'Utaybah is a large Sunni
Muslim:A Muslim , , is an adherent of the religion of Islam. The feminine form is Muslimah . Literally, the word means "one who submits ". Muslim is the participle of the same verb of which Islam is the infinitive. Muslims believe that there is only one God, translated in Arabic as Allah...
tribeA tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists hold that...
of the
Arabian PeninsulaThe Arabian Peninsula , Arabia, Arabistan, and the Arabian subcontinent is a peninsula in Southwest Asia at the junction of Africa and Asia...
and it is the biggest Tribe in Saudi Arabia. As is the case with many other large tribal confederations in the region, the name Otaibah only appeared within the last few centuries. Arab genealogists, however, trace the origin of Otaibah to the mighty pre-Islamic tribe of
HawazinHa'wa zin were the mighty Pre-Islamic Arab tribe concentrated in the area around Taif in the Arabian peninsula. Many of the tribe members were dispatched after the Islamic conquests to Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Morocco, and Spain. Arab genealogist trace the tribe to Hawazin bin Mansour bin Ekrama bin...
, who are also considered by genealogists to be the descendants of
IshmaelIshmael is a figure in the Torah, Bible, and Qur'an. Jews, Christians and Muslims believe Ishmael is Abraham's eldest son and first born. Ishmael is born of Sarai's handmaiden Hagar...
son of
AbrahamAbraham is the founding patriarch of the Israelites, Ishmaelites, Midianites and Edomite peoples, as described in the book of Genesis. He is widely regarded as the patriarch of Jews, Christians, and Muslims....
. The tribe were once engaged in a large battle with
MuhammadMuhammad ibn ‘Abdullāh , is the founder of the religion of Islam [ إِسْلامْ ] and is regarded by Muslims as a messenger and prophet of , the last and the greatest law-bearer in a series of Islamic prophets as taught by the...
at
HunaynThe Battle of Hunain was fought between Muhammad and his followers against the Bedouin tribe of Hawazin and its subsection the Thaqif in 630 in a valley on one of the roads leading from Mecca to al-Ta'if. The battle ended in a decisive victory for the Muslims, who captured enormous spoils...
in 630
C.E.Common Era, abbreviated as CE, is a designation for the calendar system most commonly used world-wide for numbering the year part of the date...
. Otaibah was concentrated in the area around Taif, which is Hawazin's old tribal land. in the 18th century, their lands extended to include central Nejd.
The Otaibah tribe is subdivided into three major branches, Barga برقا ,Rwog روق and Bano Saad (Sons of Saad) بنو سعد each major branch is divided into many families, each family is divided into various clans.
1. Barga
Led by the tribal leader
Ibn HumaidAbdullah Ibn Humaid, also known as Sheikh Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Humaid was the former Chief Justice of Saudi Arabia and Imam of the Grand Mosque of Mecca. His son Salih is the current Imam of the Grand Mosque of Mecca as well as the head of the Saudi Consultative Council.- Biography :He was...
ابن حميد . Families that are listed under Barga can be also subdivided into two major divisions as follows:
1.1 Shamlah شملة which can also be subdivided into many clans ;
Alnufaei النفيعي a clan that includes : Almusa'aed المساعيد , Alnakheshah النخشة , Thoi Mufarrej ذوي مفرج , Thoi Ziad ذوي زياد , Thoi Zaid ذوي زايد , Almahaya المحايا , Albesaisah البسايسه , Alfeletah الفلتة , Alsalaga السلاقى and Ala'elah العيلة .
Alrrwais الرويس a clan that includes : Alshuhabah الشهبة , Almugahesaha المقاحصة , Almarawhah المراوحة and Thoi Mujarri ذوي مجري .
Almugati المقاطي a clan than includes : Alkerzan الكرزان , Albususa البصصة .
Altefehi الطفيحي a clan that includes : Alja'adah الجعدة , Alhusanah الحصنة , Alwethaneen الوذانيين , Alswoatah السوطة , Alhulifat الحليفات , Alhoboos الحبوس , Alhulasah الحلسة , Alhumayah الحمية and Alwegadeen الوقادين .
1.2 Eial Mansour(Sons of Mansour) عيال منصور
Alguthami (also spelled
Al-Quthami,
Al-Qathami or
Al-Qthami) القثامي clans of this family include : Alkhullad الخلد , Alghashashmah الغشاشمة , Alddahasah الدهسة , Aljabarah الجبرة and Alzooran الزوران .
