The House of Quraysh

It's Orgin and Development

Qusayy

Another of the most powerful Arab tribes of the Abrahamic descent was Quraysh; and about four hundred years after Christ, a man of Quraysh named Qusayy married a daughter of Hulayl who was then chief of Khuzd'ah.

Hulayl preferred his son-in-law to his own sons, for Qusayy was outstanding amongst all Arabs of his time, and on the death of Hulayl, after a fierce battle which ended in arbitration. It was agreed that Qusayy should rule over Mecca and be the guardian of the Holy Kabah.

Quraysh of the Hollow

Qusayy there upon brought those of Quraysh who were his nearest of kin and settled them in the valley of Becca, beside the Holy Sanctuary:

1.His brother Zuhrah

2.His uncle Taym

3.Makhzum, the son of another uncle

And one or two cousins who were less close.

These people and their posterity were known as Quraysh of the Hollow, whereas Qusayy's more remote kinsmen settled in the ravines neighbours, of the surrounding Becca hills and in the countryside beyond and were known as God's visitors, the pilgrims to Quraysh of the Outskirts.

Qusayy ruled over them all as a king, with undisputed power, and they paid him a tax every year on their flocks, so that he might feed those of the pilgrims who were too poor to provide for themselves. Until then the keepers of the Sanctuary had lived around the Kabah in tents.

But Qusayy now told them to build themselves houses, having already built a house for himself. A most spacious dwelling which was known as the House of Assembly.