Basus War

Basus War
Datec. 494–540 CE
Location
The region of Najd in South Arabia
Result Indecisive victory; Banu Taghlib tribes all dispersed into Iraq
Belligerents
Banu Taghlib Banu Bakr and all its subdivisions, including the Banu Shayban Himyarite Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
  • Jassas ibn Murrah
  • Hammam ibn Murrah
  • al-Harith ibn Abbad
  • Saad ibn Malik
  • al-Fand al-Zamani
  • Marthad'ilan Yu'nim
  • Imru' al-Qays
  • Units involved
    Tribal soldiers from Banu Taghlib Tribal soldiers from Banu Bakr At least 500 Himyarite warriors

    The Basus War (often written al-Basus War; Arabic: حرب البسوس ḥarb al-basūs) was a 40-year conflict between two cousin tribes in Arabia of Late Antiquity. It was caused by the slaughtering of a camel that was owned by a neighboring tribe, and the subsequent killing of the Taghlibi chief that came after it.

    This war is also remembered as a famous aphorism warning against familial discord and other family-related issues including grudges between relatives.