A camel in Arabia

The Basus (or Basous) War (often written al-Basus War; Arabic: حرب البسوس ḥarb al-basūs) was a 40-year conflict between two cousin tribes in Arabia of Late Antiquity which was started by the killing of a camel owned by a woman named Al Basus under the protection of her brother in law Mura.

The Taghlib and Bakr tribes fought for roughly forty years (from 494 to 534 CE), locked in a perpetual cycle of vengeance. In parts of the Arab world today, the Basus War has been incorporated into an aphorism warning people against vendettas.^[1]

The story

Before the war:

"The Al-Basous War, an event from pre-Islamic Arabian history, is traditionally linked to a narrative involving figures from the tribes of Bakr and Taghleb. Central to this story are Jalilah bint Murah, belonging to the Bakr tribe, and Kulayb ibn Rabiah from the Taghleb tribe, often likened to Romeo and Juliet in their cultural significance. Jalilah, the daughter of a tribal chief, had notable brothers, Jasas and Hamam ibn Murah. Kulayb's brother, Uday ibn Rabia, known as Al-Zeir Salim, was a prominent figure in the narrative, renowned for his indulgent lifestyle.

The story further intertwines with Hassan al Toba' Al Yamani, a king in Yemen known for his military prowess and raiding activities. Al Yamani, who allegedly killed Rabiah ibn Taghleb (father of Kulayb and Salim), proposed marriage to Jalilah, known for her beauty. This proposal, motivated by political and personal dynamics within the tribes, led to a significant series of events.

During the wedding festivities, a dramatic twist occurs when Kulayb, disguised as a clown, assassinates Al Yamani and flees with Jalilah. This act ignites tensions between the tribes and Yemen, leading to military confrontations. Kulayb, having defeated the Yemeni forces, rises to prominence and becomes a legendary figure in Arabian lore. His story is marked by themes of love, revenge, and tribal politics.

It's important to note that this narrative, while deeply rooted in Arabian cultural history, is part of oral tradition and folklore. Its historical accuracy and details vary across sources. Such stories are significant for their cultural and literary value, providing insight into the societal norms, values, and conflicts of the era in which they were told."

The war:

The 40-year war was triggered when Jalila's aunt, Al-Basous, and her brother, Jassas ibn Murrah, came to visit.

Kulayb, the leader of the Taghleb tribe, who was known to be extremely protective of his property and land, saw Al-Basous' foreign camel in his territory, and shot it with an arrow. Al-Basous in turn got furious and exaggeratingly complained to her nephew that she was humiliated and insulted by this act. Jassas, enraged by his aunt’s words, shot Kulayb, his brother-in-law, in the wild with a spear from the back, a sign of cowardice and betrayal to Antiquity Arabs. Jasas was scared of his deed, and ran off, while his friend, Amr or Omar, stayed behind. Kulaib asked for water, but Amr shook his head in awe and chased after his friend. Kulaib stayed in the wild screaming for help, dying. After walking in the wilderness, he found a shepherd, who gave him water. Kulaib asked him to check if the wound is fatal, but the shepherd refuses. Kulaib forces him to, so the shepherd does, and the wound is fatal. Kulaib gets mad and declares his revenge on Bakr and Jasas. It is said that he either tells the shepherd a poem telling his brother Abu Layla al-Muhalhel to take revenge or he uses this blood to write in Arabic on a cliff wall his will to al-Muhalhel. This triggered the war between the two tribes.

Later on in the war, one of Bakr’s allies, a tribe leader called Al-Harith ibn Abbad, did not want to drag himself and his people into this silly war, so he took an initiative to stop the blood-shed by sending his son, Ojayr, to brother of the late Kulayb and now leader of Taghleb, al-Muhalhel, for a truce. It was tradition at that time to send someone of great significance to sacrifice himself for the killing of someone, and it was expected that he would then be forgiven to start peace. But unexpectedly, and away from traditions and ethics, al-Muhalhel killed Ojayr. The mourning father said a poem of 40 verses, stating that he is now part of the war. He ordered his men to shave their heads, and he cut his horse’s mane and tail hair, which since then became a tradition among the Arabs as a sign of grief until revenge. The war almost ended the last of Taghleb, and Al-Harith said his famous words: I will not talk to Taghleb until earth talks to me, i.e never!

When Taghleb thought it was the end, they dug a trench along the road where Al-Harith ibn Abbad passes by, and a man from Taghleb hid there and sang a poem asking for forgiveness, fulfilling the condition of the earth talking to Al-Harith. Having already avenged his son’s death, Al-Harith did not go back on his word and ended the war.

See also

• Al-Zeir Salim

References