Bani Khalid (Arabic: بني خالد) is an Arab tribal confederation primarily inhabiting the Arabian Peninsula. The tribe historically ruled southern Iraq, Kuwait, and Eastern Arabia (al-Hasa and al-Qatif) from the 15th to the 18th century, and again under Ottoman protection during the early 19th century. At its greatest extent, the domain of Bani Khalid extended from Iraq in the north to the borders of Oman in the south, and the tribe wielded political influence over the Najd region of central Arabia.
Lineage
The tribe traditionally claims descent from Khalid ibn al-Walid, a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a key military commander during the Muslim conquests. This claim is disputed by some Arab genealogists, who have proposed alternative origins, including descent from the Banu Makhzum clan (Khalid ibn al-Walid's own clan within the Quraysh tribe) rather than from Khalid himself. Other proposed lineages link the tribe to Banu Rabi'ah ibn 'Amir ibn Sa'sa'a of the Hawazin, or to Banu Ghazia of the Tayy tribe. The oldest historical text mentioning a group called "Bani Khalid" is attributed to Ibn al-Athir in his work Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, referring to events in 513 AH (c. 1119 CE) near Lake Tiberias in Palestine, though scholars note this may not refer to the same tribe.
History
Jabrid Emirate
The Jabrids, who were the ruling class of the Bani Khalid in Najd, established an Arab dynasty that ruled Eastern Arabia and Najd from the 15th to the 16th century. The Banu Jabr followed the Maliki Sunni school and made al-Ahsa their capital.
First Khalidi Emirate
The main branches of the tribe include Al Asfour, Al Humaid, the Juboor, Du'um, Al Janah, Al Suhoob, Grusha, Al Musallam, 'Amayer, Al Subaih, Mahashir, and Nahood. The chieftainship has traditionally been held by the Al Humaid branch. Under Barrak ibn Ghurayr of the Al Humaid, the Bani Khalid expelled Ottoman forces from al-Hasa and al-Qatif in 1670 and proclaimed their rule, with al-Mubarraz as their capital.
Conflict with the Saudis
The Bani Khalid were staunch opponents of the Al Saud and the Wahhabi movement. When the emir of al-Uyayna adopted the ideas of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the Khalidi chief ordered him to expel Ibn Abd al-Wahhab, who then moved to Dir'iyyah and allied with the Al Saud. After the Saudis conquered Najd, they invaded the Bani Khalid's domain in al-Hasa and deposed the Al 'Ura'yir in 1793.
Khalidis of Jerusalem
A prominent branch of the tribe, the Khalidi family of Jerusalem, rose to prominence during Mamluk rule and became one of the most powerful families in Palestine. Notable members include Yusuf Diya al-Khalidi (mayor of Jerusalem, 1870–1876 and 1878–1879), Ruhi al-Khalidi (mayor of Jerusalem, 1899–1907), and Hussein al-Khalidi (mayor of Jerusalem, 1934–1937). The family established the Khalidi Library near the al-Aqsa Mosque, which remains open today.
Return and fall from power
After the Ottomans overthrew the Al Saud in 1818, they reinstated members of the Al 'Uray'ir as rulers of al-Hasa and al-Qatif. However, the Bani Khalid were no longer the military force they once were, facing encroachment from other tribes and internal leadership quarrels. A battle with an alliance of the Mutayr and 'Ajman tribes in 1823, and another with the Subay' and the Al Saud in 1830, ended Bani Khalid rule. The Ottomans appointed a Bani Khalid governor over al-Hasa once more in 1874, but his rule was short-lived.
Present
Most members of the Bani Khalid presently reside in eastern and central Saudi Arabia, while others live in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. The tribe includes both Shia Muslim and Sunni Muslim members. Many families from the tribe hold positions in government and commerce.
Notable members
- Rashid Khalidi (born 1948), Palestinian American historian
- Husayn al-Khalidi (1895–1962), mayor of Jerusalem (1934–1937)
- Mustafa al-Khalidi (died 1944), last Palestinian-Arab mayor of Jerusalem (1938–1944)
- Yousef al-Khalidi (1829/1842–1906), mayor of Jerusalem (1899–1907)
- Walid Khalidi (born 1925), Palestinian historian
- Salman al-Ouda, Saudi Islamic scholar
- Muhammad al-'Arifi (born 1970), Saudi Islamic scholar
- Hassan Al-Thawadi, Qatari lawyer and Secretary General of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Supreme Committee
- Wadha bint Muhammad Al Orair, mother of King Saud of Saudi Arabia
