Abu Zaid al-Hilali
Abu Zaid al-Hilali, known as Salama ibn Raziq ibn Nail, hails from the Bani Shaitha tribe, part of the broader lineage tracing back to ‘Amir ibn Sa’sa’a. His ancestry includes prominent figures from the tribes of Hawazin and Banu Hilal, notably belonging to the Al-‘Amiri clan. He emerged as a distinguished Arab leader in the 11th century, renowned for his exceptional attributes of manhood, earning him great respect among the Arabs. His character was marked by nobility, generosity, and bravery, and during a significant period of his life, he was referred to as Prince Barakat.
The Forced Displacement of Abu Zaid al-Hilali
Abu Zaid al-Hilali was born with dark skin, which led his father to reject him, accusing his mother of infidelity. However, he did not divorce her due to his deep affection for her. For a time, he concealed this situation from his tribe until the news inevitably spread, resulting in the tribal elders convening and blaming Raziq for bringing shame upon them. Consequently, they decided to exile the mother and child to her family in Mecca. Raziq reluctantly consented, organizing for his wife and son to be accompanied by one of his followers, Sheikh Mani. On their return journey to Mecca, they encountered Prince al-Fadl ibn Baisam, the leader of the Banu Zahlan, who, upon hearing their story, expressed sympathy. He invited Abu Zaid’s mother to stay in his hospitality, which she accepted to avoid conflict with her family in Mecca. The prince generously adopted her son, treating him as one of his own and naming him Prince Barakat.
The Education of Abu Zaid al-Hilali
As a member of the Banu Zahlan tribe, Abu Zaid attended the schools designated for princes. However, his impulsive nature and physical prowess often landed him in trouble. A notable incident involved him severely injuring his teacher, which ultimately led to the teacher’s death after he had struck one of his adopted brothers. Following this event, Abu Zaid was ostracized by his peers, with families expressing concern over their children’s interactions with him, which resulted in him receiving private lessons.
Abu Zaid al-Hilali and the Tyrant Zainati Khalifa
Upon returning to his homeland, Abu Zaid discovered that his family was suffering due to a lack of rain, leading to drought and famine. He took it upon himself to find a new homeland and embarked on a journey accompanied by three knights from his tribe: Mar’i, Yunus, and Yahya. Their journey led them to Tunisia, where they found themselves in conflict with the oppressive governor known as Zainati Khalifa. This conflict marks one of the most pivotal periods in Abu Zaid’s life.
The Death of Abu Zaid al-Hilali
Diab ibn Ghanim al-Hilali sought to eliminate Abu Zaid and treacherously killed him by launching a spear from behind, piercing his body during the invasion of the Banu Hilal into Tunis in search of water and grazing land.