Alosaimi العصيمي clans of this family include : Aljulah الجلاه , Ala'emrriah العمرية , Alababeed العبابيد , Alsheja'een الشجاعين , Alhamareen الحمارين and Alshefa'an الشفعان .
Alda'ajani الدعجاني clans of this family include : Thoi Khyoot ذوي خيوط , Almalabisah الملابسة , Alhuddaf الهدف and Alma'alyah المعالية .
Aldughailabi الدغيلبي clans of this family include : Alna'arah النعرة , Algloob القلوب , Almjfen المجفن and Algeba'ah القبعة .
Alshaibani الشيباني clans of this family include : Thoi Saleh ذوي صالح and Thoi Khalifah ذوي خليفة .
2. Rwog
Led by the tribal leader Ibn Roba'yaan ابن ربيعان . Families that are listed under Rwog can be also subdivided into two major divisions as follows:
2.1 Talhah طلحة includes : Alasa'adah الأساعدة , Alhufah الحفاة , Alsumarrah السمرة , Alhanateesh الحناتيش , Algharbiah الغربية , Alkarashemah الكراشمة , Alddalabehah الدلابحة , Alghawariah الغوارية , Altheebah الذيبة , Alhamameed الحماميد , Alhezman الحزمان , Almaghaibah المغايبة , Thoi Zarrag ذوي زراق , Alghadhabeen الغضابين , Alawazem العوازم .
2.2 Mezhem مزحم includes : Thoi Thubait ذوي ثبيت , Alothyan العضيان , Alghubaiat الغبيات , Almarashedah المراشدة , Aljetha'an الجذعان , Alseaheen السياحين , Thoi A'ali ذوي عالي and thoi A'tyah ذوي عطية .
3. Bano Saad
Led by the tribal leader Ibn Hullail ابن هليل . it is copmosed of many Families but it can be summarized in: Albatnain البطين , Allessah اللصة and Alsurairat الصريرات .
Historical Figures
1. Halimah bint Abi Dhuayb
2. Dorayd bin Al Soma. Poet and warrior killed at
HunaynThe Battle of Hunain was fought between Muhammad and his followers against the Bedouin tribe of Hawazin and its subsection the Thaqif in 630 in a valley on one of the roads leading from Mecca to al-Ta'if. The battle ended in a decisive victory for the Muslims, who captured enormous spoils...
in 630
C.E.Common Era, abbreviated as CE, is a designation for the calendar system most commonly used world-wide for numbering the year part of the date...
.
History
Until sometime in the 19th century, a large section of the tribe moved eastwards towards Nejd, which at the time was dominated by another large tribe known as Qahtan. A mighty war ensued between Otaibah and Qahtan which led to Otaibah taking over most of Qahtan's grazing lands in western Nejd, pushing Qahtan further to the east and south. A large boulder in western Nejd where a group of Qahtani tribesmen made their last stand against Otaibah is still known today as
Hassaat Ghatan ("Qahtan's Rock"). The tribe remained mostly
bedouinThe Bedouin, , are a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group found throughout most of the desert belt extending from the Atlantic coast of the Sahara via the Western Desert, Sinai, and Negev to the Arabian Desert...
, however, and only a small number of them settled in the towns of Nejd. Sections of the tribe ended up moving as far east as
KuwaitThe State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab emirate bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and Iraq to the north and west. The greatest distance from north to south is 200 km and from east to west 170 km . The name is a diminutive of an Arabic word meaning "fortress built near water." It has a...
and as far north as
JordanJordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in Western Asia spanning the southern part of the Syrian Desert down to the Gulf of Aqaba. Jordan shares borders with Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, Saudi Arabia to the east and south, the Gulf of Aqaba to the southwest,...
, suggesting that the tribe must have been remarkably large by the standards of Arabia at the time and had little choice but to burst into the surrounding areas as it did.
Otaibah and Qahtan are generally considered to be two of the largest tribes in Saudi Arabia today, though no reliable statistics exist. The rivalry between the two tribes is still alive and vivid among their members, even though almost none of them maintain their old nomadic ways.
The tribe for a long time maintained a cool attitude towards the Wahhabi movement championed by the Al Saud clan of Nejd in the 18th and 19th centuries, and tended to side more with the
Sharifs of MeccaThe Sharif of Mecca or Sharif of Hejaz was the title of the former governors of Hejaz and a traditional steward of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina...
