How to Trace The Descendants Of Pagan Quraysh In Our Times?
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
Is it possible to track the descendants of the enemies of Islam and Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and give him peace) in contemporary times?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. We pray that Allah guides us to lives of peace and contentment in this life and the next.
Noble Lineage
It is possible, and many families have ancestry records among themselves (I don’t know of an official public record of this). Tracing and keeping records of family lineage is especially common in noble lineages such as the descendants of the family of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace). They are usually titled with the honorific Sayyid/Sayyida (Master/Mistress) or Sharif/Sharifa (Honorable).
Descendants of Quraysh
Most, if not all, of the descendants of the Prophet’s (may Allah bless him and give him peace) enemies, would have embraced Islam based on historical events from the Conquest of Mecca through the caliphate of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him).
I don’t think any Muslim descendant would have (or want to) trace their lineage to one of the Prophet’s enemies, but probably stop at the specific tribe from which they descended. Many Arabs can trace their lineage back to their Qurayshi tribes, such as the Qahtani family, and Allah knows best.
Ancestry and Lineage in Islam
It is important to note that while Islam attaches some importance to lineage, we should understand that in the Hereafter, we all stand responsible for our own beliefs and deeds, and Allah knows best.
Allah says: “That was a community that had already gone before. For them is what they earned and for you is what you have earned. And you will not be accountable for what they have done.” [Quran, 2:134]
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Learn your lineages to solidify your family ties. Verily, keeping family ties causes love among the kinship, enriches the wealth, and increases the lifespan.” [Tirmidhi]
I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar, Shaykh Taha Karaan. Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others. He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town. Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and pursuing his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.
