Muhammad Sulayman al-Tayyib
- Died
- 1441 AH
- Born in
- -
Muhammad Sulayman al-Tayyib (d. 1441 AH / 2019–2020 CE) was a contemporary Egyptian genealogist and historian best known for his multi-volume reference work Mawsu‘at al-Qaba’il al-‘Arabiyya (Encyclopedia of Arab Tribes) .
Genealogical Research and Methodology
Based in Cairo, al-Tayyib dedicated his scholarship to documenting the lineages, branches, migrations, and historical traditions of Arab tribes tracing to Adnanite and Qahtanite origins across Asia and Africa over a span exceeding 1,500 years .
His investigative approach combined the synthesis of classical genealogical treatises and historical manuscripts with direct field research among contemporary tribal communities . Al-Tayyib traveled to consult tribal elders, local genealogists, and regional researchers—such as meeting with local historians during visits to Tabuk—incorporating oral testimonies, tribal brands (wusum), and local documents to verify lineages and rectify discrepancies found in earlier publications .
His magnum opus, Mawsu‘at al-Qaba’il al-‘Arabiyya: Buhuth Maydaniyya wa-Tarikhiyya (Encyclopedia of Arab Tribes: Field and Historical Studies), was structured regionally to cover tribes settled across North and East Africa—including Egypt, Sudan, and the Maghreb—as well as those in the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, and Iraq . The work was published in several expanding multi-volume editions, incorporating feedback, corrections, and archival documentation gathered from tribal members and specialists across the Arab world .
Death
Al-Tayyib died in 1441 AH (2019–2020 CE).
Answer updated
List of Works
Mawsu'at al-Qaba'il al-'Arabiyya: Buhuth Maydaniyya wa-Tarikhiyya (Encyclopedia of Arab Tribes: Field and Historical Studies) is a multi-volume genealogical and historical compendium documenting the lineages, branches, migrations, and histories of Arab tribes across Asia and Africa. Combining classical historical texts with field investigations, it traces Adnanite and Qahtanite lineages over a span exceeding 1,500 years to examine ancestral connections from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Gulf.