ʿAbs
A Ghaṭafānī tribe of Najd, remembered through ʿAntara and the war of Dāḥis.
- Grouping
- Ghaṭafān, under Muḍar
- Remembered through
- ʿAntara ibn Shaddād
Overview
ʿAbs is reckoned to Ghaṭafān. It is among the most present tribes in pre-Islamic narrative, chiefly through ʿAntara ibn Shaddād — poet, warrior, and later the subject of a popular epic cycle of his own — and through the war of Dāḥis and al-Ghabrāʾ against Dhubyān.
On lineage
Branch lists and affiliations here are given as reported by the classical genealogists, who themselves disagree. Nothing on this page establishes any living family's descent: a shared name may reflect descent, alliance (ḥilf) or clientage (walāʾ), and the sources usually say which only when they know.
Frequently asked questions
Who was ʿAntara?
A poet and warrior of ʿAbs whose verse survives in the classical canon and who later became the subject of a popular epic cycle.
Sources
- ابن حزم الأندلسي، جمهرة أنساب العرب، 456هـ — أنساب عبس
This page is an educational, historical reference compiled from published sources. It is not an authority on lineage. Where sources differ, we report the difference without taking a position. Corrections are welcome via our contact page.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-28