Bakīl
One of the two great Hamdānī confederations of the Yemeni highlands, paired with Hashid.
- Grouping
- Hamdān (Qaḥṭānī)
- Paired with
- Hāshid
- Region
- The Yemeni highlands
Overview
Bakīl is the larger of the two confederations the sources place under Hamdān, the other being Hāshid. The pair is named together so consistently in Yemeni history that they function as a single phrase, and between them they account for much of the highland north. Their country lies around and above Sanaa.
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).
Frequently asked questions
What is the relationship between Bakīl and Hāshid?
They are the two confederations the sources place under Hamdān, named together so consistently that they function as one phrase in Yemeni history.
Sources
- الحسن الهمداني، صفة جزيرة العرب، 334هـ — في ذكر همدان
- ابن حزم الأندلسي، جمهرة أنساب العرب، 456هـ — أنساب همدان
This page is an educational, historical reference compiled from published sources.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