Abd al-Qays

History

Origins

The name of the tribe means 'servant of the [god] Qays'. It belonged to the tribal groups originally resident in the area of al-Arid in South Arabia who migrated northwestward to an area extending north to Sudayr and south to al-Kharj. Later, in the Arab genealogical tradition, these tribes were called the Rabi'a, a branch of the northern Arab Ma'add confederation.

Campaigns of Shapur II

In pre-Islamic times, the Abd al-Qays frequently raided Iran. The Sasanian king Shapur II () led an expedition against the Arabian tribes, during which he massacred most of the Abd al-Qays. Later, several Abd al-Qays tribesmen were relocated by Shapur to the Iranian province of Kirman.

Migrations into eastern Arabia

By the 5th century, the Abd al-Qays had shifted to nomadism, dwelling outside of the Tuwaiq escarpment in the southern Najd (central Arabia). In the 6th century, the tribe migrated northeastward the oases of al-Ahsa, Tarout Island and Qatif in eastern Arabia.

Islamic period

During the Arab conquest of Iran, considerable numbers of Abd al-Qays tribesmen entered southeastern, launching extensive raids in the region. Several groupings of Abd al-Qays settled near Tavvaz in the Iranian coastal mountains and Basra in lower Mesopotamia. In the early 8th century, 4,000 Abd al-Qays warriors formed part of the army of Qutayba ibn Muslim on his campaign into Khorasan.

The majority of the Baharna are descendants of the Banu Abd al-Qays, while some are from the tribes of Bakr ibn Wa'il and others.

Religion

Abd al-Qays were mostly Christians before the advent of Islam.

Sources

Bibliography

References

1. [http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/abd-al-qays-an-eastern-arabian-tribe ʿABD-AL-QAYS] [[Encyclopaedia Iranica]].
2. (13 May 2012). "قبيلة عبدالقيس التي ينحدر منها البحارنة (بحث) – ســنــوات الــجــريــش". JAS Blog.
3. اللاري, البحارنة إسحاق النينويالشيخ أحمدعباس المهريعيسى أحمد قاسممجيد مرهونعلي جواد الشيخعبد الهادي الخواجةرامین بحرانیآيات القرمزينبيل رجبمهدي أبو ديبحسن مشيمعزينب الخواجةمحمد حدادمحمد سيد عدنانمحمد المسقطيحسين السبعطارق الفرسانيجاسم الهويديعلاء حبيل المناطق ذات التجمعات المعتبرة البحرين600 000عُمان10 000اللغاتاللهجة البحرانيةاللغات القديمةHasaiticالدينالمسيحية النسطورية حتى القرن 7اليوم الشيعة الإثنا عشريةالجماعات العرقية ذات الصلةشعوب سسامية أخرى: عرب، أشوريون،ِشعوب إيرانية مختلفة: فرس، شعب. "بحارنة".