The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 1 of 4

their father's rule and had attained great power and prestige. Thus Qusayy
wished for 'Abd al-Dnr to be equal to them in prestige and so gave him alone
these powers. 'Abd al-Du's brothers did not dispute his action. But when they
all had passed away their sons came into conflict about this and said, "Qusayy
only entrusted 'Abd al-Du with all that to equalize him with his brothers; we
are entitled to what our fathers were due."
'Abd al-Du's family replied, "This is a matter that Qusayy decided in our
favour, and we have the greater right."
And so a great dispute arose among them; and Quraysh split into two factions,
one giving allegiance and alliance to the family of 'Abd al-Dar, the other to the
family of 'Abd Mannf with whom they made a formal pact. Upon making the
oath they placed their hands into a deep dish containing perfume. Then they
went and wiped their hands on the corners of the kacba. This was thereafter
known as the "Treaty of the Perfumed".
On the 'Abd Mannf side there were the Quraysh tribes of Bann Asad b. 'Abd
al-Wzza b. Qusayy, Bann Zuhra, Bann Taym, and Bano al-Hnrith b. Fihr. On
the side of 'Abd al-Du's descendants were Bana Makhziim, Bana Sahm, Bana
Jumah, and Bann 'Adi. The tribes of Ban 'Amir b. Lu'ayy and Muhiwib b. Fihr
remained separate from the rest, not allying with either side.
Ultimately they made peace, agreeing that the prerogatives of feeding and
watering the pilgrims should be held by Bann 'Abd Mannf, while those of
guardianship of the ka'ba, issuance of banners, and calling of assemblies were
to be held by Bann 'Abd al-Da. This arrangement became firm and permanent.
Al-Umawi related from al-Ashram, on the authority of Abn 'Ubayda that a
number of the Khw'a claim that after Qusayy had married Hubbn daughter of
Hulayl, he (Hulayl) found the guardianship of the Kacba onerous and passed it
on to his daughter Hubbn, appointing Abn Ghubsha Salim b. 'Amr b. Lu'ayy
b. Malkm b. Qusayy b. Haitha b. 'Anu b. 'Amir as her trustee for it. Qusayy
purchased the guardianship of the ka'ba from him for a skim of wine and a young
riding camel. And so there arose the saying, "A worse deal than that of Abo
Ghubshm!" When Khuzs'a saw this happen they attacked Qusayy, who called
for assistance from his brother; when he and his men arrived the issue was
resolved as reported above. Ultimately Qusayy passed on the prerogatives of prw
tection and guardianship of the House, issuance of banners, calling of assemblies,
and feeding and watering the pilgrims to his son 'Abd al-D%r, as will be related in
detail. The qaza, giving permission to leave Muzdalifa, was established as a right
of Bann 'Adwm, the nasr', the right of calendar intercalation, went to Fuqaym,
while the Sofa enjoyed that of q&a, that is, of the naf, the giving of the signal to
leave Mina. All this information on the prerogatives of these people has been
detailed above.