The Story of Khuzaʿah, the account of ʿAmr b. Luhay, and the rise of idol-worship in the land

Ibn Isḥāq relates:

Afterward the Ghubshān branch of Khuzaʿah assumed guardianship of the House, superseding Banū Bakr b. ʿAbd Manāt. The man who actually managed it on their behalf was ʿAmr b. al-Ḥārith al-Ghubshānī, while Quraysh at that point were no more than scattered settlers and loosely connected households living among their kinsmen of Banū Kinānah.

They say that the tribe was called “Khuzaʿah” (literally, “those who stayed behind”) because they lagged behind the descendants of ʿAmr b. ʿĀmir when the latter left Yemen for Syria. Passing through Marr al-Ẓahrān they halted there and took up residence.

ʿAwn b. Ayyūb al-Anṣārī of the Khazraj recited about this:

When we reached the valley of Marr, Khuzaʿah broke away from us,
settling in close-packed dwellings well arrayed.
They guarded every valley of Tihāmah and fortified themselves
with solid spears and keen, razor-edged swords.

Abū al-Muṭahhar Ismāʿīl b. Rāfiʿ al-Anṣārī al-Awsī likewise said:

When we came down to Mecca’s basin, Khuzaʿah proclaimed
the dwelling of the ravenous tyrant worthy of praise.
They pitched strongholds and scattered the tribes,
holding sway over every clan between highland and coast.
They drove Jurhum from Mecca’s valley and wrapped themselves
in Khuzaʿite strength—broad-shouldered, unyielding.

Thus Khuzaʿah took charge of the House, handing the office down from one generation to the next until the last of them, Hulayl b. Hubshiyyah b. Salūl b. Kaʿb b. ʿAmr b. Rabīʿah al-Khuzaʿī. Qusayy b. Kilāb married his daughter Hubbāʾ, who bore him four sons: ʿAbd al-Dār, ʿAbd Manāf, ʿAbd al-ʿUzzā, and ʿAbd.

Authority over the House would later pass to Qusayy, as will be clarified in its proper place, God willing; in Him we place our trust.