Kulayb ibn Rabia

Kulaib ibn Rabi'ah al-Taghlibi (Arabic: كليب بن ربيعة التغلبي) also known as Wa'il al-Taghlibi was a pre-Islamic tribal chief and the first of the Adnanites to become a king over them. Under his rule, the Adnanites gained prominence in the Arabian Peninsula over their Qahtanite counterparts. Kulaib's assassination in 494 AD sparked the Basus War.

Biography Family His full lineage is given as: Kulaib, son of Rabiah, son of al-Harith, son of Zuhayr, son of Jashm, son of Bakr, son of Habib, son of 'Amr, son of Ghanim, son of Taghlib ibn Wa'il. Hence, he is from the Taghlib tribe. Kulaib's descent from Adnan is also confirmed by the fact that Taghlib is descended from Adnan. Adnan's descent from the biblical patriarch Ishmael hence makes Kulaib amongst the later generation of Ishmaelites.

Kulaib was the brother of the famous poet 'Udayy ibn Rabiah, more commonly known as Abu Layla al-Muhalhel. Kulaib also had a son named al-Jarw, who would succeed him in the ruling of the Taghlib. Kulaib's reign paved the way for the Adnanites to attain prominence in the Arabian Peninsula, especially in Najd. According to the traditional narrative, Kulaib had shot down a prized camel belonging to an influential woman of the Banu Bakr; angering Jassas. They fought for forty years, the conflicts between them being known as the Basus War. The Taghlib were originally the victors of the war, but suffered significant losses due to surprise attacks from their rival tribe. The Dictionary of Arab Poets gives a similar estimation of his death date to around 492 CE.

Burial place

A tomb traditionally attributed to Kulaib is located in Wadi Khaitan between Mecca and Abha. It is located in a valley where many water sources are located.