Anizah Tribe The Anizah family tree:

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1 1 Anizah Tribe (العنزي ( Al- Anizī Singular The Al Sa ud, Al Khalifa, and Al Sabaah royal famlies of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait trace their ancestry to this large tribal federation. `Anazah's existence as an autonomous tribal group, unlike that of many prominent modern tribes, predates the rise of Islam in the 7th century AD. Arab genealogists have placed `Anazah within the large Rabī`ah branch of Adnānite (North Arabian) tribes. Today the Anizah is still the dominant tribe in the northern region of Saudi Arabia, but large populations are also found throughout the kingdom, such as Riyadh, Medina, and the Eastern Province. The Anizah family tree: the distinguished leaf on the upper right near the sun represents the Al Saud royal family, and the two larger leaves on the upper left represent the Al Khalifa and Al Sabaah families of Bahrain and Kuwait

2 2 According to historians such as Al-Tabari (10th century CE), the `Anazah tribe joined with the Banu Bakr (associated with Bakr ibn Wā'il) under an alliance, becoming one tribe. So complete was the merging of the two tribes that it became unknown which branches belonged to which tribe. Although the tribe later came to be known as "`Anazah", their battle cry was "sons of Wā'il," and the names "`Anazah" and "Wī'il" were interchangeable until at least the 19th century. Some believe that this confederation also absorbed the remnants of the once-large and powerful tribe of Taghlib (predominantly Christian tribe that eventually converted to Islam after the rise of Islam), and probably other smaller tribes. The process of absorption by one tribe of another (called hilf, "alliance") is a common feature of Arab tribal society. The genealogist and historian of the Anazah, Abdullah Al- Anizi, states that all of the Anizah tribe are the descendants of Wael the son of Hazzan the son of Sabah the son of Utaik the son of Aslam the son of Yadkur the son of Anizah. The modern tribe of `Anazah became prominent in the Ottoman era, as masters of the oasis towns of northwestern Arabia, particularly Khaybar and Al- Ula (Dedan of the Bible, known for its saddlery). Although not farmers themselves, the `Anazah levied crops from the inhabitants, and only spent the winter months in the area, while migrating northwards into southern Syria in the summer months, where they collected tribute from the inhabitants of the Hawran region. The tribute was known as khuwwa ("brotherhood"), and in exchange, the tribesmen pledged to protect the farmers from other tribes. Anizah The traditional homeland (dīrah) of the Anizah

3 3 One branch of the`anazah which ranged from Al-Jouf and the valley of Wadi Sarhān and even into Jordan and Syria, became so large and powerful that it developed into an independent tribe known as the Ruwalah (singular Al-Ruwaili). The Ruwalah engaged in battle with other branches of `Anazah, and also became the arch-enemy of the large tribe of Shammar, who inhabited roughly the same area and dominated Nejd in the late 19th century after temporarily deposing the Al Saud. The Ruwalah were among the tribes that took part in the "Arab Revolt" against the Ottomans in A Ruwalah tribesman According to the Anizah tribe's genealogists, the modern tribe in north Arabia is divided into the following branches: Wael o o Al- Amārāt Ad-Dahāmashah Dhana Muslim o Al-Jalās o Banu Wahb o Al-Ruwalah tribe Āl Ubaid (of Dhana Bashr) o Āl Musīka o Āl Mawāiqah o Ad-Dawwām o Al Mawāhīb

4 4 One of the main settlements of the Dahāmashah family of the Anizah is Dumat Al-Jandal, which is an ancient oasis town mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah, named after one of Ishmael s 12 princely sons, Dumah. The sparse chronicles of Nejd relating to the pre-wahhabi era relate a process of penetration of the tribe into northern and western Nejd, where they began to claim pastures during the winter months. One 19th century historian, Ibn La'bun, a descendant of `Anazah who went by the tribal appellation of "Al-Waeli", recorded the story of the settlement of several `Anazi families in Nejd, which he placed in the 14th century CE. In the 15th century, the region of Al-Qasīm in northern Nejd was being rapidly settled through migration, partly by members of `Anazah. In the early 18th century just prior to the rise of Wahhabism -- the Bedouins of `Anazah are recorded to have reached as far as the gates of Riyadh, killing its ruler in battle. This battle was part of a tribal war in which Riyadh and its neighboring villages took sides. However, drought and a migration from the mountains of Hejaz (western Arabia) by the tribe of Mutair helped push `Anazah back northwards shortly thereafter. Arabic coffee and dates, a symbol of hospitality, a famous virtue of Arabian tribes When the Wahhabi movement gave rise to the First Saudi State in the late 18th century, `Anazah were among the tribes that adopted a favorable attitude towards this new power, but took little active part in supporting it militarily, due to their geographical location. The `Anazah have from an early date adamantly claimed the Al Saud family to be one of their own, probably because Al Saud claimed ancestry from Wa'il, and many members of Al Saud claim descent