. In 1912, however, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud, began an ambitious plan to settle the nomadic tribes within his domains (which at the time included Nejd and Arabia's eastern coastal areas). This was to be coupled with indoctrination of the tribesmen into the religious ideals espoused by
Muhammad ibn Abd Al-WahhabMuhammad ibn 'Abd Al-Wahhab ibn Sulaiman ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Rashid Al-Tamimi was an Islamic scholar born in Najd, in present-day Saudi Arabia...
, as the religious observance of the bedouin was hitherto considered to be somewhat loose. The new settlements were to be known as
hijras and the accompanying religious movement was called the
IkhwanThe Ikhwan was the Islamic religious militia which formed the main military force of the Arabian ruler Ibn Saud and played a key role in establishing him as ruler of most of the Arabian Peninsula, in his new state of Saudi Arabia. The Ikhwan were made up of Bedouin tribes...
("the Brotherhood"). As a result, a large number of 'Utaybi hijras sprung up across the land, especially in western Nejd. The most famous 'Utaybi hijras were 'Afif near Dwadmi, and Sajir near
ShaqraaShaqraa is a town in centeral Saudi Arabia , located at about 190 kilometers north-west of the capital Riyadh....
. A large contingent of 'Utaybah, led by Prince Sultan ibn Bjad aka Sultanaldeen, joined the Ikhwan, who were then deployed by Ibn Saud against his rivals as he sought to unite as much of Arabia under his rule as possible. The Ikhwan were instrumental in gaining control of the
Hejazal-Hejaz is a region in the west of present-day Saudi Arabia. Defined mostly by the Red Sea, it extends from Haql on the Gulf of Aqaba to Jizan. Its main city is Jeddah, but it is probably better-known for the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina...
for Ibn Saud, but they then grew resentful and restless. The 'Utaybi leader of the Ikhwan joined with Ikhwan leaders from other tribes in revolt, but they were defeated by Ibn Saud's forces at the Battle of Sbilla near Zilfi in northeastern Nejd in 1930. The 'Utaybi hijras remained, however, and the hijra of 'Afif became particularly prosperous and is now considered a city in its own right, lying approximately half-way between Riyadh and Mecca.
Many 'Utaybis have entered the Saudi armed forces in the last few decades, and their presence is particularly heavy in the National Guard. Prominent members of the tribe include Khalaf ibn Hathal, a poet who rose to prominence during the First Gulf War,
Juhayman Al-'UtaybiJuhayman ibn Muhammad ibn Sayf al-Otaibi was a militant who led the takeover of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islam's holiest site, in the last months of 1979.-Biography:...
, the militant who led the 1979 seizure of the Sacred Mosque in
MeccaMecca , sometimes spelled Makkah is the holiest meeting site of the Islamic religion. The city is modern, cosmopolitan and whilst being closed to non-Muslims is nonetheless ethnically diverse.Islamic tradition attributes the beginning of Mecca to Ishmael's descendants...
(see
Grand Mosque SeizureThe Grand Mosque Seizure on November 20, 1979, was an armed attack and takeover by armed Islamic fundamentalist dissidents of the Al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest place in Islam...
), and Dhaifallah Al-'Utaybi, mayor of
DammamDammam is the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Dammam is the largest city in the Eastern Province and third largest in Saudi Arabia after Riyadh and Jeddah. Dammam Port is the largest on the Persian Gulf...
and a former executive in the Saudi national oil company, Aramco.
The Biggest Family Meeting in the Middle East
The meeting of the Otaibah Tribe is considered to be the biggest family meeting in the Middle East which was held in 2007, in the center of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
See also
- Ikhwan
The Ikhwan was the Islamic religious militia which formed the main military force of the Arabian ruler Ibn Saud and played a key role in establishing him as ruler of most of the Arabian Peninsula, in his new state of Saudi Arabia. The Ikhwan were made up of Bedouin tribes...
- Bedouin
The Bedouin, , are a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group found throughout most of the desert belt extending from the Atlantic coast of the Sahara via the Western Desert, Sinai, and Negev to the Arabian Desert...
- Qahtan
- Hawazin
Ha'wa zin were the mighty Pre-Islamic Arab tribe concentrated in the area around Taif in the Arabian peninsula. Many of the tribe members were dispatched after the Islamic conquests to Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Morocco, and Spain. Arab genealogist trace the tribe to Hawazin bin Mansour bin Ekrama bin...
- Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south...
- Tribes of Arabia
Arabs are a semitic people, descending from various Old North Arabian tribes.Much of the lineage provided before Ma'ad relies on biblical genealogy and therefore its accuracy from that link uses the bible as a genealogical historical record...
- 'Afif