Madh'hij

Madh'hij (Arabic: مَذْحِج‎) also spelled Math'hij or Maz'hij is a famous large Qahtanite Arab tribal confederation. It is located in south and central Arabia. This confederation participated in the Arabic Islamic conquest and was a major factor in the conquest of Persian empire and Iberian Peninsula. It is also found in Mosel and in Levant and Iberian Peninsula.[1][2]

Tribe of Madh'hij
Current regionArabian Peninsula
Bilad al-Sham
Iberian Peninsula
Place of originArabian Peninsula
MembersAmmar bin Yasir
Amru bin Ma'adi Yakrib
Malik al-Ashtar
Almanzor
TraditionsArdah

The Islamic prophet, Muhammad said that most people in Paradise will be from Madhhij.[3] They were described as being the noblest in nature amongst the Arabs, holding up the virtues Islam holds dear. Those of honour, bravery, valour, courage, justice, wisdom, chivalry, reasoning and humility.

al-Hamdani cited Madhhij 30 times in his book "Sifat Jazirat al Arab: Description of the Arabian Peninsula" as a Genuine Arabic dynasty with branches like Nukha, Zubaid, Ruha and Hada (best archers among the Arabs) that has famous Historical personalities such as the Arabian knight king of Yemen Amru bin Ma'adi Yakrib al-Zubaidi al-Madhhiji who became a Muslim and Malik Ashtar al-Nakh'ei a close friend of the Prophet Muhammad and a military leader with Ali ibn Abi Talib in the battle of Siffin, and Madhhij later fought the Qarmatians under leadership of Abul Ashira in Yemen and Malik ibn Marara a-Rahawi, and the commentaries on al-Hamdani's book shows that they still live in the same towns and places as Hamadani described them in his book dated 900 AD, 1100 years ago.[4]

Madhhij is mentioned in Namara inscription, a memorial of the Nasrid king of al-Hira Imru ’al-Qays bin ‘Amr (died in 328), “king of all the Arabs”, boasted of having launched a raid against Madhhij, reaching “Najran" city of Shammar (the Himyarite king Shammar Yahri'sh) .[5] The same story is mentioned in detail in Wahb ibn Munabbih in his book of Pre-Islamic saga and lore "The Book of The Crowns of Himyar Kings"[6]

Before Islam, Madhhij had its own Idol that they used to bring in the yearly pilgrimage to Kaaba before Islam (Pagan Arabs before Islam) and they used to make Talbiya specific to Madhhij for that Idol in which they encircle Kaaba several times and plead their Madhhij' Talbiya to Allah to let that Idol be put around the Kaaba. The Arabs are said to inherited Kaaba from Ibrahim who named it Beit Allah, (aka the house of God) but in much later ages they started worshipping idols and then they brought the idols to Kaaba to bless their Idols by God.[7]

Madhhij name was found in the Namara inscription dated 330 AD.[8]

The men of Madh'hij were described as being hardened and experienced warriors in praising their positive aspect. They were also known for their skills in horseriding and were famed for being the best archers when on a horse. [9]

References
  1. Ibn Ishaq; Guillaume (1955). The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ibn Isḥāq's sīrat. London. p. 36,38. ISBN 0195778286. Madhhij in Mu'tah battle
  2. Watt, Montgomery (1956). Muhammad at Medina. pp. 82, 124, 125, 128. ISBN 9780199064731. Madh'hij Alt URL
  3. "Hadith about Madhhij". Madhhij are most tribes in Paradise.
  4. al-Hamdani, al-Hasan. David H. Müller (ed.). Geography of the Arabian Peninsula. pp. 85, 88, 102, 165, 171, 174, 175, 179, 180.
  5. Andre-Salvini (2010). Roads to Arabia: Archaeology and History of the Kingdom (PDF). Paris: Musée duLouvre. p. 87. ISBN 9782350312880. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-01-01. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  6. Munabbih, Wahab. Book of the Crowns of Himyar [Pre Islamic Arabic Folk lore]. Krenkow. Yemen. OCLC 171553947.
  7. Marx, edited by Angelika Neuwirth, Nicolai Sinai, Michael (2010). The Qur'an in context historical and literary investigations into the Qur'anic milieu. Leiden: Brill. p. 307. ISBN 9789047430322.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link) Alt URL
  8. Andre-Salvini (2010). Roads to Arabia: Archaeology and History of the Kingdom (PDF). Paris: Musée duLouvre. p. 87. ISBN 9782350312880. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-01-01. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  9. "Ibn Khallikan's Biographical Dictionary, 1". 1843.
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