QuraishGod answered each and every prayer sent up by Ibrahim and Isma'il (u). The descen-
dants of Isma'il multiplied exceedingly, so that the barren valley overflowed with the proge-
ny of Ibrahim (u). Isma'il (u) took for his wife a girl of the tribe of Jurhum, a clan belong-
ing to the 'Arab 'Aribah. In the lineal descendants of Isma’il, 'Adnan was born whose lineage
was universally recognised as the most worthy and noble among them. The Arabs being too
particular about the purity of race and blood have always treasured the genealogy of
'Adnan's progeny in the store house of their memory.
'Adnan had many sons of whom Ma'add was the most prominent. Among the sons of
Ma'add, Mudar was more distinguished; then Fihr b. Malik in the lineage of Mudar achieved
eminence; and finally the descendants of Fihr b. Malik b. Mudar came to be known as Qu-
raysh. Thus came into existence the clan of Quraysh, the nobility of Makkah, whose lineage
and exalted position among the tribes of Arabia as well as whose virtues of oratory and
eloquence, civility, gallantry and high mindedness were unanimously accepted by all. The
recognition accorded to the Quraysh without a dissentient voice throughout the Peninsula
became, in due course of time, a genuine article of faith to the people of Arabia.
QUSAYY BIN KILAB
Qusayy Bin Kilab was born in the direct line of Fihr but the hegemony of Makkah had, by
that time, passed on from Jurhum's clansmen to the hands of the Khuza'ites. Qusayy b. Kilab
recovered the administration of the Ka'bah and the town through his organizing capacity
and superior qualities of head and heart. The Quraysh strengthened the hands of Qusayy b.
Kilab in dislodging the Khuza'ites from the position of leadership usurped by them. Qusayy
was now master of the town, loved and respected by all. He held the keys of the Ka'bah and
the rights to water the pilgrims from the well of Zamzam, to feed the pilgrims, to preside at
assemblies and to hand out war banners. In his hands lay all the dignities of Makkah and
nobody entered the Ka'bah until he opened it for him. Such was his authority his Makkah
during his lifetime that no affair of the Quraysh was decided but by him, and his decisions
were followed like a religious law which could not be infringed.
After the death of Qusayy his sons assumed his authority but 'Abdu Munaf amongst them
was more illustrious. His eldest son, Hashim b. 'Abdu Munaf conducted the feeding and
watering of the pilgrims, and, after his death the authority passed on to 'Abdul Muttalib, the
grandfather of the Prophet (r). His people held him in the highest esteem and such was the
popularity gained by him, so they say, as was never enjoyed by anybody amongst his ances-
tors.
The progeny of Hashim, who now filled the stage and assumed a commanding position
among the Quraysh, was like a stream of light in the darkness of Arabia. The sketches of