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Banu Hanifa

بنو حنيفة

A great Arab tribe, the people of al-Yamama; of them was Musaylima ibn Habib, called the Liar, who claimed prophecy — the Prophet ﷺ addressed a letter to him — and most of them followed him until Khalid ibn al-Walid (may God be pleased with him) defeated them at the battle of al-Yamama in 12 AH, whereupon Mujja'a ibn Murara brought them to terms and they embraced Islam and the alms were taken from them; before Islam al-Yamama's chief had been Hawdha ibn Ali al-Hanafi whom the Prophet invited to Islam.

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Prophetic Era · The Rashidun Caliphate
Region
Arabia
Review
Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it

Overview

Banu Hanifa is an Adnanite tribe of Rabi'a. The Sealed Nectar counts them among Rabi'a, with Asad ibn Rabi'a, Anaza, Abd al-Qays and the two sons of Wa'il. 1 Banu Hanifa ibn Sa'b ibn Ali ibn Bakr went out to al-Yamama and settled at Hajr, the chief town of al-Yamama. 2 3

Not covered here

The affair of Musaylima, the delegation of Banu Hanifa, and the wars of apostasy in al-Yamama are presented in their own entries. See the data of this entry for the conquests of the lands.

For young visitors

Banu Hanifa lived in al-Yamama, in the centre of the Arabian Peninsula, and their chief town was Hajr.

Connections

Explore the connections

Has member
هوذة بن علي الحنفي· Musaylima
Participated in
The capture of Thumama ibn Uthal al-Hanafi and his acceptance of Islam· The Battle of Yamama· The delegation of Banu Hanifa· Musaylima's apostasy and claim to prophethood at al-Yamama
Part of
al-Yamama

People and things also explored

Musaylima's apostasy and claim to prophethood at al-Yamama· The Battle of Yamama· Musaylima· al-Yamama· Muhammad· The delegation of Banu Hanifa· Musaylima's letter to the Prophet and the reply· Khalid ibn al-Walid

Sources

  1. al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , p.20
  2. al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , p.21
  3. Muhadarat Tarikh al-Umam al-Islamiyya — Muhammad al-Khudari , 1/15-16
  • Futuh al-Buldan — al-Baladhuri (Mu'assasat al-Ma'arif edition)
  • al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936)
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Banu Hanifa”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/group/banu-hanifa/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-16.

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Related

Musaylima's apostasy and claim to prophethood at al-Yamama

When the Banu Hanifa delegation returned to al-Yamama, Musaylima apostatised and claimed prophethood, saying he had been made a partner in the matter with Muhammad and citing the Prophet's words that he was 'not the worst placed of you'. He produced rhymed sayings imitating the Qur'an, permitted wine and fornication and lifted the prayer, while still testifying that Muhammad was a prophet, and Hanifa rallied to him. Ibn Ishaq has it from a shaykh of Banu Hanifa and adds: God knows best which account is true.