The Causes of Increase in Islamic Genealogy and Its Functions

Genealogy is one of the rare knowledge in Jahiliyyah (days of ignorance). Because of its function in tribal system, genealogy was considered very important, and genealogists were enjoying a privileged status at that time; however it was never inscribed in Jahiliyyah. After the emergence of Islam, by rejecting the values of the Jahiliyyah, genealogy found new functions according to the Islamic teachings derived from the Holy Quran and Hadiths (traditions). After a while, so many writings were done on this subject which include a significant part of Muslim’s written inheritance. Therefore, at the beginning genealogy was not considered as a science, nevertheless later it was given an important position. Hence, using a descriptive – analytical method, the present paper is trying to work on the causes of increase and development of genealogy after the emergence of Islam and also the functions of genealogy which led to its continuity and improvement.