# Banu Nahd

Banu Nahd (Arabic: بنو نهد) is an Arab tribe with historical presence across the Arabian peninsula. They trace their lineage to Nahd bin Zayd of the Quda'a confederation, traditionally considered Qahtanite from Himyar. However, there is historical debate, as some sources suggest Quda'ah descends from Ma'ad bin 'Adnan. Recent DNA studies (Haplogroup J1 L222.2) indicate that tribes from Quda'ah, including Banu Nahd, align with the Adnanite lineage, challenging earlier claims of Qahtanite origins. This has led to reconsideration of their genealogical classification.
The tribe, also known as "Nahd al 'Aasiyah" (meaning Nahd, the disobedient), is symbolized by the number 811. The tribe is divided into four main branches: Naheed, Kulaib, Ma'rouf, and Al Yamani, which are further subdivided into various families. Historically, the Quda’i tribes, including the Nahd, resided in the Tihamah region near Jeddah and Mecca. Following a conflict with Nizar, they dispersed throughout Arabia, with Nahd eventually settling in Najran and Bisha before migrating further across the Arabian Peninsula.
Banu Nahd is a significant tribe in Wadi Hadhramaut, which migrated from Najran around 1195 AD. The tribe established control over Hadhramaut in 1224 AD after revolting against the Ayyubid governor, leading to the dismantling of Ayyubid rule in the region. In 1238 AD, Banu Nahd again asserted dominance over Hadhramaut after confronting rival tribes such as the Iqbal Kindi. Despite the arrival of the Rasulid dynasty, the Nahd tribe retained control over parts of Wadi Hadhramaut through continued resistance.
Nahd has historically been in conflict with the Kathiri tribe, which defeated them and established the Kathiri Sultanate in Hadhramaut. The Nahd also had strained relations with the Se'iar to the north and Ja'ada to the south.
In modern times, their leader, Al-Hakam Saleh bin Ali bin Thabit, has expressed support for a unified Yemen under the Presidential Leadership Council and formed an alliance with the Abidah tribe. Although now largely sedentary, the Nahd maintain Bedouin customs and practice a distinctive dual chieftainship system.

## Location

The Nahd originally lived in Najran, Bisha, Sharurah, Tathleeth, Sarat Abidah, Tareeb, Jash, Tabalah, Qarara, Dhu Baydan, Barda and Khadara, before their mass migration across Arabia their capital was at Hajirah south of Tathleeth between Hamdhah and Amoah, it was situated on a Gold mine.
Banu Nahd today are now most notably in Wadi Hadhramaut where their capital, Qa'udah is situated. Qaydun in Wadi Dawan where they control much of was also described as the center of the Nahd. They also inhabit Hajarayn in the same Wadi. Nahd claims a large area from Al Qatn to Sayhad.
The Nahd have a presence in Wadi 'Amd until it ends at Huraidha, Wadi Rakhiya near the border of Shabwah and Wadi Dahr in Eastern Shabwah. They also inhabit Wadi al Ain and have a presence in the Shibam District.
They are also in the Sarawat Mountains including Hejaz where they live in Wadi al Safra between Mecca and Medina and in the North of Hejaz in Wadi al Qura.
The Nahd have also been across Najd being one of the first Quda'ah Tribes to settle there. Further more they have a degree of presence in Khaleej, especially in UAE and are also found in Iraq and Oman. Nahd is also found across the Levant.
The Nahd have begun migrating to North Africa starting in the 11th century where they now inhabit close to the border of Algeria and Tunisia living around the city of El Kala in El Taref province. Nahdi tribes have migrated across the Indian Ocean to Java, Indonesia. Somaliland, India, and also Jeddah In Saudi Arabia. Nahd also migrated to Andalusia, primarily residing in the Cordoban Province of Rayya which is in the south, nowadays being mostly in the Malaga Province.

