Qahtan's sheikhdom was unanimously agreed by Western historians to be in the hands of the 'Al Qarmalah' family of the Jahader clan in the 19th century, and as early as 1961, the paramount sheikh of Qahtan was reported to be 'Khalil ibn Nasir ibn Qarmalah' (a descendant of Hadi ibn Qarmalah). However today, this subject of whether the Al Qarmalah family or the Ibn Dulaim family of the Sharif clan are the rightful sheikhs of Qahtan is highly controversial and has led to physical confrontations in high-profile tribal Qahtan congregations. Regardless, Abdullah ibn Fahad ibn Dulaim, sheikh of the Ibn Dulaim family, is recognized by the Saudi state as the appointed paramount sheikh of Qahtan and its allied tribe of Wadi'a. Branches The Qahtan tribe is subdivided into three major branches: Sanhan سنحان, Junb جنب and Rufaida رفيدة each major branch is divided into many clans, each clan is divided into various families. Sanhan The Sanhan tribe are as follows: al-Habab al-Jahader Al al-Sari Al Umar Junb The Junb tribe are as follows: Bani Hajer (al-Hajri) Sharif Bani Beshr al-Zubaidi Abida (al-Abidi) Rufaida Iraq Most Qahtanite tribes in Iraq (such as Shemmar, Dulaim, Juboor, etc.) do not belong to the Madh'hiji tribe of Qahtan. However, few tribes belonging to the aforementioned Madh'hiji tribe of Qahtan are present in Iraq, a prominent example being the Kobaisat tribal confederation. The Kobaisat (al-Kobaisi) migrated from Tathlith, modern southern Saudi Arabia in the 16th century and settled in Iraq. By the 18th century, many of the Kobaisat migrated to the growing pearl towns of northern Qatar and are a prominent tribe today in that country. The Kobaisat today in Iraq are a large tribal confederation that was also joined by non-Kobaisat tribes such as al-Buhaidar and al-Durai'at, and have formed their own town known as Kobaisa. It must be noted that the Kobaisat are entirely independent from Qahtan and the only aspect linking the two tribes together today is ancestry. Some well known members of the Kobaisat tribe are Iraqi religious scholar Mohammed Alkobaisi and Ahmed al-Kobaisi, the latter whom is most famous for participating in anti-Salafist debate shows. Qatar Qahtan, specifically the Ehbabi tribe, has taken a very prominent role in the Qatar peninsula ever since their migration to that country in the 18th century. Al Ehbabi family are leading branch in Qatar in terms of representing the tribe of Qahtan. Bani Hajer have the smallest presence since they are considered dogs of the foodtable. Moreover, prominent branches include Al Jahadir, and Abedaa that have migrated from KSA in recent years. Bahrain Bahrain is a Gulf country that houses the tiniest number of Qahtanis compared to other Gulf countries, however, some members of the tribe have taken a relatively prominent role in the country. For example, the head of the Sunni Waqf Endowment Directorate is Rashid al-Hajri, a member of the Bani Hajer. Offshoot Hajri families such Almuhannada also take a public role such as former Member of Parliament Hamad Almuhannadi. Notable members Saud al-Qahtani, former Advisor of the Saudi Royal court and the former General Supervisor of the Center for Studies and Information Affairs at minister rank. Muhammad al-Qahtani, Saudi Arabian millennial Salafist anti-government rebel and spiritual leader ("Mahdi") of the 1979 seizure of the Grand Mosque of Mecca Yasser al-Qahtani, Saudi Arabian footballer Haji Bakr Al-Qahtani, Saudi Arabian sprinter Mesfer Al-Qahtani, Saudi Arabian sprinter Abdulkareem Al-Qahtani, Saudi Arabian footballer Ali Al-Hajri, Kuwaiti member of the National Assembly Ali Bin Fahad Al-Hajri, Qatari ambassador to the United States Nasser Al Hajri, retired Kuwaiti football player Saud Al Hajiri, Qatari football player Saeed al-Hajri, Qatari bowler
