Banu Quda'a

The Quda'a were a confederation of Arab tribes primarily located in Syria and northwestern Arabia from the 4th century CE through the early Islamic era. They held a privileged position under the Umayyad Caliphate, particularly in military and administrative roles, and were key players in the tribal factionalism of early Islamic Syria. Notably, they realigned their genealogical descent from northern Arabian Ma'add to South Arabian Himyar, a move that sparked long-standing scholarly debate. Prominent tribes within the confederation included the Kalb and Tanukh.