[I revised this article several times, the last time on June 16, 2020] The subject of this article is a battle between the Dhafeer Bedouin tribe and the Sharif Hamud Ibn ‘Abdallah either in the year 1667-68 Hijrdi (1078 Hijri) or 1669-1670 CE (1080 Hijri), depending on the sources. This episode is relevant to understanding the beginnings of the Hadban and Hamdani strains in Arabian horses. Both strains find their origins with the Dhafeer. Some context first: The Sharifs (Arabic plural ashraaf) are the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, which have over time come to form a special social group. In the Hijaz region of Arabia, the ashraaf have turned this special social status into political power. Different branches competed for the rulership of Mecca, with frequent conflicts. The Sharif Hamud never ruled Mecca. He was a cousin and a serious rival to the ruling Sharif, Sa’ad ibn Zaid whose rule began in 1666-7. Here is British explorer and historian Gerald De Gaury on this contested nomination episode and the ensuing conflict between Sa’ad ibn Zaid and his rival Hamud: “Sa’d it was, who in the end received the Sultan’s approval, and Hamud in consequence at once left Mecca for…
From the “History of Najd” of ‘Uthman Ibn Bishr: Under the year 1670-71 CE: In the year 1081 [Hijri], was the battle of al-Kaythal, a well known place in Najd, between al-Dhafeer and al-Fudul. Under the year 1674-75 CE: In the year 1085, [came] the famous time known [as] Jarman during which prices increased, and during which the nomads of the Fudul (bawadi al-Fudul) went eastwards. Under the year 1675-76 CE: In the year 1086 […], in this year, Salamah ibn Suwayt, the chief of the Dhafeer was made prisoner, Barrak Ibn Ghurayr felled him and made him prisoner.
It’s an exaggeration but this is what Hamid ibn Mudhi al-Suhayyan, the Shammari owner of the marbat of Ubayyan Ibn Suhayyan, told me in 2006. At the time I did not fully grasp the significance of what he had said. After reading the initial stories about the foundation of every strain in the Abbas Pasha Manuscript, I now see what he meant. Bani Lam, a Najd branch of the Tai tribe, broke into four tribes sometime in the mid 1650s: Dhafeer, Fudul, Aal Kathir, and Aal Mughirah. The first three migrated easterwards, towards Iraq shortly after, because of pressures from the Sharif of Mecca, the rise power of the Shammar conferation (which was part Tai and part ‘Abidah/Qahtan) and a devastating famine known as Jarman. Today the Aal Kathir are considered part of the Dhafeer. The following strains were created with one or another of the branches of the Bani Lam. By “created”, I mean that they acquired their separate names as distinct branches of the Kuhaylan tree: Hadban (Dhafeer branch, at Mani’ of Dhafeer, then to Nzahi of Fudul) Wadnan (Fudul branch, at al-Khursan of Fudul) Shuwayman (Fudul branch, at Sabbah of Fudul) Mimrah (Aal Mughirah branch, started as…