Key Points on the History of Arabs

Categories of Arabs

1. Extinct Arabs (Al-Arab Al-Ba'idah)

   • Earliest civilizations in Arabia.
   • Mentioned in the Quran: Thamud and Ad.
   • Existed 5-6 thousand years ago.
   • Destroyed by divine intervention or war.
   • Documented in historical texts.

2. Remaining Arabs (Al-Arab Al-Baqiah)

   • Al-Arab Al-Ariba (Pure Arabs)
     • Founded by Qahtan or his son Ya'rub.
     • Also known as Qahtani Arabs, primarily in southern Arabia (e.g., Yemen).
     • Descendants of Sam (son of Nuh), hence termed Semites.
     • Qahtan possibly descends from ancient Arabs or Hud.
   • Al-Arab Al-Musta'riba (Arabicized Arabs)
     • Descendants of Ismail, son of Ibrahim.
     • Adnan is a key figure among them.
     • Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is an Adnani Arab, 20 generations after Adnan.

Lineage of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

• Three Categories of Lineage
  • From Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to Adnan
    • Well-documented: 20 generations.
  • From Adnan to Ismail
    • Uncertain, based on Arabic folklore.
    • Multiple opinions: ranges from 7 to 41 generations.
  • From Ismail to Adam
    • Based on the Old Testament, unreliable.
    • Commonly depicted in charts with 55 generations.

Additional Notes

• Qahtan's Background

  • Possibly from ancient Arab al-Ariba.
  • May predate Adnan by centuries.

• Adnan's Context

  • Lived around 30 BC.
  • Related to prominent figures like Ismail.

• Historical Sources

  • Jewish and Christian sources are inadequate for certain lineages.
  • Many historical claims are based on myth or folklore.

• Charts and Lineage

  • Lineage charts are a mix of fact and fiction.
  • Jewish Calendar corroborates some timelines (approx. 6,000 years).