Qusai Ibn Kilab - Life in Makkah

Life in Makkah

His seriousness and wisdom soon won him the respect of the Meccans. When Qusai came of age, Hulail ibn Hubshiyyah the chief of Banu Khuza'a tribe was the trustee and guardian of the Ka'bah. Soon Qusai asked for and married Hubba, daughter of Hulail. He continued to work hard at his trade and acquired much affluence, great respect, and many children. When his father-in-law died after a fierce battle which ended in arbitration, he committed the keys of the Ka'bah to Hubba, wife of Qusai. Hulail preferred Qusai from his own sons as Qusai was outstanding among Arabs of his time and therefore according to Hulail's will, got the trusteeship of the Ka'bah after him.

He therefore bought those of Quraysh who were his nearest of kin and settled them in the Meccan valley besides the Sanctuary - his brother Zuhrah, his uncle Taym ibn Murrah, the son of another uncle Makhzum ibn Yaqaza, and his other cousins Jumah and Sahm who were less close. These and their posterity where known as Quraysh of Hollow, whereas his more remote kinsmen settled in the ravines of the surrounding hills and in the countryside beyond and where known as Quraysh of the Outskirts.

He ruled as a king and is reputed to have brought great honor and illustriousness to his tribe, due to his wisdom. He reconstructed the Ka'bah from a state of decay, and made the Arab people build their houses around it. He is known to have built the first "town hall" in the Arabian Peninsula a spacious dwelling which was known as the House of Assembly. Leaders of different clans met in this hall to discuss their social, commercial, cultural and political problems. A provident leader, Qusai created laws so that pilgrims who went to Makkah were supplied with food and water, which was paid for by a tax that he persuaded his people to pay. He distributed the responsibilities of looking after the visitors during pilgrimage taking care of Ka'bah, warfare and pacifying amongst myriad tribes living in Makkah.

Qusai had many sons, some of them are Abd ibn Qusai, who had issue, Abd-al-Dar ibn Qusai, Abd Manaf ibn Qusai and Abd-al-Uzza ibn Qusai..

It was a marked characteristic of Qusai's line that in each generation there would be one man who was altogether pre-eminent. Among his four sons Abd Manaf was already honoured in his lifetime. However he preferred his first born, Abd-al-Dar, although he was the least capable of all; and shortly before his death he invested all his rights, powers, and transferred to him the ownership of the House of Assembly.