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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 1998-02 > 0886593806


From: John Lerwill< >
Subject: Re: Muhammad's family in Europe.
Date: 4 Feb 1998 04:03:26 -0800


Senor,

I read, with *great* interest, your posting of the Prophet Mohammad's
(s.a.s.) family. It is a subject of great interest to me, and also to
Europe, I think, not only because of the genealogical links, but also
because of the influence of Moorish Spain on European thought, art and
culture (you only have to see St. Pancras in London to see what I
mean!)....even, perhaps, the origin of "Morris dancing".!!

Please permit me to make a comment or two on some of your detail:

>......`as -Sayyid,' a style usually given to members of the Ummayad family.
>A 13th century Portuguese lineage book - four centuries later - describes
>him as a gggson of `Aboail rey de Cordova,' that is, Abdallah, emir of
>Cordova. Dates are consistent, as well as the mother's name, Zaira bint
>Zaidan ibn Zaid (or Sayd), the last one being son or son-in-law to
>Abdallah. (Sayd might be just a title, `lord').
>

(1) As far as I am aware (and my knowledge is not perfect) "as-sayyid" is
a style applied (amongst Muslims) to ANY (male) descendant of P. Mohammed
(s.a.s.).

(2) "Zaid" (or "Zayd") is probably not connected with "Sayd". I believe
these two words are distinct and are not likely to be confused in Arabic,
as in "Zayd ibn-Thabit", who was living at the time of the Prophet.

However, I would be happy to receive any further enlightenment on my comments.

Best regards,

John Lerwill, London, England
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For Devon History and also Research help, please see my webpage
at: http://members.tripod.com/~lerhistor

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