| Group: | Qahtan |
| Native Name: | Arabic: قحطان, Arabic: القحطاني |
| Region1: | Saudi Arabia |
| Pop1: | 500,000 Bedouins (1920s)[1] (Not including settled population) |
| Pop2: | 5-6 million people in GCC and Iraq |
| Languages: | southern Najdi dialect[2] |
| Religions: | Sunni Islam (Hanbali) |
| Related Groups: | Al Murrah, Bani Hajer, Yam, Ajman |
Qahtān (also spelled as) to distinguish between the tribe and the Qahtanite peoples, is an Arab tribal confederation. Qahtan is composed of three main tribes: Sanhan, Junb, and Rufaida. Today, members of the tribe and its sub-tribes are based in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
Qahtan's sheikhdom was unanimously agreed by Western historians to be in the hands of the 'Al Qarmalah' family of the Jahader clan in the 19th century, and as early as 1961, the paramount sheikh of Qahtan was reported to be 'Khalil ibn Nasir ibn Qarmalah' (a descendant of Hadi ibn Qarmalah).[2]
The Qahtan tribe enjoyed It settled in one of the Najd regions known as Al-Quwai'iyah and expanded its influence in southern Najd, but Najd is subject to the rule Ibn Saud in the second Saudi state.Several historians have described Qahtan as It became one of the powerful tribes of Najd for a while and then left for its original home in the south.[3] [4]
The Jahader branch of the Sanhan sub-tribe of Qahtan migrated to southern Najd from their homelands in Asir Region during the late 18th century and early 19th century under the leadership of Athfar al-Amaaj, Then they fought with an Alawite branch of the Mutair tribe at Jabal Subha in Al-Quwai'iyah, and Qahtan won in the battle and settled in Al-Quwaiyah
The tribe is considered one of the strongest tribes in Arabia. Their territory extends from Najran in southern Saudi Arabia all the way to Al-Quawyah in central Arabia. It also stretches from Ahsa in eastern Saudi Arabia to the mountains of Abha in southwestern Saudi Arabia.
Bahrain is a Gulf country that houses the tiniest number of Qahtanis compared to other Gulf countries, however, some members of the tribe have taken a relatively prominent role in the country. For example, the head of the Sunni Waqf Endowment Directorate is Rashid al-Hajri, a member of the Bani Hajer.[5] Offshoot Hajri families such Almuhannada also take a public role such as former Member of Parliament Hamad Almuhannadi.[6]