Qahtan's sheikhdom was unanimously agreed by Western historians to be in the hands of the 'Al Qarmalah' family of the Jahader clan in the 19th century, and as early as 1961, the paramount sheikh of Qahtan was reported to be 'Khalil ibn Nasir ibn Qarmalah' (a descendant of Hadi ibn Qarmalah). Iraq Most Qahtanite tribes in Iraq (such as Shemmar, Dulaim, Juboor, etc.) do not belong to the Madh'hiji tribe of Qahtan. However, few tribes belonging to the aforementioned Madh'hiji tribe of Qahtan are present in Iraq, a prominent example being the Kobaisat tribal confederation. The Kobaisat (al-Kobaisi) migrated from Tathlith, modern southern Saudi Arabia in the 16th century and settled in Iraq. By the 18th century, many of the Kobaisat migrated to the growing pearl towns of northern Qatar and are a prominent tribe today in that country. The Kobaisat today in Iraq are a large tribal confederation that was also joined by non-Kobaisat tribes such as al-Buhaidar and al-Durai'at, and have formed their own town known as Kobaisa. It must be noted that the Kobaisat are entirely independent from Qahtan and the only aspect linking the two tribes together today is ancestry. Some well known members of the Kobaisat tribe are Iraqi religious scholar Mohammed Alkobaisi and Ahmed al-Kobaisi, the latter whom is most famous for participating in anti-Salafist debate shows. Bahrain Bahrain is a Gulf country that houses the tiniest number of Qahtanis compared to other Gulf countries, however, some members of the tribe have taken a relatively prominent role in the country. For example, the head of the Sunni Waqf Endowment Directorate is Rashid al-Hajri, a member of the Bani Hajer. Offshoot Hajri families such Almuhannada also take a public role such as former Member of Parliament Hamad Almuhannadi. Notable members Saud al-Qahtani, former Advisor of the Saudi Royal court and the former General Supervisor of the Center for Studies and Information Affairs at minister rank. Muhammad al-Qahtani, Saudi Arabian millennial Salafist anti-government rebel and spiritual leader ("Mahdi") of the 1979 seizure of the Grand Mosque of Mecca Yasser al-Qahtani, Saudi Arabian footballer Haji Bakr Al-Qahtani, Saudi Arabian sprinter Mesfer Al-Qahtani, Saudi Arabian sprinter Abdulkareem Al-Qahtani, Saudi Arabian footballer Ali Al-Hajri, Kuwaiti member of the National Assembly Ali Bin Fahad Al-Hajri, Qatari ambassador to the United States Nasser Al Hajri, retired Kuwaiti football player Saud Al Hajiri, Qatari football player Saeed al-Hajri, Qatari bowler
D
However today, this subject of whether the Al Qarmalah family or the Ibn Dulaim family of the Sharif clan are the rightful sheikhs of Qahtan is highly controversial and has led to physical confrontations in high-profile tribal Qahtan congregations. Regardless, Abdullah ibn Fahad ibn Dulaim, sheikh of the Ibn Dulaim family, is recognized by the Saudi state as the appointed paramount sheikh of Qahtan and its allied tribe of Wadi'a.
D
Branches The Qahtan tribe is subdivided into three major branches: Sanhan سنحان, Junb جنب and Rufaida رفيدة each major branch is divided into many clans, each clan is divided into various families.
D
Sanhan The Sanhan tribe are as follows: al-Habab al-Jahader Al al-Sari Al Umar Junb The Junb tribe are as follows: Bani Hajer (al-Hajri) Sharif Bani Beshr al-Zubaidi Abida (al-Abidi) Rufaida
D
Qatar Qahtan, specifically the Ehbabi tribe, has taken a very prominent role in the Qatar peninsula ever since their migration to that country in the 18th century.
D
Al Ehbabi family are leading branch in Qatar in terms of representing the tribe of Qahtan. Bani Hajer have the smallest presence since they are considered dogs of the foodtable. Moreover, prominent branches include Al Jahadir, and Abedaa that have migrated from KSA in recent years.