Banu Sulaym (بنو سليم) was a large and influential Arab tribe from the region of Hijaz, belonging to the ‘Adnani Arabs. Their dwelling lands lay mainly to the east of Mecca and Medina, toward Najd. They were known for their courage, their fighting spirit and their nomadic way of life, and they played a prominent role both in the pre-Islamic period and during the rise of Islam.
Lineage and dwelling region
Banu Sulaym descended from Sulaym ibn Mansur ibn Ikrimah ibn Khasafah ibn Qays ‘Aylan, by which they formed part of the larger tribal group Qays ‘Aylan, related to tribes such as Banu Hawazin and Thaqif.¹ Their territory comprised desert plains and oases around al-Harrah, Najd and the fringes of Hijaz, which made them experienced riders and warriors.
Reputation in the Jahiliyyah
In the time before Islam, Banu Sulaym was praised for its military strength, and various poems from pre-Islamic Arabic literature refer to Banu Sulaym as an example of courage and rugged manliness.
Meeting with the Prophet ﷺ and conversion
Delegations of Banu Sulaym came to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ during the period of delegations (‘aam al-wufud). According to Ibn Hisham they sent a group to Medina to accept Islam after the Quraysh had been defeated and Mecca had been opened.⁴
Ibn Kathir relates that Banu Sulaym were among the tribes that embraced Islam in this period, and that they supported the Prophet ﷺ.⁵
Conversion and participation in Islamic expeditions
After the conquest of Mecca, Banu Sulaym entered Islam on a large scale, and many of their warriors joined the Muslim armies and took part in the great battles against the Byzantines and Persians.
Influence in the Maghreb
During the Fatimid period a large portion of Banu Sulaym was led into North Africa and settled in areas that now belong to Libya, Tunisia and Algeria.⁶
Their arrival had an influence on:
- The Arabization of North Africa
- The spread of Arabic dialects
- The agrarian and nomadic structure of the region
- Their descendants form part of the tribes of the Maghreb to this day.
Ibn Sa’d, Tabaqat al-Kubra, genealogy of Qays ‘Aylan
Ibn Hisham, al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, chapter on delegations
Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa an-Nihayah, mentions of Sulaym Companions
Sahih Muslim, hadith reports on Hunayn
Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, Riddah sections
Al-Baladhuri, Futuh al-Buldan, section on North Africa migrations