Mentioning Some of the Terminology Used by the Genealogists
Translated by Riad Nachef
The people of this science used many terms; however, we will confine ourselves to mentioning the most famous of them out of fear of a lengthy presentation.
Sahih An-Nasab (Authentic genealogy): It means ones genealogy has been confirmed with the genealogists and was checked against the original copy and was unanimously stated by the genealogists who are known for trustworthiness, Godfearingness and truthfulness.
- Maqbul An-Nasab (Accepted genealogy): It means ones genealogy was confirmed with some genealogists and others have rejected it and thus became accepted through the testimony of two upright witnesses.
- Mashhur An-Nasab (Famous genealogy): It refers to the one who is famous for being a descendant of the Prophet but his genealogy is unknown and as such the genealogists judge him as famous.
- Mardud An-Nasab (Rejected genealogy): It refers to the one who claims to belong to a tribe when he is not and then the tribe deprive him the association and as such the genealogists judge him as one with a rejected genealogy.
- Fulanun Daraja (Died without offspring): The genealogists mean by this term that one died without having offspring.
- ^Aqibahu Min Fulan or al-^Aqib Min Fulan (The offspring is restricted to him): The genealogists mean by this term that the offspring is restricted or confined to him.
- Fulanun A^qaba Min Fulan (The offspring is not restricted to him): The genealogists mean by this term that the offspring is not restricted or confined to him but rather it is possible that he had offspring from others.
- Fulanun Awlad or Walada (The offspring is not restricted to him): It has the same meaning as the previous one.
- Fulanun Inqarada (Had offspring that perished): It means one did have offspring but ceased to exist.
- Fulanun Qu^dud or Qu^aydu Fulan (The youngest of the offspring): The genealogists mean by this term that one is the youngest of the offspring and also express it as being the closest of men to the great grandfather.
- Fulanun ^Ariq An-Nasab ( Profound genealogy): The genealogists mean by this term that ones mother is a descendant of the Prophet and likewise her mother is and the more included the more profound the genealogy is.
- If they mention daughters for a man and name them then the genealogists mean by this term that one does not have other offspring but the daughters, unless they say mata ^anhunna (one died and left them behind) or Mi’nath ( usually gives birth to daughters) or Mi’nath Awratha. Mi’nath conforms to the linguistic structure of Mif^al; one would say a woman is Mi’nath meaning she usually gives birth to females.
- Huwa Lighayr Rashdah (Illegitimate offspring): The genealogists mean by this term that one was born from an invalid marriage contract. Abu Dawud, Ahmad, Al-Bayhaqiyy and others narrated that the Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said: “ومن ادعى ولدًا من غير رشدة فلا يرث ولا يورث” which means: << The one who attributes to himself a son from an invalid marriage he does not inherit him and is not inherited by him.>> Ibn al-Athir said: Az-Zuhriyy said in the chapter of Bagha: “The known speech of Arabs is to say so and so is a son of zanyah or son of rashdah, and it was said zinyah and rishdah and the fathah accentuation is more eloquent.”
- Huwa Waladun Da^iyy or Min al-Ad^iya‘ (One who fraudulently attaches his genealogy to another man): The genealogists mean by this term that one attaches his genealogy to a man when he is not of his lineage but rather he is of the lineage of another man.
- Ummuhu Ummu Walad (Ones mother is a slave woman): The genealogists mean by this term that his mother is a slave woman. Likewise when they say fatat or sabiyyah. If the woman is freed she would be called mawlat or they might say ^Utaqatu fulan or dhatu yamin.
- La Baqiyyah lahu (No offspring reported in the texts or had offspring who perished): The genealogists mean by this term that the texts do not document offspring for one or that he had offspring who perished. If one has a few offspring they say about him muqill and if plenty of offspring mukthir. If they say tadhayyalu they mean they have a long stretch of offspring.
- Fihi Hadith or lahu Hadith (Ones genealogy lacks credibility): The genealogists mean by this term that ones genealogy lacks credibility.
- Usqita (Dropped out): The genealogists mean by this term that one was dropped out from the descendants of the Prophet due to being unattached to them or to ill doings and Allah knows best.