5 5 from a branch of `Anazah. However, within Al Saud's native region they are believed to be descendents of Wa'il through the tribe of Banu Hanifa, the region's native inhabitants, rather than through `Anazah, and unlike most other `Anazi families in Nejd, no record of an immigration by the Al Saud's ancestors from `Anazah's tribal territories exists. The clans of Al Sabah and Al Khalifah, present-day rulers of the states of Kuwait and Bahrain, and the Al-Roumi and Al-Jalahma clan, also claim to be descended from Anizah through a clan known as the Jumayla. According to their oral tradition, the Al Sabah and Al Khalifah left southern Nejd for the Persian Gulf coast in the 18th century, where they joined with another clan under the umbrella of a well-known tribe, the Bani Utbah (plural Utub), or Al Bin Ali. The establishment of the modern borders of the Middle East dealt a severe blow to the Bedouin lifestyle of tribes such as `Anazah, which were accustomed to raising their animals over wide areas spanning many modern states. Special arrangements were made in the early 20th century for these tribes, but the vast majority ended up settling within these new states and taking Saudi, Kuwaiti, Iraqi, Syrian, or Jordanian citizenship. These recently settled tribesmen are often distinguished from their sedentary cousins by retaining tribal appellations such as al- `Anizi or Al-Ruwaili (from the Ruwalah) as their surnames. The Anizah tribe has been known throughout history for its strong breed of horses. People to Know Fahd bin Hamoud Al- Anizi Member of the Shura royal advisory council to the King of Saudi Arabia.

6 6 King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Sa ud Born August 1 st, 1923, the sixth son (out of 37 sons) of King Abdul-Aziz. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina since Aug Appointed Nora bint Abdullah al-fayez, a US-educated former teacher, as deputy education minister in charge of a new department for female students, the first female minister of Saudi Arabia. In 2005, he implemented a government scholarship program to send young Saudi men and women to Western universities for undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Today there are tens of thousands of Saudi students studying abroad. In November 2007, he visited Pope Benedict XVI in the Apostolic Palace. He is the first Saudi monarch to visit the Pope. In March 2008, he called for a brotherly and sincere dialogue between believers from all religions. He has had thirteen wives, and has fathered at least thirty-five children. His mother, Fahdah Al- Āsiy Al-Sharīm, is from the Rashidi family (of the Shammar tribe), a longtime rival of the Sa ud family. King Abdullah s health has rapidly declined since 2010.

7 7 Prayer Points Pray that Salvation would come to the Sa ud royal family, that they would behold the depth of their spiritual poverty, and that the Anizah tribe (known for its royal lines) would beget many princes and princesses for the kingdom. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of their people. He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Some of the Anizah are now settled in Dumat Al-Jandal, thought by many scholars to be the Dumah mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah: The Oracle Concerning Dumah. A voice crieth to me from Seir: Watchman, what from the night? Watchman, what from the night? The watchman replieth: - The morning cometh, and also the night. If ye will inquire, inquire ye: come again. (Isaiah 21:11) Meditation/Commentary for prayer: An Oracle concerning the descendents of Ishmael, the Arabs, and those in the wilderness of Seir, long inhabited by the Arabs. Those who are distant from God cry out: O Prophet, how much longer will the kingdom of darkness consume us?! The prophet replies: Salvation will dawn upon your horizons! But beware, the darkness will also come upon your lands and your hearts, so do not tarry Call out to God again and again (just as you have done now twice) for light, for mercy, for grace, for Christ as the darkness surrounds you. Persevere in your prayers, and call out to the Lord of Salvation, for the dawn of salvation will come. The Anizah were historically the enemies of the Shammar tribe. Pray that many from this tribe would receive salvation, and would love their enemies as themselves (particularly those who will persecute them on account of Christ).

