| Fihr ibn Malik Arabic: فِهْر ٱبْن مَالِك | |
| Birth Place: | Makkah |
| Death Place: | Makkah |
| Children: | Al-Harith[1] (ancestor of Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah)MuharibGhalib |
| Father: | Malik |
Fihr ibn Malik (Arabic: فِهْر ٱبْن مَالِك|Fihr ibn Mālik,), is counted among the direct ancestors of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. In the lineage of Muhammad from Adnan, he precedes Muhammad by eleven generations.
Some writers stated that his name was also "Qarish" (hard, diminutive is "Quraysh"), which fits him being the progenitor of the Quraysh tribe. However most genealogists reject this version.
Fihr ibn Malik traded with other Arabian tribes and also was in charge for the needs of Arabian pilgrims going on the Hajj.
See main article: Yawm al-Nakhla. Fihr ibn Malik defended the city of Mecca from the Himyarite Kingdom; the latter intended to take away the stones of the Kaaba and transport them to Yemen so the Hajj would be transported there instead.[2] [3] [4] Fihr led a joint force of Quraysh and warriors from the Arabian tribes of Mudar, Banu Kinana, Banu Asad, Banu Hudhayl and Banu Tamim which repelled the Himyarites. The enemy general, Hassan ibn 'Abd-Kulal was captured and imprisoned for three years until he was able to ransom himself out of custody.
Fihr ibn Malik married Layla bint al-Harith, a woman from the Banu Hudhayl tribe, and from this marriage he had several sons, including Ghalib, Muharib, Harith, As'ad, Awf, Jawn, and Dhi'b. When Islam began to rise in the 7th century, the descendants of Fihr amongst the Quraysh tribal confederation held influential positions in Mecca.[5]
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