## History

Banu Nahd was a major and important tribe in the Najran Region (Which Included Bisha and Tabalah). They grew in numbers that started to compete with the Major tribe of Madhhaj, they were in conflict with the Jarm tribe who were allies with Banu Zubayd from Maddhaj while Nahd was allied with Banu Al Harith, another Maddhaj Tribe.
Some of the Nahd participated in the Himyarite war under Abu Karib Assad against the Lakhmids in 428 AD which involved the conquest of Wadi Masil southeast of Dawadimi, and penetrating deep into Al Hira, the Lakhmid Capital.
The Nahd before Islam were polytheists. Prophet Muhammad sent a message to the Banu Nahd along with other tribes in Yemen to follow Islam, to which the Nahd agreed however not initially. The Nahd were described to be well equipped with weapons. Nahd agreed to join the religion with no war.
After Islam, the Banu Nahd participated in the battle of al Qadisiyyah where they were led by a general named Qays bin Hidhyam bin Jurthumah. During the times of the Umayyads, Qasour Bin Ma'alal who came from the tribe of Nahd was appointed as the Governor of Sistan.
There has been a battle narrated Abu Muhammad al Hasan al Hamdani who lived from 890s-940s in his work of Al Iklil (Volume 2)stated the Madhhaj allied to Nahd and Khawlan were engaged in conflict against the tribe of Hawazin which instigated a large war between Quda'ah and the Qaysi tribes.
The Nahd, along with their allies of the time, Banu al Harith were attacked by the Yahya bin al Hussein of the Zaydis during 910 AD. They were in support of the Sulayhid Dynasty under King Ali al Sulayhi. In 1140 they would declare support for the Sulaymanids and would attack the Banu Yam tribe that has a huge presence over the province of Najran in 1154. They would begin mass migrating to Hadhramaut in 1195 (along with Banu al Harith and Banu Dhannah, their allies) due to multiple possible reasons like drought situations in the area, pressure from the Zaydi Imamate and interest into the agriculture of Wadi Hadhramaut.
They would begin hostility since 1200s AD against the tribes of Wadi Hadhramaut. In 1207 AD they would siege the cities of Tarim, Shibam and Maryamah, destroying the Al Daghar, a tribe from Kinda which ruled Shibam in 1208 AD however in the same year Banu Sa'ad and some tribes of Kinda would retaliate and defeat Nahd. Omar bin Mahdi the appointed Ayyubid Governor of Hadhramaut would make his arrival in 1216 AD subjugating much of Hadhramaut under his rule.
Nahd would begin their revolt against Omar Bin Mahdi in the 1220s. He was described as a tyrannical ruler and many of the tribes of Hadhramaut would dislike him. Nahd would kill Omar Bin Mahdi in 1224 AD at Shibam dismantling Ayyubid Control.The Al Yamani Sultanate, a dynasty with connections to Banu Nahd led by Omar bin Ma'soud would integrate the lands that were occupied by Nahd.
In 1226-27 rain would flood much of Wadi Hadhramaut, weakening the rule of Nahd which allowed the Banu Sa’ad to take over Shibam in 1229, In the same year though Omar bin Ma’soud would take Al Hajrain and in 1230 he would take Henin and besiege the Iqbal (A tribe from Kinda) in their city of Al Shihr until they paid him to leave. He would purchase Shibam back in 1231 AD and would attack and take over Wadi ‘Amd, then returning to Tarim.
Iqbal would successfully take over Nahdi Possessions of Tarim and Shibam in 1236 AD, this was changed when in 1238 AD Nahd would counterattack and take over all of Hadhramaut again under Amer Bin Shammakh, a Nahdi. Following this, the Iqbal Family would be expelled.
When the Rasulids came to Hadhramaut the same year Banu Nahd would initially make peace with them but would then break this treaty when a Rasulid army under Ibn Abi Zakri was obliterated. Al Yamani would take back Tarim and Amer Bin Shammakh would take over Shibam also establishing a state in Western Hadhramaut centered at Al Soor which is West of Henin.
In 1275 AD the ruler of Dhofar Salim al Habuzi invaded Hadhramaut sieging Tarim and taking over Seiyun. The Habuzis of Dhofar would retain their control over Wadi Hadhramaut until Al Malik al Muzaffar, the king of the Rasulids invaded Dhofar killing Salim al Habuzi and Habuzi rule was disestablished over Wadi Hadhramaut.
Nahd and the Al Kathiri tribe which formed a Sultanate would fight across Hadhramaut. During this war the Al Yamani dynasty was abolished. In 1531-2 an army of 200 Nahdi Forces would leave their homelands in Wadi Hadhramaut and would besiege the city of Al Shihr, ruled by the Kathiri and would force the Inhabitants to temporarily evacuate. Kathiris would eventually subjugate Nahd going on to conquer Hadhramaut.
In 1716 AD the Qasimids sent an incursion into Wadi al Ain consisting of 400 Men attacking the local Nahdi tribesmen. This attack would fail and all 400 troops were killed.
In Algeria and Tunisia, the Banu Nahd has had a long rivalry with the Khoumir, which is also an Arab. Nahd would pay light tributes to the Bey of Constantine. In 1772 Nahd, along with another tribe, Arid engaged in war against Banu Mazen in El Kala cutting the supply lines to the city until peace was established. General Guingret of the French would suppress the Nahd in the 1840s among others such as the Khoumirs and Beni Saleh pillaging their tribes.
In 1881 February Nahd would launch an attack against the Khoumirs. In response, the Khoumirs would launch a counterattack of 400-500 men until the French halted them in late March same year.
During 1888 Hadhramaut would be under the claim of Aden protectorate which was ruled by Britain. Unlike most other tribes, Nahd was independent from both the Hadhrami Sultanates (Qu'aiti and Kathiri). The Nahd in the 1920s had an army of about 3000-4000 led by their ruler at the time, Sheikh Ibn Minif. They were friendly with the Qu'aiti and had a bitter rivalry with the Sei'ar, a tribe north of Nahd.
As the British sought peace in Hadhramaut(1930s-1940s), which was engaged in constant tribal warfare. There would be negotiations between the Nahd and Ja'ada which were the last biggest barrier to establishing peace among tribes in Hadhramaut, the signing between the two tribes went good and two warring subclans of the Nahd were later resolved. Nahd also signed a truce with the Se'iar at Henin.
The Nahd supported the SAL (South Arabian League) during the Aden Emergency which was against the NLF (National Liberation Front). The South Arabian League was a nationalist organization formed in 1951 being one of the first modern political groups of South Yemen. The SAL got a great amount of support from Saudi Arabia.
What the Nahd support in the Modern Yemeni Civil War is rather divided between STC and the De Jure Yemeni Government. There has been some instances where some Nahdi tribes would rally in support for Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, the president of the STC, but the current tribal leader, Al-Hakam Saleh bin Ali bin Thabit has declared support for the Yemeni Government under Rashad al Alimi.