The Quraysh judges of Baghdad during the Abbasid era (150-656 AH / 767-1258 AD)

Abstract

This research aims to shed light on the judges of Baghdad during the Abbasid era whose social origins trace back to the Quraysh tribe, and their role in building the judicial institution in the Islamic state throughout the Islamic periods. Belonging to the Quraysh tribe was a prominent factor in the appointment of judges and the determination of their status, given the tribe's noble lineage and its leadership of the Islamic call since its inception. The Quraysh judges were distinguished by their knowledge and jurisprudence, and their efforts to enhance the status of the judiciary. The research examines the most prominent Quraysh clans that held judicial positions, such as the Hashimites, Umayyads, Adawis, Zuhris, and Taymis. The research relies on a number of historical sources, including al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, Ibn al-Jawzi, and al-Dhahabi, to trace the biographies of these judges.

The Quraysh lineage was not merely a social affiliation but an influential factor in the religious and political structure of the Islamic state. The Quraysh judges combined knowledge, noble lineage, and judicial expertise. The various branches of the Quraysh—including the Hashimites, Zuhris, Umayyads, Abbasids, Taymis, Adawis, and Banu Abd al-Uzza—contributed to establishing the principles of Islamic law. These branches were fundamental in spreading justice and left a clear mark on jurisprudence, hadith, legal opinions, and administration.