Quran Universe

Jurhum

Nation of the Quran

Nation of the Quran

Jurhumجرهم

Traditional date, disputedMakkah

When Hajar and the infant Ismail were alone in the valley of Makkah, the spring of Zamzam burst forth. A tribe from Yemen, Jurhum, saw birds circling and asked Hajar's permission to settle by the water. Ismail grew up among them, learned Arabic from them and married from them.

What does the Quran say?

Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful.

Quran 14:37

How did they end?

Tradition says Jurhum later grew corrupt as keepers of the Kaaba and were driven out by the tribe of Khuza'a; some say they buried Zamzam as they left.

What do historians say?

Jurhum are known only from Arabic tradition; no inscription or excavation has identified them.

The lesson

Those who serve a sacred trust lose it when they betray it.

Where do they appear in the story?

Who else is linked?

IsmailIbrahimHajarMakkahZamzam

Everyone and everything in the timeline

People named in the Quran and the hadith, the Prophet's ﷺ family and Companions, scholars, rulers, the nations of the Quran, the world's empires and the places where it all happened. Where scholars differ, each entry says so.

Nations of the Quran