Bakr
A large Rabīʿa tribe of eastern Arabia, remembered with Taghlib for the long Basūs war.
- Grouping
- Rabīʿa (ʿAdnānī)
- Remembered for
- The long war with Taghlib
Overview
Bakr is placed under Rabīʿa and associated with eastern Arabia and the country toward Iraq. It is remembered above all alongside Taghlib: the war between the two, reported as lasting some forty years, is among the most narrated episodes of the pre-Islamic period and supplies a great deal of the poetry that survives from it.
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
What was the war between Bakr and Taghlib?
A conflict reported as lasting some forty years before Islam, and one of the most narrated episodes of the period.
Sources
- ابن حزم الأندلسي، جمهرة أنساب العرب، 456هـ — أنساب بكر
This page is an educational, historical reference compiled from published sources.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