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Semi-legendary monotheist in pre-Islamic Arabia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Khaled bin Sinan al-'Absi (Arabic: خالد بن سنان العبسي) was a semi-legendary historical figure who lived in pre-Islamic Arabia. Historically, he was a religious man who lived in the Arabian Peninsula, while exegetical traditions attribute him to be a prophet who preached Judaic monotheism amongst the people he was sent to.
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2024) |
Khaled bin Sinan | |
|---|---|
خالد بن سنان | |
 The historic Sidi Khaled Mosque in Biskra, Algeria, which is believed by the locals to contain the tomb of Khaled bin Sinan. | |
| Born | c. 520 CE |
| Died | Before 630 CE |
| Monuments | |
Genealogists including Ibn al-Kalbi have attributed Khaled bin Sinan as being a descendant of Adnan through the Banu Abs branch of the Ghatafan, hence making Khaled an Adnanite of the Qays 'Aylan tribal group.[1][2] His full lineage was given as; Khalid, son of Sinan, son of Ghaith, son of Maritah, son of Makhzum, son of Rabi'ah, son of 'Aws, son of Malik, son of Ghalib, son of Qutay'ah, son of 'Abs, son of Baghid, son of Rayth, son of Ghatafan.[1][2]
And from Ghatafan, his lineage is traced back to Adnan: Ghatafan, son of Sa'd, son of Qays 'Aylan, son of Mudar, son of Nizar, son of Ma'ad, son of Adnan.[1][3] Genealogists, while they agreed that Adnan was descended from Ishmael, differed on how many fathers there were between Adnan and Ishmael; hence Khalid bin Sinan was an Ishmaelite but with uncertain lineage.[1][3][4][lower-alpha 1]
Mufti Muhammad Shafi places Khaled bin Sinan as existing before the coming of Jesus.[5] Ibn Kathir, however, places Khaled as existing in the 6th century CE, being born 50 years before the Year of the Elephant event.[2] As the event has been dated to circa 570, it means Khaled was born around the 520s.[6] Khaled's daughter lived contemporary to the Sasanian ruler Khosrow I (c. 531–579).
There is a dispute whether Khaled was considered to be a prophet or not in the Islamic tradition. Ibn Arabi considered Khaled to have been a prophet, but not a messenger.[7] Majlisi stated in Bihar al-Anwar that Khaled was "most likely" a prophet.[8] Some Islamic scholars have also transmitted narrations of Khaled having a status as being a prophet who was forgotten by his people, but these narrations are of disputed authenticity.[9] There are also narrations where Khaled is identified as being the prophet sent to the Companions of the Rass that are mentioned in the Qur'an.[9][10] Ibn Babawayh states that Khaled was a minor prophet whose prophethood "should not be denied" by Muslims.[11]
Ibn Kathir disagreed that Khaled was a prophet, citing a Hadith where Muhammad himself narrated that there was no prophet that appeared between him and Jesus.[2] Al-Jahiz also agrees that Khaled did not receive prophethood, bringing up the point that the prophets in Islam were usually from the people of cities and towns, while Khaled was a desert-dwelling and nomadic Bedouin.[12]
Muslim scholars have transmitted narrations and traditions regarding miracles that Khaled allegedly performed during his lifetime as a prophet.[9][10] One of such traditions was Khaled, a preacher of Judaic monotheism, being sent to destroy a large fire which was worshipped by the Arabs who professed Zoroastrianism.[9][13] Another tradition cites Khaled as being able to stop a large man-eating avian beast by faithful prayers to God.[14]
One of the transmitters of the stories was Al-Mu'alla ibn al-Mahdi. The authenticity of Al-Mu'alla was criticized by Nur al-Din al-Haythami and Abu Hatim, the latter also noted that Al-Mu'alla generally brought unsound narrations.[15] Ibn Kathir affirms that the story of Khaled and the fire is disputed, but attributes its chain of narration to Ibn Abbas and then adds on that the story is not reliable evidence of Khaled's prophethood.[2]
The character of Khaled has been observed by Christian J. Robin, who affirmed that he was likely to have been an actual person with the exception of the miraculous and fantastical stories attributed to him.[16]
There are two burial places attributed to Khaled bin Sinan. Yomut tradition narrates that he was buried in Iran where the Khaled Nabi Cemetery named after him now stands.[17]
Algerian Islamic traditions, such as those transmitted by 'Abd al-Rahman al-Akhdari, state that Khaled was buried in Biskra, Algeria where the Sidi Khaled Mosque now stands.[9] The current building is a modern 1917 restoration of the original building that was destroyed by flooding.[18]
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