Banu Tamim (بنو تميم) was a large Arab tribe that dwelt in the region of Najd in the central part of the Arabian Peninsula. They belong to the Adnani Arabs, descending from Tamim ibn Murr ibn ‘Idd ibn Tabikhah ibn Ilyas ibn Mudar, by which they are related to tribes such as Quraysh and Hawazin.¹
The tribe was known for its size, its eloquence, its courage and its presence in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula.
Dwelling region and character
Their territory lay mainly in Najd and the surrounding desert regions. According to Ibn Sa’d and al-Tabari they were known for:
- A strong tribal structure
- Skilled riders and warriors
- Poets and orators
- Pronounced pride and independence²
They led a nomadic way of life with a few settlements and were involved in trade routes toward Iraq and Hijaz.
Banu Tamim in the Jahiliyyah
In the pre-Islamic era they were a tribe of standing and military reputation. Their poets are mentioned at length in Arabic literature, and they took part in conflicts between the central and northern tribes.³ Their influence in Najd made them a key tribe in the political structure of Arabia before the revelation.
Meeting with the Prophet ﷺ
During the da’wah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Banu Tamim sent a delegation to Medina. Ibn Hisham relates that they sent a group of their leaders during the year of the delegations (aam al-wufud), in which they met the Prophet ﷺ and accepted Islam.⁴
Bukhari relates the well-known incident in which a delegation of Banu Tamim spoke loudly outside the dwelling of the Prophet ﷺ, after which the verse was revealed:
Those who raise their voices above the voice of the Messenger…
(Surah al-Hujurat, 49:2)⁵
This happened when they wished to draw his attention in a harsh manner, befitting their Bedouin nature, after which they learned the proper etiquette.
Yet the Prophet ﷺ also spoke positively of them. In Sahih Muslim it is related that he said:
They are the firmest against the Dajjal and *They are my people (ahli).*⁶
This points to their strong character and their future role in the defense of the truth.
Participation in expeditions and early Islam
After their conversion, members of Banu Tamim took part in Islamic military campaigns during the caliphate of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه and afterward. Ibn Kathir relates that they proved themselves in the fighting in Iraq and ash-Sham.⁷
They did not turn back into apostasy during the Riddah period, according to al-Tabari, but supported the Muslims in the struggle against apostate factions elsewhere.⁸
Their participation made them an important tribe in the early Islamic expansion into Iraq.
Ibn Sa’d, Tabaqat al-Kubra, genealogy of Banu Tamim
Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, mentions of the Najd tribes
Ibn Qutaybah, al-Shi’r wa ash-shu’ara (poetic mentions)
Ibn Hisham, al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, chapter on delegations
Sahih al-Bukhari, Tafsir chapter on Surah al-Hujurat
Sahih Muslim, hadith on the virtues of Banu Tamim
Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa an-Nihayah, chapters on the futuhat
Al-Tabari, Tarikh, account of the Riddah events
Ibn Sa’d, biography of al-Aqra ibn Habis
Ibn Kathir, mention of Zayd al-Khair in al-Sirah