Maqil
The Banu Ma'qil (Arabic: بنو معقل) is an Arab nomadic tribe that originated in South Arabia.[1] The tribe emigrated to the Maghreb region of North Africa with the Banu Hilal and Banu Sulaym tribes in the 11th century. They mainly settled in and around the Saharan wolds and oases of Morocco; in Tafilalt, Wad Nun (near Guelmim), Draa and Taourirt. With the Ma'qil being a Bedouin tribe that originated in the Arabian Peninsula, like Banu Hilal and Banu Sulaym, they adapted perfectly to the climatic desert conditions of the Maghreb, discovering the same way of life as in the Arabian Peninsula.[1] The Ma'qil branch of Beni Hassan which came to dominate all of Mauritania, Western Sahara, south Morocco, and south-west Algeria, spread the Hassaniya Arabic dialect,[2] which is very close to classical Arabic.[1]
Banu Ma'qil
بَنُو مَعقِل
al-Ma'qili
المعقلي
Origins[edit]
The exact origin of the Ma'qil tribe is unknown,[3] although it has been established that they most likely originated in South Arabia (Yemen).[1] They claimed for themselves a prestigious Hashemite descent from Ja'far ibn Abu Talib, son of Abu Talib and brother of Ali ibn Abu Talib. Some Arabian genealogists categorized them as Hilalians.[3] Ibn Khaldun hypothesized that both of these versions are false, since the Hashemites lived in urban cities and weren't nomadic nor ever wandered in the desert.[3] He added that the Ma'qil is a name only found in Yemen.[3] Ibn Khaldun said that they were likely an Arab nomadic group from Yemen, and this is supported by Ibn al-Kalbi and Ibn Said.[3][4] Ibn Khaldun noted "the origin of the Ma'qil tribe is from the Arabs of Yemen, and their grandfather is Rabi'a bin Ka'b bin Rabi'a bin Ka'b bin al-Harith, and from al-Harith bin Ka'b bin 'Amr bin 'Ulah bin Jald bin Madhhij bin Adad bin Zayd bin Kahlan".[5]
Sub-tribes[edit]
Beni Ubayd Allah[edit]
The Banu Ubayd Allah descended from Ubayd Allah bin Sahir (or Saqil), son of the Ma'qil forefather.[4] They were the biggest sub-group of the Ma'qil and lived as nomads in the southern hills between Tlemcen and Taourirt.[6] In their nomadic travel they reached as far as the Melwiya river in the north and Tuat in the south.[6] The Beni Ubayd Allah later divided into two sub-tribes: The Haraj and The Kharaj.[7]
Beni Mansur[edit]
The Banu Mansur descended from Mansour bin Mohammed, the second son of the Ma'qil forefather.[8][9] They lived as nomads between Taourirt and the Draa valley.[9] At one time they controlled the area between the Moulouya river and Sijilmasa, in addition to Taza and Tadla.[9] They were the second most numerous Ma'qil sub-tribe after the Beni Ubayd Allah.[8]
Beni Hassan[edit]
The Banu Hassan descended from Hassan bin Mokhtar bin Mohamed, the second son of the Ma'qil forefather.[4] They were thus the cousins of Beni Mansour. The Banu Hassan sub-tribe is, however, not limited to the descendants of Hassan, they also include the Shebanat (sons of Shebana the brother of Hassan) and the Reguitat who descended from the other sons of Mohamed; namely Jalal, Salem and Uthman.[4][10] They wandered in the Sous and the extreme-Sous (present-day southern Morocco)[9] but they had originally lived as nomads near the Melwiya river neighboring their relatives; the Banu Ubayd Allah and Banu Mansour.[10] Their coming to the Sous was a result of the Almohad governor of this region who invited them to fight for him when a rebellion broke out.[10]
Thaaliba[edit]
The Thaaliba were the descendants of Thaalab bin Ali bin Bakr bin Sahir (or Saqir or Suhair) son of the Ma'qil forefather. This sub-tribe settled in a region close to Algiers, the Mitidja plain. They came to rule Algiers from 1204 to 1516 until the Ottomans took over control from Salim al-Tumi in the capture of Algiers.[11]