8 8 السرحاني Sirhani البلوي Balwi الخالدي Khaldi %3 Harbi الحربي 'Utaibi العتیبي 1 % Northern Region الشمري Shammari 7 الشراري Sharari 4 %51 الشراري Sharari الشمري Shammari الخالدي Khaldi السرحاني Sirhani البلوي Balwi العتیبي 'Utaibi المطیري Mutairi Approximate distribution of tribes in the Northern Region

9 9 العتیبي 'Utaibi %4 %6 التمیمي Tamimi القحطاني Qahtani Qasim and Ha'il Areas Shammari الشمري Mutairi المطیري %9 المطیري Mutairi 4 الشمري Shammari %32 %32 العتیبي 'Utaibi Tamimi التمیمي Qahtani القحطاني السبیعي Su'bai البلوي Balwi Approximate distribution of tribes in Qasim and Ha il

10 10 Medina Area (Khaibar, Al-'Ula, Mahd Al-Dhahab, Yanbu', Tabuk, Taima', etc) 'Utaibi العتیبي Ghamdi الغامدي Zahrani الزھراني %3 Huwaiti الحویطي %3 Shahri الشھري %3 Sahli السھلي Qahtani القحطاني الشمري Shammari الحارثي Harthi %6 المالكي Malki Garni القرني المطیري Mutairi %8 Shamrani الشمراني العطوي 'Ațawi %9 Sharari الشراري 4 0 'Aseeri العسیري البلوي Balwi 3 الجھني Jahini 3 البلوي Balwi الجھني Jahini 'Ațawi العطوي Mutairi المطیري Shahri الشھري Huwaiti الحویطي Zahrani الزھراني السھلي Sahli Ghamdi الغامدي 'Utaibi العتیبي Shammari الشمري Qahtani القحطاني القرني Garni Harthi الحارثي المالكي Malki Shamrani الشمراني Sharari الشراري 'Aseeri العسیري Tamimi التمیمي Approximate distribution of tribes in the Medina area

11 11 القرني % 2.0 Garni العجمي 'Ajmi.6.0 المري Murri.8 Hajri الھاجري.9 Eastern Province (Al-Khobar, Dammam, Jubail, Khafji, Nu'ariyah, Hofuf, Abqaiq, Ras Tanura, Hafr Al-Batin, etc).4 الیامي Yami.6 الشھري Shahri %3.2 السبیعي Su'bai %3.6 الخالدي Khaldi %4.2 الزھراني Zahrani %4.7 المالكي Malki.2 Harthi الحارثي.0 العتیبي 'Utaibi %6.4 الغامدي Ghamdi %6.9 Sahli Shamrani الشمراني السھلي.0.0 الشمري Shammari %9.6 %7.2 الدوسري Dosari %9.4 القحطاني Qahtani %8.6 المطیري Mutairi %8.0 %8.2 Shammari الشمري Dosari الدوسري Qahtani القحطاني Mutairi المطیري Harbi الحربي Ghamdi الغامدي 'Utaibi العتیبي Zahrani الزھراني Khaldi الخالدي Su'bai السبیعي Shahri الشھري Hajri الھاجري Murri المري العجمي 'Ajmi القرني Garni الیامي Yami Malki المالكي Approximate distribution of tribes in the Eastern Province

12 12 العجمي 'Ajmi Sahli السھلي %3 %4 Zahrani الزھراني الغامدي Ghamdi الشھري Shahri التمیمي Tamimi Harthi الحارثي Riyadh Outskirts (Al-Majma'ah, Al-Kharj, Al-Mazahimiya, Sajir, Al-Irtawiya, Al-Quwaiy'iyah, etc) Shammari الشمري 'Utaibi العتیبي Dosari الدوسري Qahtani القحطاني Mutairi المطیري Su'bai السبیعي Harbi الحربي %4 السبیعي Su'bai %4 المطیري Mutairi 1 القحطاني Qahtani 3 العتیبي 'Utaibi 9 الدوسري Dosari 1 السھلي Sahli Shahri الشھري Ghamdi الغامدي العجمي 'Ajmi Zahrani الزھراني Tamimi التمیمي Approximate distribution of tribes in the outskirts of Riyadh

13 13 Harthi الحارثي المالكي Malki Shammari الشمري %4 Su'bai السبیعي %4 العجمي 'Ajmi السھلي Sahli القرني Garni الزھراني Zahrani %4 الغامدي Ghamdi %5 Shahri الشھري %5 Shamrani الشمراني %6 العسیري 'Aseeri الدوسري Dosari %8 التمیمي Tamimi الیامي Yami العتیبي 'Utaibi 7 المطیري Mutairi 0 القحطاني Qahtani 1 0 Riyadh 'Utaibi العتیبي Qahtani القحطاني 'Anizi العنزي Mutairi المطیري Dosari الدوسري Harbi الحربي Shahri الشھري Ghamdi الغامدي Zahrani الزھراني Su'bai السبیعي Shammari الشمري Malki المالكي Harthi الحارثي القرني Garni السھلي Sahli 'Ajmi العجمي Approximate distribution of tribes in Riyadh