Ma'add

Ma'add (Arabic: معد) is the name of a prominent figure in Arab genealogy. He is considered a direct ancestor of many of the Northern Arab tribes. He is generally placed as the son of Adnan, and thus a descendant of Ishmael (Ismail) and Abraham (Ibrahim), according to traditional Arab genealogies.

Ma'add is a key link in the lineage tracing back to the supposed progenitors of the "Arabized Arabs" or "Northern Arabs" (also referred to as Adnanites). The tribes claiming descent from Ma'add are collectively known as the Ma'addites. These tribes are significant in understanding the pre-Islamic and early Islamic history of the Arabian Peninsula.

The historicity of Ma'add and Adnan is debated among historians. While their role is central to Arab genealogical traditions, definitive archaeological or textual evidence outside of these traditions remains limited. The genealogies themselves are complex and subject to interpretation, reflecting the tribal affiliations and socio-political dynamics of later periods. Nevertheless, Ma'add continues to be a significant name in understanding Arab tribal identity and ancestry. The descendants of Ma'add are traditionally distinguished from the "Southern Arabs" or "Qahtanites", who trace their lineage back to Qahtan.