• Al-Mazeedi (includes clans)
• Bani Kahel (includes clans)
• Al-Nawashi
• Al-Hul
• Al Reyoufa
• Al-Bu Hmael
• Al-Terrhiyoun
• Al-Kammouna
• Al-Shibeebi
• Al-Hmaed
• Al-Baghdadi
• Al Ghamaas
• Al-Jaza'iri
• There are Sayyids who have joined Bani Assad tribe, in southern Iraq many centuries ago
• There are more tribes and clans of Bani Assad

Population

Currently, very large numbers of the Banu Assad live in Iraq in Basra, Najaf, Nasiriyah, Karbala, Hilla, Amara, Diyala, Salah-e-Deen and Baghdad. Bani Assad are one of the 5 biggest tribes in Iraq. 65% of the 1.2 million population of Karbala are Bani Assad and 40% of Hilla and large numbers in Najaf, Kufa, Basra and Nasariyah. There significant population of Bani Assad in Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Yemen and Ahwaz in Iran (Arabs of Iran).

Leading personalities

• Tulayha
• Habib ben Mozahir el Asadi
• Uns ben Hars el Asadi
• Saif ben Hars (brother of Uns ben Hars)
• Moslem ben Ausaja al Asadi
• Qais ben Masher el Asadi
• Qobeisa ben Jabir el Asadi
• Abu Samama Umru ben 'Abdellah
• oreer Hamdani
• Hanala ben Asad
• Abis Shakri
• Abdul Rahman Rahbi
• Amer ben 'Abdellah Hamdani
• 'Ali ben Mazyad
• Kumait ben Zaid Al-Assadi (Poet of Ahlul Bait)
• Mutair Al-Assadi
• Al-Hilli Al-Assadi
• Al-Shibeebi Al-Assadi
• Al-Khalisi Al-Assadi
• Umru bin Malik Al-Assadi (Abu Al-Heejaa) who planned the city of Kufa
• Sa'eed bin Jabeer Al-Assadi (The most person with the knowledge of the Arabic language that ever lived)
• Aban bin Taghlib Al-Kuffi Al-Assadi (The first person to publish a book with the meaning of the Holy Quraan and was renewed with meanings every year and still used by many scholars and students today)
• Saleem bin Qais Al-Hilali Al-Assadi (Most Famous Philosopher and Scholar)
• Ali bin Muhammed bin Ubaid bin Zubair Al-Assadi (Known as the son of Kufa from the Arabs and known for the Arabic Language)
• Yahya bin Qasim Abu Baseer Al-Assadi (Known for being one of the first scholars of Fiqh and Philosophy)
• Salman bin Mahraan (Al-Aamash) Al-Assadi (The first Imam/Reader of The Quraan)

• There are many more scholars and famous personalities.

References

• Wiesenhöfer, Josef. Ancient Persia. pages 231 to 235. ISBN 964-311-130-X.
• Bani Assad in Ashura.

See also

• Osseiran family of Lebanon.