A Study of the Military Confrontation of the Kalb Tribe with Belief Movements and Political and Economic Challenges of the Umayyad Period (41-132 AH)

The Arab socio-political system depended on the tribe through which the Umayyads formed the Umayyad rule. Thus, the Kalb tribe by claiming the supremacy of the Yemeni tribes, the vast population and territory became the most loyal fanatical tribe of the Umayyads, and with their presence in the political arena and sacrifice in the Battle of Siffin, they became the basis for inheriting this dynasty. In addition, their military and cultural assistance to Yazid I marked the expansion of the Umayyad rule. Therefore, the present study tries to describe and analyze the Kalb tribe's reaction in the face of the ideological insurrections and political-economic challenges of the Umayyad government and the role this tribe played in suppressing the anti-Umayyad movements. The research findings show that the most important field of role-playing of the Kalbiyya was the military performance influenced by their ideological support, traditions and tribal interests because they were part of the Umayyad armies. The suppression of ideological as well as political-economic movements, conflicts with followers of religions, rival tribes and political groups opposed to the Umayyads within the Islamic Caliphate were the special features of the Kalb tribe during this period, so that they had an effective presence in military campaigns outside the Levant and in the most remote areas. The culmination of their participation can be considered a believable struggle with the economic protests of the Dhimmis in Egypt and far from the center of the caliphate, the revolt of the followers of Zayd ibn Ali, the uprising of the people of Medina and the rebellions of the Kharijites and Zubayres throughout the Umayyad Empire.